Renowned writer Elizabeth Alexander to speak at Baccalaureate ceremony

Writer, poet and memoirist Elizabeth Alexander has been named as speaker for this year’s Baccalaureate. The multifaith celebration led by graduating students will take place on Saturday, June 16, at 10 a.m. in the Main Quad.

As Baccalaureate speaker, writer Elizabeth Alexander will provide graduates and their friends and families with inspirational words acknowledging the spiritual contribution to their education. (Image credit: Andrew H. Walker)

Alexander is president of the Mellon Foundation, a philanthropic organization for higher education and the arts. Her writing, which addresses topics such as race, gender, politics and motherhood, has been published in numerous journals, including the Village Voice, Prairie Schooner and Paris Review. Her 2005 book of poems, American Sublime, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

In 2009, then President-elect Barack Obama asked Alexander to compose and read a poem for his inauguration. The poem, “Praise Song for the Day,” was recited before an international audience and later published.

A native of Harlem, New York, Alexander grew up in Washington, D.C. Her father, Clifford Alexander, was the former U.S. Secretary of the Army and the first African-American to hold the position. She received degrees from Yale and Boston universities before earning her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.

The Rev. Professor Jane Shaw, dean for religious life at Stanford, called Alexander a supremely talented and thoughtful poet, essayist and memoirist whose advocacy of the arts is vital in today’s world.

“Her ability to articulate the importance of the arts and humanities, as well as a sense of the sacred, for reaching beyond ourselves and connecting to others makes her voice an important one for our graduating students as they go out into the world,” Shaw said.

As Baccalaureate speaker, Alexander will provide graduates and their friends and families with inspirational words acknowledging the spiritual contribution to their education. More information about Baccalaureate is available online.

Baccalaureate will also include a student speaker who offers reflections into a spiritual journey at Stanford. To find the right speaker, the Office of Religious Life is holding a contest. Graduating seniors interested in giving the address can submit a speech by Sunday, April 29, at 11:59 p.m. Further details about submissions are available online.

Commencement deadlines

Commencement will be held on Sunday, June 17, at 9:30 a.m. at Stanford Stadium. Only eligible candidates who filed an application with the University Registrar to graduate in the current academic year can participate in the ceremony. The application deadline is Friday, April 13, at 5 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will be assessed a $50 late fee. Late applications will not be accepted after June 6 at 5 p.m.

April 30 is the last day to order caps and gowns online.

Commencement will be followed by diploma ceremonies hosted by individual schools and departments across campus. Students should check with their departments for further details.

More information about Commencement weekend and degree and graduation requirements is available online.