With roots in medieval academic tradition, Baccalaureate honors the achievements of the candidates for the bachelor’s (“bacca”) degree by presenting them with the laurels (“lauri”) of oration.
Commencement
Baccalaureate Speaker
Brown’s baccalaureate tradition derives from the wide range of religious, ethnic, geographic, linguistic and musical traditions present within the campus community.
Baccalaureate Speaker
Brown’s baccalaureate tradition derives from the wide range of religious, ethnic, geographic, linguistic and musical traditions present within the campus community.
2026 Baccalaureate Speaker
The 2026 Baccalaureate address will be given by Xochitl Gonzalez ’99, a New York Times bestselling author, Pulitzer Prize finalist, screenwriter and producer.
Past Speakers
Recent speakers have included, among others:
- Dr. Seth Berkley, physician and public health leader
- Robert Corrigan, former San Francisco State University president
- Daveed Diggs, performer, rapper and writer
- Allyson Felix, Olympic gold medalist
- Kevin Gover, director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian
- Steven R. Jordan, NFL player and business leader
- John Krasinski, actor
- Carlos Lejnieks, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Jessica Meir, NASA astronaut and marine biologist
- Nalini Moreshwar Nadkarni, forest ecologist and science advocate
- Beverly Wade Hogan, Tougaloo College president
https://www.youtube.com/embed/i4pKxOStxUE
Carlos Lejnieks
CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters