UMass Boston

Graduate students and their families gathered for UMass Boston’s 58th graduate commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 27. In total, 1,090 master’s and 122 doctoral students completed their graduate programs in the Class of 2026.

Graduates crossed the stage to cheers on Wednesday afternoon as UMass Boston celebrated its 58th graduate commencement ceremony, recognizing more than 1,200 graduate students whose work reflects years of rigorous study, research, and dedication to their fields and communities.

Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco encouraged students to use their education in service of the common good and to approach the challenges ahead with courage.

"Bring an ethical compass to every challenge,” Chancellor Suárez-Orozco said. “Be bold in your ideas, but meticulous in your methods; be ambitious, but always anchored in equity, empathy, and justice.”

The keynote address was delivered by former mayor of Paris, the Honorable Anne Hidalgo, who received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from UMass Boston. Hidalgo was the first woman elected mayor of Paris and is internationally recognized for being a global leader in climate action and urban policy.

Drawing on her experiences, Hidalgo urged graduates to defend freedom, justice, and democracy while confronting global challenges such as climate change, reminding them that education is a powerful tool.

“You all leave here today with something extremely powerful in your hands: an education, a mind now free to imagine otherwise, and knowledge that change is possible,” Hidalgo said. “Use it to invent the world to come.”

This year’s graduate student speaker, Sachin Gupta, earned a PhD in Applied Physics. He delivered a speech centered on perseverance and the importance of building community. Born in Moradabad, India, Gupta reflected on the setbacks that shaped his journey, including multiple graduate school rejections and the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic early in his academic career.

Gupta spoke about choosing to “try one more time” after being rejected from every graduate program he applied to during his first round, crediting his parents’ encouragement for helping him continue pursuing his dream.

“We can either wait for someone else to create it, or we can stand up and build it ourselves,” Gupta said.

Gupta’s message encouraged graduates to live authentically and move forward despite uncertainty. “Live your life on your own terms, dream without fear, and keep walking toward what sets your soul on fire,” he said. “No matter how many times life tells you ‘no.’”

Wednesday’s commencement ceremony also recognized four faculty members who received distinguished faculty awards. Professors Sharon Lamb and Werner Kunz received the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Scholarship, Professor Steven Ackerman received the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Teaching, and Professor Neal Bruss received the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Service.  

At the end of the ceremony, graduates rose together to confer their degrees, move their tassels from right to left, and take in the final moments of commencement. As family and friends cheered from the audience, they were welcomed into the UMass Boston alumni community and encouraged to use their education to advance well-being in their communities and professions.

“Your UMass Boston education is a well-earned gift, one that equips you to meet extraordinary moments with clarity, courage, and care,” Chancellor Suárez-Orozco said. “Use it to strengthen democracy, to expand opportunity, and to sustain our planet for generations to come.”