School of Dental Medicine

At its 157th commencement ceremony, the School of Dental Medicine awarded 244 DMD degrees, six master’s degrees, and two doctoral-level degrees, the first for the school’s doctorate program.

Speakers urged the graduates to always be mindful of the humanity of their patients. “Please remember that whatever you do, do it with real emotional energy and vitality and passion, so that what comes across to those you care for is more than just fillings, but feelings,” said Dean Nadeem Karimbux. 

Sara Naser, president of the DI25 class, representing international students, echoed that. “We are not just here to fix teeth. We are here to serve people—people with fears, with dreams, with stories. People who deserve dignity, empathy, and access to care regardless of who they are or where they come from,” she said. “That, my friends, is the privilege we’ve earned, and the responsibility we must carry forward.” — Helene Ragovin

The Fletcher School

At The Fletcher School ceremony, 222 students were awarded degrees. Graduates received nine PhDs and 213 Master in Humanitarian Assistance, Law and Diplomacy, Transatlantic Affairs, Global Affairs, Global Business Administration, International Business, Law and International Laws, and Cybersecurity and Public Policy degrees.

Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, who previously served as prime minister of Australia, received the Dean’s Medal and gave the keynote address.

The Peter Ackerman Award was given to Jared Miller, a PhD recipient, and the student address was given by Paolo Vittorio Traiano Trakis Caglioti, a M.A.L.D recipient.

Professor of Constitutional and International Law Michael Glennon, who was selected by students as the winner of the James L. Paddock Teaching Award, gave the faculty address. 

“If you are able … years from now to look back on your career as it draws to a close, and to know that you have honored the demands of decency against the pressures of conformism, that, truly, will be your ultimate triumph,” he said.

The Friedman School

The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy awarded degrees to 68 students. Graduates received seven PhDs, 47 Master of Science degrees, four Master of Arts in Humanitarian Assistance degrees, and 10 Master of Nutrition, Science and Policy degrees.

Keynote speaker Danielle Nierenberg, N01, co-founder and president of Food Tank, talked about her upbringing in Defiance, Missouri, and the many lessons she learned from farmers and food service workers. 

“I’ve learned that the heart of change is in the stories of the people I meet—the farmers, the community leaders, the advocates for sustainability. They’re the ones working on the ground. And they have solutions we need to pay attention to and learn from.”

She urged graduates to be patient, to embrace discomfort, and above all, to listen. “There will be times when you need to change someone else’s mind. But there will also be times when you realize you need to change your own,” Nierenberg said. —Monica Jimenez

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine

The 43rd commencement at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University was celebrated on the Grafton campus where Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, and master’s degrees were bestowed upon about 140 graduates. 

Kayla Sample, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences, was nominated by the D.V.M. students to give the commencement address. She told graduates that as new doctors, they may have moments of self-doubt and uncertainty, but it’s in those moments of discomfort that they will grow and learn the most.

Alison Robbins, assistant director for the Master’s Program in Conservation Medicine and assistant teaching professor, gave the faculty address for the master’s degree recipients and thanked the students for giving her hope, optimism, and pride, and for making the world a healthier and more compassionate place. 

Jenise Joi Carter, V25, the student-nominated speaker for the D.V.M. class, applauded her fellow new veterinarians for choosing a profession that demands empathy and integrity in the pursuit of caring for animals as well as their humans. —Angela Nelson