Congratulations, Class of 2025!

This week, I had the honor of presiding over my first commencement ceremonies as president of Florida Atlantic — a truly special occasion made even more meaningful by the record number of graduates we celebrated. During the seven commencement ceremonies from Thursday, May 1, through Saturday, May 3, more than 3,700 graduates from the spring Class of 2025 earned their degrees, marking the largest graduating class in university history.

Our spring ceremonies also were memorable thanks to the inspiring words and wisdom of several commencement speakers, including:

• Abdol Moabery ’94, alumnus and former chair of the Florida Atlantic Board of Trustees;
• Daniel Mica ’66, alumnus, former congressman, and Florida Atlantic’s first student government president;
• Clarence Anthony ’81, ’82; alumnus, former mayor of South Bay, and CEO and executive director of the National League of Cities
• Thomas Kodadek, Ph.D., professor of chemistry at the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology; and
• Alexcia Cox, State Attorney for Florida’s 15^th Judicial Circuit.

Each distinguished speaker brought unique perspectives to this moment of high accomplishment for our graduates, reminding them of what is possible through education, determination and purpose.

I also had the honor of recognizing several extraordinary individuals with the President’s Distinguished Service Medallion — the highest award bestowed by the university. They included Florida Atlantic benefactors George Elmore, Marilyn Wallach and Eleanor Baldwin; as well as Stacy Volnick, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief operating officer at Florida Atlantic, and former interim president. I personally selected each recipient for their exceptional service and unwavering commitment to Florida Atlantic. Each honoree demonstrated to our graduates what it means to strive for the highest standards in their personal and professional pursuits.

We are proud to celebrate this record-setting class of graduates and all they have accomplished. The spring Class of 2025 reflects the incredible momentum of Florida Atlantic, and their achievements are a powerful reminder of the impact our students and alumni are making throughout our state and across the nation. We look forward to their continued success as they make waves in their next chapter.

Congratulations, Class of 2025!