Ceremony Speakers & Performers

Invocation

Delivered by Rev. Julie Johnson Staples

Keynote

Martha Pollack, President of Cornell University

Martha E. Pollack is the fourteenth president of Cornell University, where she is a professor of computer science, information science, and linguistics. 

An expert in artificial intelligence with a research focus on natural-language processing, automated planning, and the design of assistive technology for people with cognitive impairment, Dr. Pollack earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics at Dartmouth College and an M.S. and Ph.D. in computer and information science at the University of Pennsylvania.

Special Guest

The Honorable Edward J. Markey, United States Senate

Senator Edward J. Markey, a consumer champion and national leader on energy, environmental protection and telecommunications policy, has a prolific legislative record on major issues across the policy spectrum and a deep commitment to improving the lives of the people of Massachusetts and our country.

Whether the issue is climate change, clean energy, safeguarding privacy, nuclear non-proliferation, investor protection or preserving an open Internet that spurs competition and consumer choice, Senator Markey stands up for the priorities and values of Massachusetts.

While serving for 37 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senator Markey fought for his constituents throughout his Congressional District. When he was Dean of the Massachusetts delegation in the House, he worked to harness the energy and influence of his colleagues on behalf of the entire Commonwealth. Elected to the Senate in a special election in June 2013, Senator Markey is bringing his experience, energy and expertise to fight for all the people of Massachusetts.

Personal Greetings

Erika James, Dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Erika H. James became the dean of the Wharton School on July 1, 2020. Trained as an organizational psychologist, Dean James is a leading expert on crisis leadership, workplace diversity, and management strategy.
 
Prior to her appointment at Wharton, Dean James was the John H. Harland Dean at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School from 2014 to 2020.  An award-winning educator, accomplished consultant, and researcher, she is the first woman and first person of color to be appointed dean in Wharton’s 141-year history. As such she has paved the way for women in leadership both in education and corporate America. Dean James has been instrumental in developing groundbreaking executive education programs, including the Women’s Leadership program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School. 
 
Known internationally, Dean James was named as one of the “Top 10 Women of Power in Education” by Black Enterprise and as one of the “Power 100” by Ebony. She has been quoted as an expert thought leader by the Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, CNN.com, and numerous other media outlets. 
 
In addition to her academic responsibilities, Dean James is a board member of SurveyMonkey, a California-based market research and customer-experience company, the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), and several organizations that align with her passion for education and advancing women in business. Additionally, she serves as an advisory board member to Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management and as an executive board member to the Indian School of Business.  She also serves on the board of Save the Children, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic opportunities.  
 
Dean James holds a Ph.D. and Master’s degree in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Pomona College of the Claremont Colleges in California.

Dr. Dwight McBride, President of The New School in NYC

Dr. Dwight A. McBride is President of The New School. He is an accomplished academic leader, educator, and scholar with nearly three decades in higher education. He was Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Emory University, where he was also Asa Griggs Candler Professor of African American Studies, Distinguished Affiliated Professor of English, and Associated Faculty in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. He was Northwestern University's Dean of The Graduate School, Associate Provost for Graduate Education, and Daniel Hale Williams Professor of African American Studies, English, and Performance Studies. He was Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago and was on the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. McBride has published several books and essays on connections between race theory, black studies, and identity politics. He is co-founder and co-editor of the James Baldwin Review and co-editor of The New Black Studies book series at the University of Illinois Press. He is a co-founder and co-director of the Academic Leadership Institute and is a member of LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education. He serves on the Boards of the Institute for International Education and the Dan David Prize.

A South Carolina native, he received his AB from Princeton University and his MA and PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Priyal Goyal '14, Director of Operations, Simmons Alumnae/i Association Executive Board

Priyal graduated from Simmons University in 2014 with a Bachelors in Computer Science & IT. She currently works as a Lead Systems Analyst, Assistant Vice-President for Wellington Management Company in Boston.

Priyal is also a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Organizational, Computational, and Information Sciences (COCIS) and a Director of Operations for Simmons Alumnae Association Executive Board. 

She enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, reading and trying different restaurants. She currently lives in Newton, MA with her husband. 

Performances

Nnenna Freelon ‘79, 2022 Grammy Award Nominee

Six-time GRAMMY® Award nominee Nnenna Freelon has earned a well-deserved reputation as a compelling and captivating live performer.

