Wellesley College Commencement 2026

Wellesley celebrated the purple class of 2026 along with their families and friends at Wellesley’s 148th commencement exercises on Friday, May 15, 2026. Commencement speaker Ruth J. Simmons urged the class to “embrace the full humanity of others.” Chapters: 00:00 Procession 12:24 Ceremony opening by President Paula Johnson 13:15 Invocation and land acknowledgement by Chaplain Amira Quraishi 16:50 Welcome by President Paula Johnson 21:25 Introduction to student speaker by senior class co-presidents Claire Schultz ’26 and Vivian Lee ’26 25:42 Student Address by Elise Christina Wilson ’26 35:55 Awarding of Pinanski Prize for Excellence in Teaching 43:55 Faculty appointments 46:10 Faculty retirements 49:24 Introduction of Commencement Speaker Ruth J. Simmons 53:49 Commencement Address by Ruth J. Simmons 1:17:52 Address to the Graduating Class by President Paula Johnson 1:35:27 Degree conferral 2:29:20 America the Beautiful 2:32:17 Benediction See our commencement website for more information: https://www.wellesley.edu/commencement.