Commencement

On Saturday, May 20, Wellesley celebrated the class of 2023, its 145th graduating class.

Addressing the class of 2023 and an international audience of family and friends was Jocelyn Benson ’99. She was preceded by student speaker Charlize Chen and followed by President Paula A. Johnson with an address to the senior class. The program continued with the awarding of degrees, traditional singing of America the Beautiful, then a benediction.

download the program

 

The following schedule is tentative and subject to change with the exception of Commencement Exercises.

Thursday, May 18, 2023

2:00 p.m. Commencement Rehearsal
Severance Green Tent (seniors only, attendance is required)

Friday, May 19, 2023  

9:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m. Academic Department Celebrations
 Economics at the Academic Quad Tent
 Science Center at the Chapel Lawn Tent

10:45 a.m.‐11:30 a.m. Sigma Xi Initiation
Jewett Auditorium (seniors and guests)

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Baccalaureate Luncheon
Tickets are required for students and all guests and may be purchased here.  
Bates Hall Culinary Center

1:15 p.m. ‐ 1:30 p.m. Senior Class Picture
Severance Green Hill (photos available for purchase from Panfoto)

2:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. Baccalaureate Celebration
Houghton Chapel with limited seating. This event is ticketed to allow at least one family member per student.  Tickets will be distributed to each student at Rehearsal.
Please view more information here.

3:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m.  Academic Department Celebrations continue after the Baccalaureate Celebration
  Humanities at the Chapel Lawn Tent
  Social Sciences at the Academic Quad Tent
  Arts at the Davis Plaza

4:45 p.m.-5:45 p.m. Phi Beta Kappa Initiation
Jewett Auditorium (seniors and guests)

8:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Baccalaureate Concert
Houghton Chapel (seniors and guests)

Saturday, May 20, 2023  (Commencement Day)

9:30 a.m.  Procession Formation for students
Academic Quad

10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Commencement Exercises (also live streamed), *No tickets required
Severance Green Tent  Seating opens at 8:30 a.m.

1:15 p.m.‐ 3:00 p.m.  Complimentary Light Lunch & Reception (graduates and guests)
Houghton Chapel Lawn
 

Class of 2023 orientation photo courtesy of Panfoto

 

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Future commencement dates

Class of 2020:   June 2025, in conjunction with the class fifth reunion 

Class of 2024:   Friday, May 17, 2024

Class of 2025:   Will be announced before Fall 2023

Contact Info

Press Contacts:
Email Media Relations
Stacey Schmeidel
781.283.3321  

Commencement Team:
Email Commencement Team
781.283.2375