That message—shared by Western New England University Board of Trustees Chair Elena Gervino as she reflected on her own journey from waitlisted law school applicant to University leader—captured the spirit of Western New England University’s 2026 Commencement ceremonies on Thursday, May 14, at the MassMutual Center.
Celebrating resilience, perseverance, and the confidence to pursue opportunity, the University awarded 887 degrees across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs during two ceremonies honoring the Class of 2026. The day included the conferral of 483 bachelor’s degrees during the morning undergraduate ceremony and 404 graduate degrees in the afternoon, including 236 master’s degrees and 168 doctoral degrees.
The ceremonies also marked an important leadership transition for the University, with incoming President Joseph C. Hartman participating in the undergraduate commencement ahead of officially assuming the presidency on June 1.
Interim President Michael B. Alexander reflected on the accomplishments of the graduates and the values that will guide them moving forward.
“College is not an end to learning, nor is it a beginning. It is an acceleration,” Alexander told graduates. “Work hard, persevere, seek the truth in all things, and be kind.”
Board of Trustees Chair Elena Gervino, a 1988 graduate of the School of Law, encouraged graduates to advocate for themselves and pursue opportunities with confidence.
“Sometimes the most important door in your life opens because you had the courage to knock,” said Gervino, who shared the story of being waitlisted before ultimately being admitted to WNE Law.
Undergraduate student speaker Camden Kaufmann, a Springfield native graduating with dual degrees in Political Science and Criminal Justice, reflected on the unique experience of a class that entered college just as COVID-era restrictions were ending and learned to navigate an uncertain and rapidly changing world together.
“We’re stepping into a world that’s unpredictable and fast moving, but we’ve already shown who we are,” Kaufmann said. “We are the class that is adaptable when the world changes and shows up when it gets hard.”
The University also recognized nationally respected leaders during the ceremonies through honorary degree presentations.
Martin "Marty" J. Walsh told students to be prepared for life of ups and downs. As a childhood cancer survivor, who "barely got through high school," who worked as a union laborer, who struggled with alcoholism and has been in recovery, and who became the Mayor of Boston, the U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Joe Biden, and is the current NHL Players’ Association Executive Director, Walsh received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of his leadership in labor rights, public service, and social justice.
"My life wasn't a straight line. My life was a crooked line. All of our lives are crooked lines. Nothing is straightforward. Nothing is just going to happen. You're going to have ups and downs, good days and bad days, good moments and bad moments. But at the end of the day, it's what you can do in the course of a day to make your life and your family's life better. That's really important. Anything is possible."
During the graduate ceremony, Sheryl McQuade, Regional President of TD Bank’s New England Metro and a proud WNE alumna, also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
McQuade urged graduates to remain adaptable in a rapidly changing world.
“The most successful among you won’t be the ones who believe they know everything,” McQuade said. “They’ll be the ones who stay curious enough to keep learning… humble enough to unlearn… and courageous enough to relearn.”
She also encouraged graduates to prioritize relationships and authenticity throughout their careers.
“People still work for people. People still do business with people,” she said. “Your credibility will travel faster than your résumé.”
The undergraduate ceremony also included recognition of Associate Professor of Chemistry Nuwan De Silva as the recipient of the 2026 Teaching Excellence Award. Students praised De Silva for making complex scientific concepts approachable and for creating a “warm, stress-free environment” that inspired confidence and curiosity.
The undergraduate class represented 15 states, with the top 5 fields of study being Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Finance, and Computer Science. Graduate and professional students came from 26 states. In addition, the graduating class included international students from Canada, India, Mexico, Spain, Saint Lucia, and the United States.
As graduates crossed the stage and joined the ranks of more than 50,000 Golden Bear alumni worldwide, the ceremonies celebrated not only academic achievement, but the resilience, leadership, and sense of purpose that will shape the next chapter of their lives.
Visit the WNE Commencement website for links to view both recorded ceremonies.
