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Thank you immensely, David, and what a splendid day it is. Wow.

Good morning to all! It is genuinely my profound privilege to be present today for Caltech’s 131st Commencement Ceremony. Firstly, I wish to recognize the faculty and trustees, and extend my gratitude to Caltech’s dedicated staff, the individuals who truly perform all the tasks necessary for such ceremonies to unfold. As a college president, I am aware of what it requires. Let’s express our appreciation for them.

I also want to extend particular thanks to you, President Rosenbaum, whom I’ve known for nearly 40 years. Tom, I wish you immense success in your concluding year as president.

The most recent occasion Tom and I shared at a remarkable event like this was the Nobel Prize ceremony, to which we were graciously invited by Professors Kip Thorne and Barry Barish for their contributions to the discovery of gravitational waves. Tom, don’t you think it’s about time for Caltech to receive another Nobel Prize? I suspect we have several future Nobel laureates among today’s graduates. To the parents, partners, family members, and friends present to celebrate this significant day with your loved ones, as a parent and grandparent myself, I understand precisely what you’re experiencing. It’s a mixture of pride, accomplishment, and perhaps even a hint of relief, if not a vast amount. I believe I speak for everyone when I assert that your unwavering support and encouragement are profoundly valued. Let’s applaud all the parents and family members who made this possible. Without them, you would not be here, in a literal sense.

Most importantly, to the Caltech graduates of 2025, heartfelt congratulations! You did it! All those late nights, the multitude of coffee—and I hope it was mostly coffee—the headaches, tears, breakthrough moments, and countless hours of commitment have finally borne fruit. Today marks a moment of transition as you embark on a new chapter in your journey. For many of you, this can be a bittersweet experience. It’s a time filled with excitement, anticipation, and also a measure of anxiety. These emotions are entirely warranted. Some of you will further your education in graduate school or as postdocs; others will transition into the workforce in academia or industry, and some will venture down bold entrepreneurial paths we can’t yet envision.

Whichever route you choose, I wish you success but also remind you that you are departing Caltech, this bastion of excellence, at a particularly challenging time, especially for science, engineering, and what I refer to as the creative economy. There exists uncertainty and instability within the job market, and public trust in scientific and educational institutions is diminishing among many demographics.

I won’t sugarcoat it for you. These are indeed tough times, and it’s crucial we recognize that. However, don’t fret; this is not going to be a pessimistic address. Why? Because I guarantee, based on my life experiences, that the chances for new discoveries and breakthroughs across all realms of the creative economy are more abundant than ever. These are challenging times, yet in a constructive sense, and you are positioned to be at the forefront of new advancements. You possess the opportunity and capability to positively transform the world.

Why do I hold this belief? First and foremost, you are Caltech graduates… well, or you will be shortly. You have navigated one of the most challenging and esteemed institutions globally, and you have triumphed. You have been instructed to tackle every issue with creativity, analytical precision, and integrity. What you have absorbed here equips you for any challenge that lies ahead. Being a Caltech graduate unveils a cosmos of possibilities and carries profound obligations regarding your pursuit of knowledge for society and yourselves.

I assert that there are essential values, attributes, skills, and habits that prepare us to navigate even the most daunting circumstances. Among these are community, diligence, the drive and desire to perpetually learn, persistence, resilience (a term you’ve likely heard extensively over these last two days), and a touch of fortune. Today, I wish to discuss these attributes, which you have refined during your time here, and how they will support you as you commence this next phase. Along the way, I’ll share some lessons I’ve gained throughout my life, hoping they will offer guidance as you contemplate your futures.

I often describe my life as an existence proof, a term that mathematicians will recognize. This does not imply that my life and career should be emulated by everyone, but I believe it showcases some of the opportunities for growth and accomplishment accessible to all.

In my early years, I grasped the significance of community, and I am certain this is something you have all realized during your time here. The individuals around you can profoundly impact your life. I grew up in the Deep South of the United States in a town called Hattiesburg, Mississippi, during the 1940s and ’50s, during a period marked by division and segregation. Schools, department stores, movie theaters, drinking fountains, even neighborhoods were segregated into Black and white sections. That reality influenced me, yet amidst that environment, I was raised in an exceptionally close-knit and supportive community. My mother was an elementary school teacher and principal. My aunt was also an educator. Hence, education was a deeply embedded value in my family. Our schools may have been segregated, but we were fortunate to have excellent educators who cared about our futures. My community fostered encouragement and support, allowing me to excel academically and progress to Morehouse College directly from the 10th grade. Community is vital; be sure to invest time in making and cherishing friendships.

My collegiate education truly transformed me, as I am certain yours has as well. It imparted numerous vital lessons that resonate with me to this day. First and foremost, diligence. You all have reached graduation today, which reassures me that hard work is something you are intimately familiar with here at Caltech. I apologize for being the bearer of unwelcome news, but the necessity for hard work does not conclude here. In fact, this is merely the beginning. Very few people achieve success without dedicated time and effort, yet that hard work becomes much lighter when you are engaged in something you are passionate about.

