Fairfield University celebrated its 75th Commencement Exercises, honoring nearly 2,000 graduates who earned associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from all five academic schools. The three days of ceremonies included a historic milestone: the inaugural Commencement Ceremony for Fairfield Bellarmine, recognizing the first graduating class of the University’s two-year associate’s degree program.
Undergraduate Ceremony: May 18 on Bellarmine Lawn
Under bright skies on the morning of Sunday, May 18, graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and the School of Engineering and Computing gathered on Bellarmine Lawn to begin a day filled with pride, reflection, and purpose.
The Commencement address was delivered by Timothy Shriver, PhD, chairman of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors, who received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his leadership in promoting dignity, inclusion, and global education.
Joining Shriver on stage was Rev. John F. Baldovin, S.J., a distinguished professor of liturgical theology at Boston College’s Clough School of Theology and Ministry, and a former longtime member of Fairfield’s Board of Trustees. Fr. Baldovin was also honored with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his leadership and contributions to theological education and the Church.
Drawing from his decades of experience with the Special Olympics, Shriver shared a moving story from the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Torino, Italy, where athletes from 150 countries marched in joyful celebration. He said, “They carried labels with them like Down syndrome or autism or Fragile X, intellectual disability, developmental disability, and more.” One police officer witnessing the scene remarked, “I just saw the whole world pass before my eyes, and it was beautiful.”
Shriver encouraged the Class of 2025 to “see” from the “inside out,” honoring dignity — their own and that of others: “If you give your heart a chance to see... you can meet people without an agenda... We can meet just as we are. Just beautiful. All of us. No exceptions.”
Echoing the words of the Torino police officer, Shriver told the graduates: “When you walk by, up here, I hope your parents and your friends and your teachers and your fans — I hope they'll join me in saying: 'In the Class of 2025, we see the whole world passing before our eyes — and it is beautiful.'”
Undergraduate speaker Zachary Christian Maloy '25 captured the spirit of the day and the lasting impact of the Fairfield experience: “We often hear, 'College is the best four years of your life.' I disagree," he said. "College is the four years that teach you how to live the best years of your life. Because what we built here — these relationships, this community, this Fairfield family — it’s not just nostalgia; it’s foundation.”
University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD, also addressed the Class of 2025, concluding his remarks with a charge to graduates: “I would remind you one last time… never forget, the world needs what you do. Fairfield is blessed to have an approach, a commitment to value-based, student-centric, outcomes-focused education, which calls us to be a model for others, to be a model of modern excellence, to be a model of the modern, Jesuit Catholic University. Members of the Class of 2025, as graduates, you are now stewards of this model.”
For the livestream recording of Fairfield University’s 75th Commencement undergraduate ceremony, visit the undergraduate page of the Fairfield.edu/commencement website.
Graduate Ceremony: May 17 in the Leo D. Mahoney Arena
On Saturday, May 17, Fairfield’s graduate Commencement Exercises were held at the Leo D. Mahoney Arena, recognizing advanced degree recipients from the University’s five schools —the College of Arts and Sciences, the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, the School of Engineering and Computing, and the School of Education and Human Development.
The graduate Commencement address was delivered by Cathy E. Minehan, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and a respected leader in finance, higher education, and public service. Minehan received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
In her remarks, she reminded graduates of their responsibility to remain actively engaged citizens: “With your new degree comes some responsibilities. A major one is the need to engage in and understand what is going on around you in the larger world.”
An additional honorary degree was awarded during the graduate ceremony to Robin Bennett Kanarek ’96, Fairfield alumna, philanthropist, and former trustee, who was honored for her enduring contributions to health care and education.
For the livestream recording of Fairfield University’s 75th Commencement graduate ceremony, visit the graduate page of the Fairfield.edu/commencement website.
Fairfield Bellarmine Ceremony: May 15 at the Regina A. Quick Center
The Commencement weekend began with a historic milestone on May 15, as Fairfield Bellarmine celebrated the graduation of its inaugural class. Thirty-five students were honored at a moving ceremony held at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, recognizing their completion of Fairfield University’s new two-year associate degree program offering tracks in business, computer science, health studies, and liberal studies. As part of the University’s 75th Commencement celebrations, the event marked a significant step forward in Fairfield’s mission to expand access to Jesuit Catholic higher education.
For a livestream recording of Fairfield University's Inaugural Fairfield Bellarmine Commencement, visit Fairfield.edu/bellarmine/commencement.
