Excited graduates and their proud families and friends filled Emory’s campus May 9-12 to mark the university’s 180th Commencement, honoring the achievements of thousands of hardworking students in the Class of 2025.

Undeterred by days of drenching rain, graduates celebrated their achievements at diploma ceremonies for each of the university’s nine schools and multiple degree programs.

Due to the forecast of possible severe weather on Monday morning, the university-wide Commencement ceremony was moved indoors to the Woodruff P.E. Center and combined with the diploma ceremony for Emory College of Arts and Sciences students earning bachelor of arts degrees. The event was also livestreamed.

No amount of rain could dampen the immense sense of accomplishment and pride amongst those in attendance. Graduates hugged, posed for photos and shed tears as they looked back fondly on their Emory experiences, and looked forward to their bright futures.

Promptly at 8 a.m., faculty, students, Emory leaders and honored guests processed in, accompanied by the boom of a bass drum and the iconic skirl of bagpipes from the Atlanta Pipe Band.

Families waved to get their graduate’s attention and snapped photos. Graduates pored over their programs to locate their names and took videos of the blue-lit room. Once the platform party was seated and the bedel was placed on stage, Tracy McGill, chief marshal of the university, called Commencement to order.  

“Class of 2025, I want you to always remember that you are capable of greatness, and that your time at Emory has prepared you for everything that comes next,” said Emory President Gregory L. Fenves.

“Years from now, when somebody asks you, ‘What was Emory like?’ you will think of all that it took for you to make it to this graduation day, and you will share your unique story,” Fenves continued. “And in that moment, you will realize that your Emory experience stays with you forever.

“That is what we are celebrating today — an ending that is actually a beginning. The continuation of your Emory story.”

Grammy Award-winning performer and philanthropist Usher Raymond IV created his own new chapter in the Emory story, earning an honorary doctor of humane letters degree during the ceremony and serving as the keynote speaker.

During his address, Usher encouraged members of the Class of 2025 to look beyond what is printed on the degrees that they will receive via mail this summer.

“It’s not the degree that gives the power. It’s you,” he said. “You create the value behind that degree. It is your ambition, your integrity, your hustle, your heart. It’s how you choose to show up when no one is watching.”

Usher also encouraged graduates to follow their passions and be inclined to explore uncharted territory in pursuit of those passions.

“Don’t be afraid to wander into space that you don’t understand, as long as you are bringing passion with you. Be willing to stretch, be a little unrealistic, be a little delusional even in your pursuit of happiness and fulfillment,” he said. “And at the same time, be patient. Be respectful of the process, because life is filled with challenges, and they will either make you or break you. But that’s a choice — and that choice is yours.”

With the official conferral of degrees en masse, Emory welcomed 5,527 new graduates across the university’s nine schools into a dynamic alumni community of more than 176,000 around the world. These new graduates earned a total of 5,629 degrees and hailed from 53 U.S. states and territories, along with 71 other nations.

Usher encouraged graduates to approach their goals — and their lives — with passion and conviction, even in the face of difficult circumstances. After congratulating them on their degrees, the eight-time Grammy Award winner shared his personal framework for success. He said he is guided by four main principles: praise, appreciation, acknowledgement and honor.

“Praise whoever is considered your higher power for giving you the ability to dream,” he said. “Appreciate your highest and your lowest moments because it builds character and it reveals your core. Acknowledge the shortcomings and the triumphs that you will endure, both shaping who you are and who you’re becoming in time. Honor the people who believed in you and invest in your journey. Honor them not by perfection but perseverance.”

He said these principles emerged for him long before a chart-breaking music career that includes nine No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.

Even after building thriving philanthropic ventures and a legendary musical career, he described receiving Emory’s honorary doctor of humane letters degree as “personally deep for me,” a full-circle moment on a path less traveled.

“I’d like to share a quick story with you I’ve never publicly shared,” Usher told graduates.

When he moved to Atlanta as a child, “I was academically so far behind that I was unable to keep up and the staff at the school that I attended didn’t have the resources to help me, so they assigned me to remedial classes — which, at the time, felt like a judgment on my ability.” Discouraged, he decided to do something “passion-based.”

“The system doesn’t always understand,” Usher continued. “It doesn’t always recognize or celebrate passion. However, before I could sing, before I could dance, before I was a doctor” — he paused to smile about his newly-bestowed title — “I had passion.”

His passion is not limited to music. In 1999, he founded Usher’s New Look, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that helps under-resourced teens develop their interests, finish their education and find their purpose.

It is possible to “blaze a new trail within the system,” he emphasized, and the work of Usher’s New Look is a prime example: “If we refuse to accept the world as it is and start building what we want to see, we can successfully do it.”

Success, he said, is also about how one looks at the world: “Losers take chances. Winners make choices. It’s truly all in the way you choose to think and see things.”

He charged graduates to be leaders in their fields and to use their passion to build a better future.

