Celebrating the Class of 2025

Commencement day 2025

May 19, 2025

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences celebrated its Class of 2025 graduates today with a Diploma Ceremony at Woolsey Hall, followed by a reception in Commons.

The day began with a procession to Yale’s Old Campus, where the University symbolically conferred degrees on all undergraduate and graduate students from the Class of 2025.

The Graduate School awarded a total of 776 degrees, including 120 Master of Arts (MA), 258 Master of Science (MS), 126 Master of Philosophy (MPhil), and 272 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

GSAS students Brianna Jackson (PhD, Nursing) and John T. Gonzalez (PhD, Pathology and Molecular Medicine) served as banner bearers for the Graduate School.

Rachel Fine (MA, Music), Julia Stiller (MS, Statistics and Data Science), Shavanie Prashad (MPhil, PhD, Molecular Biophysics and Biochemis), and Jasmine Mah (PhD, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) served as student marshals.

During the Diploma Ceremony, Graduate School Dean Lynn Cooley encouraged graduates to share their knowledge and expertise with others and to advocate for the important work being done within research universities.

“You have spent your time at Yale making discoveries and creating new knowledge that will benefit humanity. As you leave Yale, you take with you not just knowledge, but the ability to think critically and innovatively about the problems our society faces,” Cooley said.

“You are problem solvers, leaders, team players, and effective communicators. I entreat you to spread your knowledge and expertise with others, and to communicate your ideas in language everyone can understand. Be a fierce advocate for the vital work being done within research universities, and the freedom of scholars to pursue and share knowledge. Cast Yale’s ‘light and truth’ out into the world.”