The university will hold individual graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2023 for each of the undergraduate, graduate and professional schools as well as award celebrations on campus. The events begin with senior convocation on May 18 and end with the Baccalaureate Mass and the School of Medicine and Law Center’s commencement ceremonies on May 21.
This year, in place of a traditional honorary degree, the School of Foreign Service’s (SFS) commencement will raise a “call for freedom” for jailed Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, and the thousands of political prisoners around the world who have chosen to stand up for human rights at the sacrifice of their personal liberty. Dasha Navalnaya will be speaking at the ceremony on behalf of her father and in honor of other political prisoners. Evan Mawarire, a Zimbabwean pastor who founded a movement to challenge corruption, injustice and poverty in Zimbabwe, and Debra Tice, the mother of Austin Tice (SFS’02, L’13), an SFS alumnus and Georgetown Law Center student who was kidnapped while reporting in Syria in 2012, will also speak at SFS Commencement.
The McCourt School of Public Policy will mark its 10th anniversary with a commencement address from Frank H. McCourt, Jr. (C’75), founder of Project Liberty, executive chair of McCourt Global and member of Georgetown’s board of directors. McCourt’s $100M investment allowed Georgetown to establish the McCourt School of Public Policy in 2013.
“We are deeply grateful to welcome this distinguished group of speakers and members of our alumni community to this year’s commencement ceremonies,” says Georgetown President John J. DeGioia. “They each exemplify a commitment to excellence, service and making a difference in communities around the world. We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2023, their achievements and their ongoing work of personal discovery.”
Students, family, faculty, alumni and friends can follow commencement activities online, including live webcasts. Visit the 2023 Commencement website for information about how to share memories, pictures and words of wisdom with these graduating seniors and alumni.
Commencement Speakers, Honorary Degree Recipients
Ayman Mohyeldin
MSNBC host of AYMAN
Georgetown University in Qatar
Thursday, May 11, Georgetown University in Qatar, 9 a.m. EST, 4 p.m. AST
Watch the Qatar Campus webcast
Susan Orsega
Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Health and the U.S. Surgeon General
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
School of Nursing
Thursday, May 18, Healy Lawn, 3 p.m.
Watch the School of Nursing webcast
Frank H. McCourt, Jr. (C’75)
Founder of Project Liberty and Executive Chairman of McCourt Global
McCourt School of Public Policy
Thursday, May 18, Healy Lawn, 6 p.m.
Watch the McCourt webcast
Brian Greene
Professor of Physics and Mathematics and Director of the Center for Theoretical Physics at Columbia University
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Friday, May 19, Healy Lawn, 9 a.m.
Watch the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences webcast
Jason Kander (L’05)
President of National Expansion at Veterans Community Project and Founder of the Afghan Rescue Project
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
School of Continuing Studies (SCS)
Friday, May 19, Healy Lawn, 12 p.m.
Watch the SCS webcast
Igor Smelyansky (MBA’05)
CEO of Ukrainian Postal Service
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
McDonough School of Business: Graduate Ceremony
Friday, May 19, Healy Lawn, 3 p.m.
Watch the McDonough School of Business Graduate webcast
Yamiche Léone Alcindor (C’09)
NBC News Washington Correspondent
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
College of Arts & Sciences
Saturday, May 20, Healy Lawn, 9 a.m.
Watch the College of Arts & Sciences’ webcast
Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones
Leverhulme Visiting Professor in the Department of Global Health & Social Medicine at King’s College London
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
School of Health
Saturday, May 20, Gaston Hall, 12 p.m.
Watch the School of Health webcast
Dan Helfrich (SFS’98, MBA’99)
Chair and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
McDonough School of Business: Undergraduate Ceremony
Saturday, May 20, Healy Lawn, 2 p.m.
Watch the McDonough School of Business Undergraduate webcast
Dasha Navalnaya
Daughter of Imprisoned Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny
Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS)
Saturday, May 20, Healy Lawn, 5 p.m.
Watch the SFS webcast
Dr. Joan Reede
Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership at Harvard University
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
School of Medicine
Sunday, May 21, DAR Constitution Hall, 11 a.m.
Watch the School of Medicine webcast
Savannah Guthrie (L’02)
Co-Anchor of NBC NEWS’ Today and NBC News’ Chief Legal Correspondent
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Laws
Georgetown Law
Sunday, May 21, Healy Lawn, 2 p.m.
Watch the Georgetown Law webcast
*Times are noted in Eastern Daylight Time.
Georgetown’s Past Commencement Speakers
In celebration of 2023 commencement, look back at previous Georgetown graduation speakers.