Cultivate your confidence. This doesn’t come instinctively to everyone; it emerged much later for me. However, it is essential for you to believe that, through commitment, you can reach your ambitions. I’m sure you’ve encountered the term … perhaps you have … it’s called imposter syndrome, the belief that you do not genuinely deserve what you have obtained. Well, as you depart today, I want you to leave your imposter syndrome behind. You wouldn’t be graduating if you weren’t meant to be here. You earned this.

Seek out mentors who both motivate and challenge you. In my sophomore year in college, I enrolled in my first physics class. Since I left high school at the 10th grade, I missed out on trigonometry and geometry, foundational math classes, but I had a professor, Sabinus Hobart Christensen, who I regard as one of my esteemed mentors. He taught me a plethora about physics and, even more significantly, how sharing knowledge and uplifting others can transform lives. As Caltech alumni, you will have access to an extraordinary wealth of knowledge, experience, and support here on campus and around the globe. Capitalize on that. I have been very fortunate to enjoy the guidance of remarkable mentors, and I have always aimed to give back.

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that propel me forward through self-mentorship. I urge you to undertake the same journey as it is profoundly fulfilling.

I recognize that many of you are deeply entrenched in scientific and engineering disciplines, but I also hope that, throughout your experience here, you have discovered and will continue to embrace the liberal arts. The liberal arts have taught me the art of learning and opened doors I never anticipated, leading to perhaps the most astonishing turn in my life—becoming the president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. If you believe you have faced imposter syndrome, imagine being a physicist in charge of an art institution. It’s a profound learning experience, I assure you. Cultivating an appreciation for art, music, literature, philosophy, and history will enhance your life and provide you with a richer perspective of the world and those around you. It will also make you a more engaging conversationalist.

Over the past two decades, I have had the joy and honor of collaborating with brilliant and gifted individuals across this creative landscape, which includes sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and art and design. I firmly believe that all creative minds share a collection of mutual and complementary traits. Curiosity—something your chairman mentioned—can be found in all creative individuals driven to grasp more about the world and its workings. I’m certain that curiosity is what initially drew many of you to Caltech. Creative individuals possess an analytical nature. No significant discovery has ever been made, nor has any story or artwork ever come to life without someone questioning why, how, and what if. Maintain your curiosity, consistently question, and always strive to uncover what lies beneath the surface.

You are all innovators in your respective realms, and one of the most invaluable and extraordinary attributes of the creative community is the capacity to absorb knowledge. During your tenure here, you have mastered the art of acquiring new knowledge, comprehending varied disciplines, gathering insights, discerning what is significant, and applying your expertise. This is a treasured skill, whether in a laboratory, corporate environment, or your own startup, so heed my advice: never cease learning. Your life will be all the more vibrant and enriching for it.

Exercise persistence. You are familiar with challenges. You commenced your studies amidst the pandemic and have witnessed political and social turmoil. Some of you may have lost homes, or know friends or family who have suffered losses due to the California fires. President Rosenbaum recounted to me the remarkable journey of one of your classmates named Sasha, who came from Ukraine to chase her dream of an academic career. As conflict overtook her homeland, Sasha exhibited remarkable focus and resolve, continuing her research and enhancing her academic achievements. In spite of her profound concern for her family and home, she steadfastly pursued her aspirations. Although Sasha cannot join us today, her story serves as an inspiration to us all.

As graduates, whichever path you choose will demand patience, perseverance, and resilience, as I mentioned earlier. There will be tough times ahead, and I fear we are already stepping into such a period where you will need to be resilient, to believe that improvements are possible, and to recognize your significant role in fostering that betterment. Not every opportunity will come to fruition, not every endeavor will flourish, and it may require several attempts to achieve the results you desire.

One of the significant challenges will be restoring public confidence and trust in our institutions of knowledge. How we steer ourselves as informed individuals will be crucial in rehabilitating that trust. Ensure that your work is approached with the highest degree of rigor and stands up to thorough scrutiny. Communicate your findings in a clear, concise, and thoughtful manner, especially to general audiences. We must be more transparent about how and why we arrived at the conclusions in our research.

I urge you to consistently consider the impact and repercussions of your endeavors. Collaborating often aids in this process. We might envision a gulf between scientific and non-scientific fields, but the truth is they are interdependent. We have accomplished astonishing progress in areas like artificial intelligence, nanoscience, and biological engineering. Science and engineering have ushered in these advancements, yet the arts, humanities, and social sciences are critical to understanding how these will affect us as a society and species. Forge connections across disciplines and beyond, and welcome a variety of perspectives. Your work will thrive because of it.

So, class of 2025, you are a creative community of explorers, problem solvers, scholars, builders, and visionaries. Genuine creativity is rooted in qualities that cannot be automated. What you have absorbed here at Caltech will unveil a universe of possibilities, lead to opportunities you never envisioned, and transform your life in unforeseen ways. I wish you immense success, joy, and a sprinkle of luck. We all require a touch of luck in our lives. As you embark into the world, remember that I believe in you, your professors believe in you, and your friends and family support you. Now, I challenge you to believe in yourselves. Utilize the lessons you have learned here and go out to change the world, making it a better place for all. This is your moment. Remind yourself, “I’ve got this!”

Thank you, and best wishes.

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