Dr. Thomas, you inspire us all through your leadership and engagement. Welcome to the Northeastern family.

Graduates — as you just heard from Dr. Thomas, now it’s our turn to cheer for you.

Today, you are the stars of our celebration. The 4,000 of you sitting on this field today reflect 4,000 personal journeys, 4,000 individual dreams, endless aspirations, and unlimited possibilities.

Often, these individual dreams brought you together. That is the case with our a cappella group, the Nor’Easters. They represent the diversity and creativity that is a hallmark of Northeastern. I would like to ask them to join me on the stage.

As we prepare to confer the degrees, I’d like to share some reflections on the journeys that have brought you here.

Class of 2024 — you are some of the most resilient people I know.

Many of you did not get to celebrate your high school graduation. That’s why we are doubly grateful to be able to celebrate your achievements with you and your families here in Fenway Park today.

You are a class that largely had to choose your college before ever seeing it. You took a bet on Northeastern. And Northeastern took a bet on you.

The year you arrived here was tough. Your lives revolved around Cabot, quarantines, and QR codes.

But here you are, in this magnificent setting, representing more than 127 countries, all 50 states, infinite affinities, and thousands of personal stories. The Nor’Easters represent some of those stories. Let me highlight a few more.

Rebecca, please come back and join me. You just heard Rebecca’s story. Her Northeastern experience didn’t just help her find a career. It helped her find herself. Rebecca, as you head to medical school, you’re an example of growth and agility. You and your classmates have learned so much — from your classes and co-ops, your Dialogues of Civilization, your studies abroad, and especially from each other.

Ethan Wong, from the College of Science, please join us. Ethan, you studied biology and data science while serving patients and community members — helping to ensure positive health outcomes for people across the globe. You were awarded both the Goldwater and Churchill Scholarships, and you will go to Cambridge University to study clinical neuroscience next fall. Ethan, you are an example of commitment to a model of academic excellence that fuels both discovery and human impact.

Gwyneth Philips, please join me. Future engineer. All-Star. All-American. Three-time Beanpot champion. Last season, you played the second most minutes of any goaltender in the country. That tireless work ethic is part of Northeastern’s DNA. Like your fellow graduates, you have developed as a leader while never forgetting the importance of the team.

Each one of you has your own story. You are diverse and unique in every sense. Today is a day to be proud of what you have achieved.

But commencement is about more than closing one chapter of your life. It’s also an opportunity to look to the future.

I would like to quote the famous 21st-century philosopher Taylor Swift. In one of her earlier recordings she sang: “How can a person know everything at 18 but nothing at 22.” This applies to you, and to every one of us. Knowledge is a moving target.

We’re in the midst of a profound transformation that will change the way we live, work, and interact. The AI world is with us.

I have spoken on this stage about how Northeastern prepares you for a world of artificial intelligence. It’s clear that technological literacy and a facility with the tools of AI will be necessary for success in just about every field.

It is also clear that at a time of unprecedented challenges, no algorithm can solve the seemingly intractable problems that confound our world. Human connection, grounded in respect, patience, and empathy, is necessary if we are to find genuine and sustainable solutions.

Human connection requires us to engage with one another constantly. And true engagement means finding ways to interact with authenticity and without demonization. True engagement is not something that can be mediated through the lens of a smartphone.

It’s so easy to feel that we are building community — that we have found community — when we echo comments on Instagram or TikTok. It’s easy to believe that our impact can be measured by likes and clicks.

That is one reason I believe so strongly in Northeastern’s experiential model. Experience forces us out of our comfort zone. It requires us to deal with uncertainty. It compels us to communicate. It teaches us the art of listening.

Class of 2024 — your perseverance, your resilient spirit, and your openness to human connection have brought you to this joyous occasion today — a collective celebration that brings us closer together.

Your Northeastern community is incredibly precious. Wherever you go in the world, it will be there to extend a hand when you stumble and to cheer your triumphs. So nurture your Northeastern connections, for they will give you the strength to achieve wonders. Build on them, because together, you will shape a greater future for us all. And treasure them, for Northeastern will help you realize your dreams.

Class of 2024, congratulations!