Brandeis Commencement: Sheryl Sandberg & Isabel Wilkerson to Speak

Brandeis University has announced Sheryl Sandberg, former Chief Operating Officer of Meta, and Isabel Wilkerson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, as the keynote speakers for its 75th Commencement exercises on Sunday, May 17. The university will also award honorary degrees to both speakers, along with four additional recipients.

Business Leaders and Journalists to Address Graduates

Sandberg will address undergraduate students. She is a noted entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist, and currently invests in early-stage companies through Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners. She recently led the 2024 documentary film “Screams Before Silence,” focusing on the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.

Wilkerson will deliver the Graduate Commencement address. She is recognized for her narrative nonfiction work, including the critically acclaimed books “The Warmth of Other Suns” and “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” the latter of which was named Time magazine’s No. 1 Nonfiction Book of the Year in 2020. She is the first Black woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in journalism.

Did You Know? Isabel Wilkerson is the first Black journalist to win a Pulitzer Prize for individual reporting.

Brandeis President Arthur Levine stated the university is “thrilled to honour these six individuals for their outstanding contributions to society and the world.” The undergraduate ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m., and the graduate ceremony for 3 p.m., both at the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center.

Expert Insight: The selection of Sandberg and Wilkerson suggests Brandeis University values leadership in both the business and journalistic spheres, as well as a commitment to social impact and historical understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who will deliver the Undergraduate Commencement address?

Sheryl Sandberg, former Chief Operating Officer of Meta, will deliver the Undergraduate Commencement address.

Who will deliver the Graduate Commencement address?

Isabel Wilkerson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, will deliver the Graduate Commencement address.

When and where will the Commencement exercises be held?

The 75th Commencement exercises will be held on Sunday, May 17, at the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. The undergraduate ceremony will begin at 9 a.m., and the graduate ceremony at 3 p.m.

As Brandeis University prepares to celebrate its 75th Commencement, what qualities do you believe are most important for graduates to carry forward as they enter the next phase of their lives?