Arianna Huffington is a universally acknowledged entrepreneur, writer, and proponent of wellness. (Photo/Courtesy of Thrive Global)
University
Arianna Huffington appointed speaker for USC’s 2025 baccalaureate ceremony
COMMENCEMENT: The pioneering entrepreneur will be celebrated and deliver remarks at the event on the evening of the university’s May 15 commencement.
Arianna Huffington, the founder and CEO of Thrive Global and co-founder of HuffPost, has been chosen to address USC’s 2025 baccalaureate ceremony, a segment of a variety of events leading up to USC’s 142nd commencement.
The baccalaureate serves as a non-denominational, interfaith gathering open to all students and their guests. Scheduled to take place at Bovard Auditorium at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, the event will showcase keynote speaker Huffington, along with numerous university dignitaries and spiritual leaders. The occasion usually concludes with a benediction.
USC will award over 18,000 degrees during commencement this year, including more than 1,000 doctoral degrees.
Huffington is a globally recognized entrepreneur, author, and wellness advocate. She established The Huffington Post, now known as HuffPost, in 2005 and later initiated Thrive Global, a prominent behavior change technology organization aimed at enhancing health outcomes and productivity. Thrive’s AI-driven platform aids individuals and organizations in improving well-being, performance, and mental resilience across more than 200 organizations worldwide.
Huffington has authored 15 books, including the internationally acclaimed bestsellers Thrive and The Sleep Revolution.
USC baccalaureate speaker: ‘World’s most influential’
Originally from Greece, Huffington relocated to England at the age of 16 and obtained a master’s degree in economics from Cambridge University, where she became the president of the esteemed Cambridge Union debating society. She has been acknowledged on Time magazine’s roster of the world’s 100 most influential individuals and Forbes’ Most Powerful Women list.
Tickets will be mandatory for USC commencement events this year, including the baccalaureate, where seats will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis.
At 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, USC will conduct the main commencement ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. More than 60,000 participants are projected to attend this year’s commencement. Individual school ceremonies are scheduled from Wednesday, May 14, to Saturday, May 17.