Nnenna is also a wife, mother, and sister who has experienced life's amazing gifts, and also its heartbreak. The loss of her soulmate and husband, renowned architect Phil Freelon, in 2019 to ALS, followed by the loss of her sister Debbie in 2020 to cancer, have reshaped her way of being in the world. 

Nnenna has felt the need to find her "voice" once more. through the lens of grief and loss.  Her new recording Time Traveler (her first studio recording in nearly ten years) is a reflection of this new territory, an intimate expression of her love for Phil  and their 40 year journey, and a universal love letter to all who’ve lost someone dear. Nnenna has been nominated for a Grammy award for Time Traveler in the category of Best Jazz Vocal Album. 

Her new Podcast, Greatgrief, is her effort to create a safe space to share others' stories of loss and grief, and to help strengthen community as words and music speak hopefully and  eloquently to our hearts. 

In the past couple of years, Nnenna starred in the critically acclaimed show “Georgia on My Mind: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles,” where she is no stranger to the music of the master singer - she has toured with Ray Charles, as well as many other greatest jazz artists including Al Jarreau, George Benson, Benny Golson, Ellis Marsalis, and others.

Nnenna has always been respected as an artist and for her passion for education. In November 2011, The White House asked Freelon to headline the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC)  for 300 Presidents, Premiers and Heads of State from around the world. 

Patrice Jackson, Berklee College of Music Associate Professor and cellist

Patrice Jackson, who has carved a name for herself as a gifted and charismatic young soloist, has been described as a “big-toned, boldly projected soloist” (Detroit News) who “wowed the audience with effortless facility, playful phrasing and a sense of spontaneity that one hears usually only from the highest caliber of musicians” (Hartford Courant).

In 2002, Jackson was awarded first place in the Senior Laureate Division of the nationally renowned Sphinx Competition, and was the recipient of the Yale University Aldo Parisot Prize, awarded to a “gifted cellist who shows promise for a concert career.” Since then, she has performed with the Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas, New Jersey, Milwaukee, Omaha, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Grand Rapids, Nashville, Hartford, Chautauqua, Colorado and Mississippi symphonies, as well as the Philadelphia Orchestra. Jackson has performanced with the Ritz Chamber Players, Castle of Our Skins, and Boston Conservatory Chamber Orchestra, in addition to faculty recitals at Boston Conservatory.

Jackson received both a Bachelor of Music degree and Artist Diploma from the Juilliard School, and a Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music. She has been a student of Janos Starker, Aldo Parisot, Joel Krosnick, and Bonnie Hampton. In addition to her classical credentials, Jackson has played behind some of the most iconic artists of our generation, including Alicia Keys, Kanye West, J-Cole, and Stevie Wonder. Professor Jackson will join the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Faculty in the summer of 2022. Ms. Jackson is an Associate Professor at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music and Berklee College of Music. 

Alondra Bobadilla, Boston’s first Youth Poet Laureate

Alondra Bobadilla was named Boston's first-ever Youth Poet Laureate in January of 2020. Alondra uses her writing to highlight social issues that impact her and her community. Through her own work, she demonstrates how creative expression can be a powerful tool for youth to examine feelings around issues, find their voice, and speak up about the changes they want to see for their future. Alondra is the author of a collection of poems entitled “With Clipped Wings”. She is a student at UMass Boston majoring in International Relations with a minor in Latin American Studies. 

Alondra will deliver a poem written especially for President Wooten’s Investiture.

Wesley Morris, Violinist

“To be the best that I can be” is the personal motto of Wesley Morris. Wesley is from a small island called Barbados located in the Caribbean and carries his islands heritage and pride with him wherever he goes. Wesley moved to Boston in 2019 pursuing a Bachelor’s degree from The prestigious Berklee College of Music with high hopes of furthering his musical education and enhancing his skillset on his instrument.

Wesley’s versatile playing has allowed him to perform at a variety of events. He had the opportunity to be an entertainer for the half time show at The Women’s National Basketball Association playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. He hopes that with the knowledge and experience gained thus far from his journey; that he can be a source of help and inspiration for future generations of creative and talented individuals in Barbados and beyond.

Uzo Ngwu, Harvard University - Berklee College of Music student

Uzo is part of the Harvard-Berklee dual-degree program where she studies Art, Film and Visual Studies and Vocal Performance respectively.

Student Speakers

Benediction

Delivered by Rev. Mashod Evans