Commencement 2019 is just one week away! On Friday, May 31, members of the yellow class of 2019 will join their friends, families, and the rest of the Wellesley community to celebrate Wellesley’s 141st commencement exercises.
The class chose Anita Hill, renowned activist, attorney, and educator whose courage has inspired generations, to deliver this year’s address. Hill, university professor of social policy, law, and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at Brandeis University and a faculty member of its Heller School for Social Policy and Management, is renowned for her work with civil and women’s rights in pursuit of social justice and to combat sexual harassment. Her voice has been prominent in academia, politics, and the media regarding gender, race, and equality; the Washington Post has called her a “leading face” of the ongoing #MeToo movement.
In celebration of the class of 2019’s final days at 106 Central Street, here are excerpts from 10 inspiring, thoughtful speeches delivered to Wellesley graduates by remarkable women. (Four on this list made NPR’s list of Best Commencement Speeches, Ever.)
Maya Angelou, 1982
Gloria Steinem, 1993
Nora Ephron ’62, 1996
Oprah Winfrey, 1997
Toni Morrison, 2004
Madeleine Korbel Albright ’59, 2007
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 2015
Lulu Chow Wang ’66, 2016
Hillary Rodham Clinton ’69, 2017
Tracy K Smith, 2018
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Keep up with the latest Wellesley Blue scores, awards, upcoming events, and info on student-athletes and coaches at WellesleyBlue.com.
