The federal government has investigated prominent universities, paused grant funding and revoked student visas. And still, it is graduation season on American campuses, where thousands of young adults will soon don four-sided caps and celebrate years of hard work while “Pomp and Circumstance” plays on repeat.
Like always, college administrators have selected a range of keynote speakers to impart wisdom (and, they hope, avoid controversy) at commencement ceremonies.
A year after pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated at many graduations, and amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on higher education, colleges are walking a tightrope in picking speakers. Administrators want to find someone who is interesting and accomplished and perhaps has ties to their school, but also who is unlikely to set off protests or say something that would bring unwelcome attention.
This year’s list includes many of the usual suspects: governors, cabinet secretaries and political commentators with well-known views on the most divisive issues of the day. It also includes scores of athletes and celebrities from outside the partisan fray.
Here is a look at some of the others, including a Muppet, who are scheduled to address graduates in the days and weeks ahead:
The Entertainers
Nothing seems likelier to boost graduation attendance than having a celebrity onstage to shake hands with graduates. This year, plenty have signed up.
The rapper Snoop Dogg will speak to graduates of the University of Southern California’s business school, and Jon M. Chu, a film director, will speak at that institution’s universitywide commencement. Steve Carell of “The Office” will be at Northwestern University, and Sandra Oh of “Grey’s Anatomy” will headline Dartmouth College’s ceremony. Elizabeth Banks of “The Hunger Games” will speak at the University of Pennsylvania. The singer Usher will be honored at Emory University’s graduation.
Vanderbilt University invited Gary Sinise, whose credits include “Forrest Gump” and “Apollo 13.” The singer Sara Bareilles will speak at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Taylor Sheridan, the creator of “Yellowstone,” will take the stage at the University of Texas at Austin. LeVar Burton, of “Reading Rainbow” fame, will speak at Howard University.
Perhaps no celebrity speaker will be more anticipated, or more unusual, than the amphibious orator at the University of Maryland: Kermit the Frog, who will have to forgive his hosts for not having green among their school colors.
At a time of intense political division and sharp critiques of higher education from many Republicans, colleges have signed up a bipartisan contingent of government leaders to speak.
President Trump has said he will take the stage at the University of Alabama and the U.S. Military Academy. At least two members of his cabinet are also planning to address students. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is set to speak at Dakota State University, and Doug Collins, the veterans affairs secretary, will visit Piedmont University in his home state of Georgia.
Plenty of governors are also preparing speeches. Among Republicans, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire will address Nashua Community College graduates, Phil Scott of Vermont will be welcomed to Norwich University and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia will speak twice in two days, first at Liberty University and then at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Charlie Baker, the former governor of Massachusetts and current leader of the N.C.A.A., will talk to graduates of Colby College.
Democratic governors will also take the stage, including Maura Healey of Massachusetts at Mount Holyoke College, Ned Lamont of Connecticut at Trinity College, Wes Moore of Maryland at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, JB Pritzker of Illinois at Knox College and Tim Walz of Minnesota at the University of Minnesota’s law school. Steve Bullock, the former governor of Montana, will speak at Columbia Law School.
Some international leaders are also expected. Jacinda Ardern, the former prime minister of New Zealand, will be at Yale University’s Class Day, and Mary McAleese, the former president of Ireland, has been invited to St. Mary’s College in Indiana.
The Athletes
Many universities opted for sports stars this year. Derek Jeter, the longtime New York Yankees shortstop, will speak at the University of Michigan, and Orel Hershiser, the former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, will talk to graduates of Bowling Green State University, the school he attended.
Decorated Olympians are also on the speaker list. The gymnast Simone Biles will address graduates at Washington University in St. Louis and the swimmer Katie Ledecky at Stanford University will do the same. Mia Hamm, who won three Olympic medals on the U.S. women’s soccer team, will talk at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Emma Coburn, a medal-winning track and field athlete, will give the address at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she competed as a collegian. Justin Best, a gold medalist in rowing, will speak at his alma mater, Drexel University.
From the basketball world, Carmelo Anthony will return to Syracuse University, where he won a national championship. Grant Hill, whose pass set up the shot that delivered Duke University an Elite Eight win in 1992, will be back in Durham. And Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty will speak at George Washington University.
Perhaps no sport is better represented on the graduation stage than football. Among the current and former players invited to speak: A.J. Brown at the University of Mississippi, Derwin James Jr. at the University of Bridgeport, Miles Killebrew at Southern Utah University and Larry Fitzgerald Jr. at the University of Pittsburgh.
The Media
Journalists, sportscasters and television hosts will be well-represented on graduation stages, including Holly Rowe of ESPN at the University of Utah, Al Roker of NBC’s “Today” at Siena College and Steve Kornacki of NBC News at Marist University.
Jason Gay, a Wall Street Journal sports columnist, will speak at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Jay Shetty, an author and podcast host, will give remarks at Princeton University’s Class Day. Jonathan Karl of ABC News is set to be onstage at Washington College’s commencement, while Scott Pelley of CBS will talk to graduates of Wake Forest University.
The Faithful
Many religious universities selected faith leaders to speak at their ceremonies.
Bobby Gruenewald, a Christian pastor and the founder of the popular YouVersion Bible App, will address graduates of Oral Roberts University. At Brigham Young University, Clark Gilbert, a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gave the keynote address this week. Bishop Robert Barron will speak at the Catholic University of America, and the Rev. Ricky Jenkins, who leads a church in California, will address graduates of Wheaton College in Illinois.
Benedictine College, a Catholic institution in Kansas, chose Sister Deirdre Byrne, who is a surgeon and a retired Army colonel, as its commencement speaker.
The Executives
Several universities opted to have a business leader talk to graduates, including Virginia Commonwealth University, which invited Everette Taylor, the chief executive of Kickstarter.
Melonie D. Parker of Google will talk to graduates of Stillman College, and Sal Khan of Khan Academy will be pulling double duty at Johns Hopkins University and Carnegie Mellon University. John May, the founder of a private equity firm, will speak at East Carolina University, and Kristin Huguet Quayle, a vice president at Apple, will speak at Furman University.
The Scholars
While they may lack celebrity status, lots of institutions choose scientists, professors and administrators who are products of the university system to give parting advice to students.
Harvard University, which is embroiled in a legal fight with the Trump administration, invited Dr. Abraham Verghese, a physician and writer, to deliver its keynote address. Dr. Huda Zoghbi, a neurogeneticist, will speak to graduates of Rice University. Charles F. Bolden Jr., a former astronaut and NASA administrator, will be onstage at Ohio State University. Alan M. Dershowitz, a legal scholar who represented Mr. Trump in an impeachment trial, will speak at the New College of Florida.
Angela Duckworth, a psychology professor and author, will speak at Bates College. The California Institute of Technology selected Walter Massey, a physicist. And the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign stayed close to home, choosing its chancellor, Robert J. Jones, to speak to graduates.
