On May 26, 2021, Wesleyan community members from around the world gathered together to honor the indomitable graduating Class of 2021. View a recording of the 189th Commencement Ceremony below. Keep sharing your pride on social media—#WesGrad and/or #Wes2021. We are so proud of you. Go Wes graduates!
Show off your Cardinal pride or send a gift to your graduate from Wesleyan RJ Julia's online shop!
Rewatch the 2021 Commencement ceremony.
Check out the highlights from Commencement 2021!
Highlight Video Taiko Drumming Video Commencement ProgramMichael S. Roth '78 became the 16th president of Wesleyan University on July 1, 2007. A professor in history and the humanities, he continues to teach undergraduate courses and is known as a historian, curator, author, and public advocate for liberal education.
Read the President's Full BioReginald Dwayne Betts is the award-winning author of four collections of poetry, a nonfiction memoir, and a powerful body of essays and scholarship that has been featured in such publications as The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Washington Post. The founder and director of the Million Book Project, his work has earned him a Radcliffe Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, NEA Fellowships, and a PEN New England Award for poetry, among many other recognitions.
Read Full Betts BioCatherine Coleman Flowers is a renowned environmental health advocate whose work focuses on bringing attention to and developing solutions for failing water and waste sanitation infrastructure in rural areas, and increasing our understanding of how this infrastructure failure perpetuates health and socioeconomic disparities. For her work, Flowers was awarded a 2020 MacArthur Fellowship, also known as a “Genius Grant,” which goes to citizens or residents of the United States who demonstrate “extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.”
Read Full Flowers BioScott Gottlieb ’94 is a physician, public health and policy advisor and advocate, and a special partner with the venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates. He served as the 23rd commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2017 to 2019 and is currently a resident fellow at public policy think tank the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).
Read Full Gottlieb BioBryan Chong ’21 was born and raised in Hong Kong and is a double major in government and psychology. A passionate student organizer, Bryan helped found and lead the Wesleyan chapter of Students for Bernie in 2020 before getting involved with the Wesleyan Democratic Socialists and Wesleyan North End Action Team. During his senior year, Bryan was elected to the Wesleyan Student Assembly, where he chaired the Civic Engagement Task Force and served as vice chair of the Community Committee. A student athlete as well, Bryan is a four-year member of varsity men’s golf and participates in Throw Culture, the mixed-gender Ultimate Frisbee team. An active participant in the greater Connecticut community, Bryan is involved with the Middletown Mutual Aid Collective and Central Connecticut Democratic Socialists of America. Bryan graduates while serving as design director on the campaign of Alicia Hernandez Strong ’18 for mayor of New Britain.
Post on social media using the hashtags #WesGrad and/or #Wes2021 to congratulate the Class of 2021 and give them some advice!