- May, 18, 2026
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Under summery sunny skies, Curry College honored 459 graduates of the Class of 2026 during its 146th Commencement celebration on Sunday, May 17. President Jay Gonzalez presided over the joyous ceremony held on campus for the first time since 2021.
Watch the Full Commencement Ceremony and Nurses Pinning
As he greeted the graduates and the crowd on the Walter M. Katz Field, President Gonzalez said, “I love that we are celebrating you and your achievements here where you had your Curry College experience, and where we as a community had the privilege of sharing that experience with you. I love that we are celebrating at this place that is so special to all of us.”
TAKE IN THE MOMENT
President Gonzalez encouraged the graduates to take in the moment and be proud of their achievements. And to reflect on the challenges they faced, the new skills they learned, the friends they made, and the new ideas and perspectives they experienced.
“Curry has prepared you for career and life success, and you have proven that you have the work ethic, competence, determination, and resilience to take on any challenge."
"You’ve been part of a community that invests in one another and that believes we are stronger together than alone. That everyone needs help and support. That what makes any experience rewarding is not the experience itself, but the people with whom we share that experience."
Commencement speaker Dr. Jon Santiago encouraged graduates to take time to listen to others but also not be afraid to use their voice. Dr. Santiago, an emergency medicine physician at Boston Medical Center, recounted lessons learned from a life in public service in his numerous roles as a doctor and healthcare leader, as a veteran, and as a politician. Santiago, alongside Lily Hsu, President of Labouré College of Healthcare, received Honorary Degrees from the College.
“We need leaders who listen before they speak, and who are grounded in real human experience – so they can make decisions that actually serve people. We need leaders who have sat in a waiting room. Have stood at the bedside of a sick patient. Who have served in uniform. Who know what’s actually at stake when a policy gets written or a vote gets cast. And that’s you. Now and what you will become. Because you are exactly who this moment is asking for.”
Class Orator Abigael Pierce ’26 spoke about hope and the role it played as she changed from a very shy freshman to an engaged learner and student leader.
“At Curry, we were shaped by a community that supported our growth every step of the way. We didn’t just work toward degrees. Over time, many of us discovered parts of ourselves we didn’t fully know were there, and Curry became the place where that hope began to grow.”
Before the conferring of degrees, Chiara Mei-Wah Conlon ’26 was announced as the 2026 New Era Award winner. An outstanding forensic science major with minors in data analytics and mathematics, she pursued a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum and distinguished herself in both coursework and research, maintaining a high GPA and Dean’s List every semester at Curry. She interned at the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory, presented her research at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) national conference, was the founder and president of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Club, served as president of Women in STEM and as a social media coordinator for the Tri-Beta Honor Society.
Mei also contributed to the academic community as a peer tutor and laboratory assistant, where she supported students in chemistry, forensic science, and mathematics. Her ability to guide and mentor others reflects both her mastery of the material and her commitment to helping others succeed.
Congraulations, Curry College Class of 2026!
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