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Commencement Speakers

Dr. Hanna Gray, first female commencement speaker, 1978. Photo credit: Trinity Reporter

Over its long history, Trinity College’s commencement ceremonies have been highlighted by powerful speeches from a diverse array of speakers, each bringing unique perspectives and life experiences to the podium. Whether alumni, renowned educators, or distinguished figures from Connecticut’s public and civic life and beyond, these speakers have imparted words of resilience, leadership, and social responsibility, acting as shining examples for the graduating classes.

Since 1918, the tradition of a single commencement speaker has been a hallmark of the ceremony, with the designated speaker receiving an honorary degree from the College. Prior to this change, there was not a singular speaker; instead, multiple addresses were delivered by members of the graduating class. While the single-speaker format has remained largely consistent, there have been a few exceptions. For example, the 1923 ceremony featured four speakers in celebration of the College's centennial, and in 1921, two speakers addressed the audience due to the honored visit of the Italian ambassador to the United States. Additionally, there was a brief hiatus from 1971 to 1976, during which no speakers were featured, presumably in an effort to shorten the ceremony. The following list details all commencement speakers from 1918 to the present:

{Degree abbreviations: DD – Doctor of Divinity; LHD – Doctor of Humane Letters; DHum – Doctor of Humanities; LittD – Doctor of Letters; LLD – Doctor of Laws; ScD – Doctor of Science; DFA – Doctor of Fine Arts; DM – Doctor of Music; DST – Doctor of Sacred Theology; DPH – Doctor of Public Health; JCD – Doctor of Canon Law; MA – Master of Arts; MFA – Master of Fine Arts; MLitt – Master of Letters; MM – Master of Music; MS - Master of Science; BA – Bachelor of Arts; BM – Bachelor of Music; BS – Bachelor of Science}

Sources

Trinity College Commencement Programs

Trinity Reporter, Summer 1978.