“This world doesn’t need more followers,” he said. “It needs fearless architects of our future, and that’s exactly who you are. Be a dreamer. Never stop imagining. Be better. Fight for a better life. Fight for a better world.”

At the ceremony for recipients of bachelor’s of science degrees later in the day, Usher surprised graduates by calling in to the program. Emory College Dean Barbara Krauthamer held her phone to the microphone as he congratulated students and shared a message similar to his earlier keynote address.

“Thank you so much for all of your hard work — the fact that you have the tenacity to fight for this moment, to persevere, to be the incredible leaders that you are,” he said. “I am so happy for your commitment to start, but greater than that, your dedication to finish.

“I’m so happy for each and every one of you because you’re getting ready to go out into the world and find your way.”

Honorary degrees

Emory conferred two additional honorary degrees during the Commencement ceremony:

• Susan B. Hassmiller, a national nursing leader, health educator and mentor, received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in recognition of her visionary contributions to nursing education and practice, which have elevated health care, addressed disparities in underserved populations and created opportunities for nurses nationwide.
• Leonore A. Herzenberg, a pioneering geneticist, researcher and inventor, was awarded an honorary doctor of science for making critical discoveries in the fields of immunology, genetics and cell biology, including the invention of the Florescence Activated Cell Sorter — a technology that revolutionized biomedical research.

By the time Emory students turn their tassels, all have received a well-rounded and rigorous education. For some students, the vibrant academic environment was the very thing that drew them here.

Ian Goldman and his twin sister Arran Goldman both graduated from Emory College. Although they followed different paths of study — he earned a bachelor of science in biology, she earned a bachelor of arts in human health — their end goal is the same.

“They both want to go to medical school,” said their mom, Jill Wilkens, who is a radiologist.

What brought them to Emory from Bel Air, Maryland? “Emory is a great STEM school and has lots of resources,” Ian said. “There’s also such a breadth of classes. That made it attractive to us.”

Abby Furey knew from a young age that psychology would be her path. “And she knew that Emory had everything she wanted,” said her mom, Tracy Furey. Abby wasn’t daunted by the prospect of attending school far from home, so didn’t mind moving from Glastonbury, Connecticut, to Georgia.

She began her journey at Oxford College, then transitioned to the Atlanta campus. While at Emory, her dad, Joe Furey said, “she hit it out of the ballpark,” graduating with highest honors and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology.

She’ll continue her studies at UMass Boston in the fall, where she’ll begin a PhD program in school psychology. “It’s a five-year program and only four or five students are accepted each year,” he added. “So, yes, we’re happy to brag on her.”

Anthony Medina, who hails from Dalton, Georgia, graduated in December with his bachelor’s in business administration (BBA) with concentrations in information systems and operations management as well as organization and management. But he was excited to return to campus for the May ceremony.

“I’m first-generation,” said Medina, who sported a colorful stole with elements from the Mexican flag on one side and the U.S. flag on the other. “So I feel like, as I graduate, I’m not alone. I’m taking my parents along with me, to continue on the journey that they took for a better life.” After graduation, Medina is headed to New York City, where he’ll work as a tech consultant with Accenture.

Cambria Brown transferred to Emory to pursue her love of research, said her parents, Scott and Danita Brown. “She started in a lab at the Rollins School of Public Health, and it’s given her a passion for discovery and doing something no one else has done before,” Danita said of Cambria, who majored in neuroscience and Spanish. “I see her get excited about studying neuroscience and neurology. Seeing her mature and really love research has been great and Emory has been an amazing place for growth.”

Sometimes that growth is accelerated by being somewhere that’s worlds away from your hometown. Mark Li, from Hong Kong, noted the formative nature of starting his Emory education at Oxford College.

“Oxford was definitely a very new experience for me, especially coming from the city in Hong Kong,” said Li, who graduated from Emory College with degrees in neuroscience and behavioral biology, after playing tennis at Oxford. “It made me realize my passions and gave me time for reflection to see what I really enjoyed.”

Following graduation from Emory, Li will pursue a master’s degree in health informatics at Yale University.

Makeida Pickens pursued the Dual Degree Program in Nursing, where she earned both a bachelor of arts in psychology from Emory College and a bachelor of science in nursing from the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. 

While she made her best friends — and some of her favorite memories — through study groups for exams, she says she’s ready for what’s next. “Emory, and the School of Nursing, really set you up for success,” she said. “They give you everything you need to move on to the next chapter.” For Pickens, that next chapter lies with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Seattle.

Community on campus and beyond

No matter how many tests students aced, what they’ll remember for a lifetime is the supporters they had by their side.

Emilio Rosas-Gutierrez from Cancun, Mexico, felt an undeniable draw to join the campus community when he received word that he was named a Woodruff Scholar. While studying anthropology, he enjoyed unique experiences creating community with alumni nationwide.

“One of my favorite experiences was a trip to Washington, D.C., with other members of the Emory Scholars program to meet alums in the area,” he said. “We even met then-Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who is an Emory alum, and went to her office to talk.”

