Watching our graduates cross the stage at Simmons’ 121st Commencement reminded me why higher education matters now more than ever.
We were honored to award an honorary degree to Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, whose remarks reflected so much of what makes both Simmons and Massachusetts exceptional. She spoke powerfully about higher education as a force for equity, innovation, and civic engagement and recognized Simmons as “an institution that has long stood for opportunity, leadership, service, and the empowerment of generations of women and changemakers.”
Her words reinforced something central to Simmons’ mission: education changes lives. It expands opportunity, strengthens communities, and helps shape the next generation of everyday leaders.
For more than 125 years, Simmons has prepared students to lead lives of purpose and impact across healthcare, business, education, science, public service, communications, social work, and beyond. As Boston’s only undergraduate women-centered university, we remain committed to career-connected learning, leadership development, and networks that empower students to create meaningful change in their professions and communities.
Massachusetts continues to thrive because of strong partnerships — across higher education, healthcare systems, nonprofit organizations, industry leaders, public institutions, and community organizations — all united by a shared investment in people and in one another. I am deeply grateful to our partners across the Commonwealth, in both the public and private sectors, who help create opportunities for our students and strengthen the communities we collectively serve.
To the Class of 2026: thank you for reminding us why this work matters. Your future is not something waiting to be discovered. It is something you will create.
As Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll reminded our graduates, “your Commonwealth is cheering you on.” At Simmons, we always will be, too — as a lifelong community that will continue to celebrate and support you wherever life takes you next.