Mary Grant gives powerful endorsement of the liberal arts at Eastern commencement

Mary Grant, president of the Massachusetts School of Art and Design, was the featured speaker at Eastern Connecticut State University’s 135th Commencement Exercises, held on May 20 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. Grant, who also received an honorary degree from Eastern at the ceremonies, told the graduating class of 2025, “You are the creative leaders, the thinkers, the change makers our world wants and needs.”

A first-generation college student, Grant lauded “the transformative power of education. It doesn’t just change your life. What you do with your education changes the lives of so many others.”

As a strong advocate of a public liberal arts education that institutions like Eastern provide, Grant said, “I admire so much the mission of this critically important institution. Examining the facts and thinking deeply is increasingly undervalued and we have a responsibility to strengthen this essential practice.

“Your education, no matter the major, has been built upon the richness of studying and exploring history, literature, philosophy, the arts and humanities — subjects that enable you to follow complex thoughts, to go beyond the surface or what is easy and obvious, and to understand what it truly means to be human. As liberal arts students, you have learned the power of thoughtful questions posed well. Your education has prepared you to think critically, to make ethical decisions, to communicate fully, and to appreciate the complexity of the human experience. Your liberal arts education strengthens, stretches and builds muscles of empathy, humanity and humor. These are not ‘soft skills.’ These are essential skills.”

Noting that the Class of 2025 was the first class to enter Eastern post-COVID, Grant said “The resilience to move forward in the face of uncertainty is powerful. … Don’t forget the friendships you have made here. Stay connected and show up.”

Grant is a nationally recognized leader in public higher education with more than 30 years of experience. She currently serves as president of Massachusetts College of Art and Design — the nation’s only independent public college of art and design. Grant also led the University of North Carolina Asheville as chancellor and served more than a decade as president of her alma mater, the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), advancing civic learning, student success and institutional growth. Her previous roles include president and CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and senior administrative fellow for civics and social justice at the Martin Richard Institute at Bridgewater State University.

At Eastern’s 135th Commencement Exercises, more than 900 undergraduate students received degrees from the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education and Professional Studies, recognizing a diverse graduating class whose accomplishments reflect Eastern's mission as Connecticut's only public liberal arts university.

Other speakers at the graduation ceremony included Marty Guay, chairman of the Board of Regents; Eastern President Karim Ismaili; Aynsley Diamond, associate vice president for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities; Ellen Lang ’81, representing the ECSU Foundation Board of Directors; and Felishka Ramirez ’25, who gave the senior class address and presented President Ismaili with the Senior Class Gift.