Claudia Vargas-Ramirez of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, fully immersed herself in Residence Life at Emory — and made some of her closest friends as a result. Vargas-Ramirez, who double majored in human health and integrated visual arts, said she created connections that will last a lifetime.

“At Emory, I felt like it was the first time that I found my community and my home again after leaving my hometown. That is something that will forever stick with me,” she said. “The friends I’ve made here are not friends anymore — they’re family. And I’m forever grateful for what Emory has given me.”

In the case of Danielle Schwartz, the honorary title of family extended even further. Schwartz, who grew up in North Caldwell, New Jersey, graduated with a BBA, specializing in marketing and information systems, and is headed to New York City for a job in digital management with L’Oreal. Her father, David Schwartz, said his daughter not only “made an amazing group of lifelong friends,” but that “their families have become our families.”

Economics major and student athlete Geoff Point-du-Jour says he heard about Emory’s reputation as an inclusive community during the college admissions process, and he found that to be true once on campus.

Coming to Emory from Salisbury, Maryland, as a QuestBridge scholar, Point-du-Jour said: “Emory is really about their word, and they bring in a high number of QuestBridge students. The community is so welcoming overall. I feel like I can walk up to anybody and have a conversation, and that has been true throughout my four years here.”

And he isn’t quite ready to leave Emory — he is staying one more year as part of a 4+1 program to obtain his master’s degree in economics.

The happiest of tears

The act of holding back tears — or not — was a common theme among family and friends in attendance.

Jill Kelly traveled from Sarasota, Florida, to cheer on her son Ryan Kelly, who majored in human biology and anthropology.

“From the moment I dropped him off, I knew he was going to love it here,” she said, smiling despite the tears in her eyes. “That made me feel good, and he has had the best time ever. It has been a wonderful experience for him at Emory.”

Arvind and Manju Reddy of California echoed that sentiment for their son Rishik Reddy, who was so intent on becoming an Eagle that he didn’t apply to any other universities. They vividly remember when Rishik received his Early Decision acceptance in December 2020. “We were out shopping, and he called us — screaming,” she said. “We thought something was wrong but then realized he was so happy.”

That happiness stretched through his time on campus. “These were absolutely the best four years of his life,” Arvind said. “He couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”

In fact, Arvind laughed, Rishik loved his time here so much that one of his younger sisters will transfer from her current university to Emory in the fall. By that time, Rishik — who earned his degree in computer science — will be in Seattle working as a product manager for Microsoft. But, Arvind said, “He said he could give her a blueprint for how to have fun.”

Another proud father, Mark Tussey, said it was hard to believe his oldest son was graduating college. Their family traveled from Grant, Alabama, to support Nick Hardin as he completed his degree in political science and psychology.

“It’s exciting and unknown territory,” Tussey said. “What a milestone. An education is something no one can ever take away from him.” Hardin will build on his education as he pursues an MBA at Willamette University in Oregon.

Some parents couldn’t help but compare this milestone to their child’s high school days.

“I’m actually pretty emotional right now, because so much has happened in the last four years,” said Mari Ramos, whose daughter, Emma Ramos, graduated with a degree in chemistry and human health. Originally from Kennesaw, Georgia, Emma will soon move to Houston for work as a polymer chemist.

Like the rest of the Class of 2025, Emma graduated from high school in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “She didn’t have a big high school graduation, so it’s different to think about where we are now, sitting in a big room celebrating,” Mari said, gesturing at the families all around them. “We’re first-generation American, so it’s extra special for us.”

The day was also extra special for Roseline Jean Louis — the 2025 graduate student recipient of the Marion Luther Brittain Award. Four of her biggest fans — her children Nasir, Samira and Lailaa Peek and Nyeasia Rogers — could not be prouder of their mom. 

“It’s nice to see all of her hard work, and the times she couldn’t do things, pay off,” they said. “And her smile today!”

Jean Louis earned her PhD in nursing through Laney Graduate School and plans to establish herself as a scholar in maternal health equity. 

“She worked really hard,” said Nyeasia. “Watching her struggle and finally seeing the accomplishment come to fruition is amazing.”

For other families, longstanding Emory connections gave the celebrations extra meaning.

When Atlanta resident Ana Cristina Castaneda crossed the stage to receive her degree in psychology from Emory College, the diploma was handed to her by someone special: her grandfather, Ken Castro, a professor with Rollins School of Public Health. She will spend the next year shadowing two occupational therapists, then plans to attend graduate school to study either occupational therapy or child psychology.

And English professor Benjamin Reiss was seated with the faculty to cheer for his daughter, Sophie Reiss, who graduated with a degree in history and creative writing. She’ll leave Emory to work for a nonprofit in New Orleans.

“I’d just like to say a word of thanks to Emory,” said her grandfather, David Reiss. “They’ve been good to our family, and we’re very attached to this institution. This is our youngest grandchild, so it’s got a special meaning to us.”