Henry Winkler, an Emmy Award-winning actor, director and author, is among the 14 speakers scheduled to address the Class of 2025 at commencement this year.
Winkler, known for his roles in Happy Days, Barry, Parks and Recreation and Arrested Development, will address students in the College of Arts & Sciences on May 17.
The university holds individual graduation ceremonies for each of the undergraduate, graduate and professional schools on campus.
The events begin with Georgetown University in Qatar’s commencement on May 8, followed by senior convocation on May 15. Celebrations conclude with the Baccalaureate Mass and Law Center’s commencement ceremony on May 18.
Winkler will be joined by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., a Harvard professor, Peabody Award-winning filmmaker, and the host of PBS’s Finding Your Roots, who will speak at Georgetown Law’s ceremony. Kono Taro (SFS’86), a nine-term member of the House of Representatives in Japan and the country’s former digital minister, will speak at his alma mater’s undergraduate ceremony in the School of Foreign Service.
Four other alumni will address students, including Michael Psaros (B’89), co-founder and co-managing partner of KPS Capital Partners; Sam Feist (L’99), CEO of C-SPAN; Daniel Ming-Chung Tsai (L’79), chairman of the Fubon Group; and Rebecca Kuang (SFS’18), author of the New York Times bestseller Yellowface, who will speak at senior convocation.
“We look forward to welcoming this distinguished group of speakers and alumni to the Class of 2025’s commencement ceremonies,” said Georgetown Interim President Robert M. Groves. “They are exceptional leaders and visionaries in their fields, and we are grateful for their presence as we celebrate the Class of 2025.”
Students, family, faculty, alumni and friends can follow commencement activities online, including live webcasts. Visit the 2025 commencement website for information about how to share memories, pictures and words of wisdom with these graduating seniors and alumni.
Commencement Speakers, Honorary Degree Recipients
In order of their appearance.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, State of Qatar
Georgetown University in Qatar
Thursday, May 8, Qatar National Convention Centre, 9 a.m. EDT, 4 p.m. AST
Watch the Qatar Campus livestream
Steve Pemberton
Managing Director, Seramount
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
School of Continuing Studies (SCS)
Thursday, May 15, Healy Lawn, 3 p.m.
Watch the SCS livestream
Sam Feist (L’99)
CEO of C-SPAN
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
McCourt School of Public Policy
Thursday, May 15, Healy Lawn, 6 p.m.
Watch the McCourt livestream
Luis Arriaga Valenzuela, S.J.
President, Iberoamerican University
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, including Biomedical Graduate Education
Friday, May 16, Healy Lawn, 9 a.m.
Watch the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences livestream
Loretta Sweet Jemmott
M. Louise Fitzpatrick Endowed Professor of Community and Home Health Nursing at Villanova University’s Fitzpatrick College of Nursing
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
School of Nursing
Friday, May 16, Healy Lawn, 12 p.m.
Watch the School of Nursing livestream
Ajaypal Banga
President, World Bank Group
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
McDonough School of Business: Graduate Ceremony
Friday, May 16, Healy Lawn, 3 p.m.
Watch the McDonough School of Business Graduate livestream
Henry Winkler
Actor, Author
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
College of Arts & Sciences
Saturday, May 17, Healy Lawn, 9 a.m.
Watch the College of Arts & Sciences livestream
Maria Van Kerkhove
Interim Director, Epidemic and Pandemic Threat Management, World Health Organization
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
School of Health
Saturday, May 17, Gaston Hall, 12 p.m.
Watch the School of Health livestream
Michael Psaros (B’89)
Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of KPS Capital Partners, LP
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
McDonough School of Business: Undergraduate Ceremony
Saturday, May 17, Healy Lawn, 2:30 p.m.
Watch the McDonough School of Business Undergraduate livestream
Kono Taro (SFS’86)
Member, House of Representatives in Japan
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS): Undergraduate Ceremony
Saturday, May 17, Healy Lawn, 5 p.m.
Watch the SFS livestream
Filippo Grandi
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS): Graduate Ceremony
Saturday, May 17, Healy Lawn, 7:30 p.m.
Watch the SFS livestream
Dr. Victor Dzau
President, National Academy of Medicine
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
School of Medicine
Sunday, May 18, Healy Lawn, 12 p.m.
Watch the School of Medicine livestream
Alumni Address: Daniel Ming-Chung Tsai (L’79)
Chairman, Fubon Group
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Laws
Commencement Speaker: Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Laws
Georgetown Law
Sunday, May 18, Healy Lawn, 3 p.m.
Watch the Georgetown Law livestream
*Times are noted in Eastern Daylight Time.
