Oberlin Honors the Class of 2026

Gray skies eventually gave way to sunshine as nearly 800 graduates of Oberlin’s Class of 2026 gathered in Tappan Square on Memorial Day to celebrate Commencement.

The ceremony, featuring a keynote address from philanthropy leader Cecilia A. Conrad, capped a weekend of Commencement and Milestone Reunion festivities that included family socials, conservatory recitals, and an Illumination celebration that was moved indoors to dodge persistent rain.

Students processed onto the square in black robes, many of them adorned with colorful sashes and cords, to the strains of Pomp and Circumstance, performed by the Commencement Brass Ensemble.

The celebration opened with an invocation from Multifaith Chaplain David Dorsey, followed by greetings from Board of Trustees Chair Charles S. Birenbaum ’79. Delivering his first Commencement remarks as chair, Birenbaum reflected on his family’s longstanding ties to Oberlin, including daughter Julia ’17.

“People who graduate from Oberlin do important work,” he said. “People who graduate from Oberlin push the borders of knowledge and energize society. You, too, will do this through your art, your music, creative writing, research, intensive study and analysis, and hard work.”

President Carmen Twillie Ambar welcomed the Class of 2026 by thanking students for contributing so much “to Oberlin’s success” and reminding them that they had not reached this milestone alone.

“I would like you to acknowledge the people who helped you be here—namely your parents, your grandparents, your families, your friends,” she said.

Ambar then introduced student speaker Katie Priscott, who graduated with a degree in creative writing, a minor in dance, and a concentration in arts administration and leadership. Priscott (pictured below, at podium) urged her classmates to resist diminishing their accomplishments with the qualifier “just,” citing examples such as: “It’s just two pirouettes—I should be able to do three.”

She acknowledged the difficulty of graduating into “a country, an economy” that is difficult to think about for too long “without a pit growing in your stomach,” and the temptation to “fall into the void of the ‘justs’—that we’re just not equipped to do anything to make a difference, that it’s just too hard.”

Before concluding, Priscott offered one exception: “It’s for all of us to proudly say, ‘I just graduated from Oberlin College and Conservatory!’”

Oberlin recognized six leaders in public service, scholarship, the arts, and the community, with Oberlin faculty and trustees presenting honorary degrees and awards to exceptional alumni and friends of the college.

Chloe E. Bird ’86 received an Honorary Doctor of Science for her work as a leading sociologist in women’s health, whose research on structural inequities has helped advance policy and institutional change. 

Internationally acclaimed dramatic soprano Christine Goerke received an Honorary Doctor of Music in recognition of her celebrated opera and concert career and her mentorship of young artists.

Carla D. Hayden, who served as the 14th Librarian of Congress and was the first woman and first Black person to hold the position—as well as the first professional librarian confirmed to the role in more than 60 years—received an Honorary Doctor of Science. She is widely recognized for transforming the Library of Congress into a more open and accessible institution.

Economist Cecilia A. Conrad, founding CEO of Lever for Change and former head of the MacArthur Fellows Program, who is recognized for advancing equity in charitable giving and expanding opportunities for nonprofit innovation, received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.