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05/01/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/02/2026 01:26

Commencement Speaker, Honorary Degree Recipients, and Metcalf Winners Revealed at Senior Breakfast

Commencement Speaker, Honorary Degree Recipients, and Metcalf Winners Revealed at Senior Breakfast

Vertex CEO and President Reshma Kewalramani (CAS'98, CAMED'98) to deliver Commencement address May 17

BU's annual Senior Breakfast was attended by an estimated 2,500 Class of 2026 students spread out across three separate floors of the George Sherman Union

Student Life

Commencement Speaker, Honorary Degree Recipients, and Metcalf Winners Revealed at Senior Breakfast

Vertex CEO and President Reshma Kewalramani (CAS'98, CAMED'98) to deliver Commencement address May 17

May 1, 2026
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Vertex CEO and President Reshma Kewalramani will deliver the main address at Boston University's 153rd Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17.

The announcement came Friday morning during BU's annual Senior Breakfast at the George Sherman Union, which was attended by an estimated 2,500 Class of 2026 students. University President Melissa Gilliam revealed this year's honorary degree recipients at the breakfast, which is considered the official kickoff event of the Commencement season.

Kewalramani (CAS'98, CAMED'98), who graduated from BU's seven-year liberal arts-medical education program with honors, will also receive an honorary Doctor of Science at the Commencement ceremony.

The other honorary degree recipients announced by Gilliam: Rear Admiral Denise Hinton (MET'13), retired deputy surgeon general of the United States (honorary Doctor of Science); Hubert Jones (SSW'57), dean emeritus of the School of Social Work (honorary Doctor of Humane Letters); John Ward (LAW'76), founder of GLAD, now known as GLAD Law (GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders) (honorary Doctor of Laws); and Patricia Donahoe (Sargent'58), director of Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories and chief emerita of pediatric surgical services at Massachusetts General Hospital (honorary Doctor of Science). Ward will deliver the Baccalaureate address at Marsh Chapel on Commencement morning.

BU President Melissa Gilliam congratulates the graduating class at the podium.

Senior emcee Ace Mothershed (Wheelock'26) and Nancy Martinsen, associate dean of students, welcomed everyone to the breakfast. Rev. Robert Allan Hill, dean of Marsh Chapel, delivered an invocation before the seniors tucked into a meal of fresh fruit, pastries, lyonnaise potatoes, smoked apple sausage links, asparagus and cheddar egg strata, and tofu scramble.

The morning featured live performances by a BU Jazz Combo and the all-gender a cappella group In Achord and music from the 30-foot-tall John R. Silber Symphonic Organ. Cameras captured John Battaglino, assistant dean of students and senior advisor to the dean, interviewing members of the senior class and jazz band. Images of the seniors during their years at BU appeared on a big screen, along with a surprise cameo message from Tony Award-winning actor Dan Fogler (CFA'98), who has appeared in films such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Fanboys.

Class Gift committee members Riann Cyrus (CAS'26) and Abraham Budson-McQuilken (CGS'24, Questrom'26) then announced that the Class Gift-which supports programs like scholarships, student life, and athletics-has already raised more than $100,000, putting the Class of 2026 on track to set a record; the two encouraged their classmates to keep donating.

Mothershed gave a brief rundown of Commencement dos and don'ts (small purses only, stilettos are not Nickerson Field turf-friendly, and a prompt 12:15 pm arrival, please). And don't forget that tickets, though they're free, are required.

At the event, seniors squeeze into the GSU Link to sign their class banner and pick up their graduation cords

Jason Campbell-Foster, dean of students, delivered the news that Blake Hanrahan (Questrom'26) will be the Commencement student speaker. Hanrahan was chosen through an annual process: a committee of faculty and staff appointed by the BU president selects a student Commencement speaker from volunteering seniors, who tell their story about how BU shaped and inspired their lives.

Next was a social video announcing the Senior Week lineup: a day at Six Flags amusement park, two Red Sox games, a carnival, an evening at local nightclub Royale, and a food truck fest, to name a few. FYI: tickets go on sale Saturday, May 2, and sell out quickly.

Gilliam then took to the stage to welcome the class and to commemorate the longstanding annual breakfast before delivering more of the morning's big news: the honorary degree recipients.

In detail, they are:

Reshma Kewalramani (CAS'98, CAMED'98), CEO and president of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, has dedicated her career to developing life-changing medicines. Based in Boston, Vertex has several approved medicines that treat the underlying causes of cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (a genetic blood disorder), and acute pain.

Kewalramani trained in internal medicine and nephrology before entering the biopharmaceutical industry. She joined Vertex in 2017 as chief medical officer and executive vice president of global medicines development and medical affairs, before becoming CEO in 2020.

Hubert Jones (SSW'57) served as dean of the School of Social Work from 1977 to 1993 and retired as dean emeritus that year. A dedicated social worker and civic leader, he helped shape landmark reforms in inclusive education and played a pivotal role in founding, rebuilding, and guiding nonprofit service organizations in the Boston area. In recognition of his lasting impact, SSW named its annual symposium the Hubie Jones Lecture in Urban Health, in his honor.

Rear Admiral Denise Hinton (MET'13) retired in 2025 as the deputy surgeon general of the United States, where she advised the surgeon general and senior Department of Health and Human Services leaders, oversaw organizational and personnel operations, and supported the largest deployment of Commissioned Corps officers in history during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, Hinton held senior leadership roles at the US Food and Drug Administration and other executive positions in medical and regulatory policy. She earned a master's in health communication from Boston University.

Patricia Donahoe (Sargent'58) is director of Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories and chief emerita of pediatric surgical services at Massachusetts General Hospital. An avid athlete who was inducted into the University's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996 for multiple sports (lacrosse was her forte), Donahoe planned to become a physical education teacher until studying human physiology at Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences inspired her to attend medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She has made significant surgical contributions in pediatric urological and tracheoesophageal reconstructions, and her research has garnered worldwide recognition and acclaim. She served on the BU Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2009.

Early in his legal career, John Ward (LAW'76) grew frustrated with ongoing police harassment of gay men. In response, he brought together community activists to found Gay and Lesbian Advocates & Defenders-now GLAD Law (GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders). Over the years, he has handled numerous landmark cases involving LGBTQIA+ clients and became the first openly gay man to argue before the US Supreme Court. In 2021, he received the prestigious HistoryMaker Award from the History Project (now Queer History Boston), honoring his lasting impact on LGBTQIA+ communities in Boston and Massachusetts.

During Friday's breakfast, Gilliam also announced the recipients of the University's highest teaching honors, the Metcalf Cup and Prize and Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The top honor, the Cup and Prize, will be awarded to Julie Dahlstrom, associate dean of experiential education, clinical professor of law, and director of the Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking Program at BU's School of Law. The Metcalf Award winner is Monica Pessina (Sargent'90, CAMED'05), a clinical associate professor of anatomy and neurobiology at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Both will be honored during the 2026 Commencement ceremony.

Find more information about Commencement here.

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