Announcing our 2025 Commencement Speaker

Dear students and colleagues,

In just over a month, on Friday, May 16, we will gather at Arizona Stadium to celebrate Commencement, honoring the achievements of our graduating Wildcats. I am excited to participate in my first Commencement ceremony at the University of Arizona and experience the unique traditions of our community and the festivities that take place on our beautiful campus.

As we celebrate the Class of 2025, I am very pleased we will welcome Erik Weihenmayer as our Commencement speaker. Erik is a world-renowned adventurer and educator who made history as the first blind person to summit Mount Everest. A generous and wise leader, Erik also has dedicated his life to serving others, first as a middle school teacher and now as a worldwide advocate for self-empowerment.

In addition to Mt. Everest in 2001, he has ascended all of the Seven Summits—the highest peaks on each continent. He also has climbed frozen waterfalls in Nepal and Canada and kayaked the Colorado River’s full 277-mile length through the Grand Canyon, among many other accomplishments. Drawing on his background as an educator, he co-founded the non-profit No Barriers to share the lessons from his adventuring and provide support and programming for people with disabilities and those who care for and work with them.

Erik’s achievements exemplify courage, resilience, and the Bear Down spirit, and his story will help inspire our graduates to continue to challenge themselves as they embark on the next chapters in their lives. In addition to providing Commencement remarks, Erik will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the College of Education in recognition of his life’s work and service to others. Four other distinguished individuals also will receive honorary degrees: Ginny Clements, William A. Franke, Gabrielle Giffords, and Mark Smith. More information on this year’s honorees is available from University News.

For more details about this year’s festivities, visit the 2025 Commencement website.

Best wishes,
Suresh