On Sunday, May 17, Penn’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS) welcomed the Class of 2026, along with family, friends, faculty, and staff, for a graduation ceremony in Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center in downtown Philadelphia. This year, LPS conferred 461 degrees—73 undergraduate degrees and 388 master’s degrees across 14 programs—on graduating students who hailed from 19 different countries.
After the traditional procession of degree candidates to “Pomp and Circumstance,” Vice Dean Nora E. Lewis opened the ceremony. In her remarks, she welcomed graduates and their supporters. “On this occasion,” she said, “we rejoice in the celebration of ideas and of people who embody the excellence we associate with Penn: extraordinary minds, outstanding scholarship, and endless potential.”
Mark Trodden, PhD, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, also greeted LPS graduates and guests gathered in the hall, sharing details about the college’s trailblazing history widening educational opportunity and innovating educational delivery. Dean Trodden spoke on how the spectrum of student backgrounds and experiences adds to the richness of studying with LPS. He also noted a common thread of every graduate’s story: “a passion for knowledge and the extraordinary perseverance required to achieve it.” In closing, Dean Trodden welcomed graduates to the Penn Alumni family and predicted their bright future. “Based on everything you’ve accomplished so far, I know that you will continue to grow as individuals and to better the world around you.”
The 2026 graduation speaker was Dr. Cam Grey, professor of classical studies and chair of the Graduate Group in Ancient History at Penn. Like the degree candidates he spoke to, Dr. Grey is also a lifelong learner and LPS graduate who, after earning his PhD in 2002 and launching his academic career, enrolled in LPS’ Master of Environmental Studies to explore a research interest, graduating in 2014.
During his address, he described what makes LPS graduates “the most perfect instantiations of what education should be.” Embracing lifelong learning requires rigor and empathy, he noted, before discussing the Ancient Greek concept of paideia—education in its broadest sense. Much like an LPS education, the practice resulted in diversity and individualism and exemplified the purposeful and practical dimensions of education. “Education was about claiming and taking one's place in the civic community as a participant,” he explained. “Simply put, education was to be consciously embraced with the goal not simply of advancing oneself, but also of improving the commonweal; that is, the good that's attainable only as a community, but is shared and enjoyed by its individual members. So, you've been doing something pretty noble here in completing, returning to, or enhancing your education.”
He concluded by stressing the importance of participation in the democratic process. “I want to suggest that in so far as ‘knowledge is power,’ sharing knowledge is sharing power,” he said. “What you've spent the past several years doing is perfecting your capacities to participate as citizens in this society, because this society as a democracy rests fundamentally on the principle of sharing power. By sharing knowledge in cars and classrooms, in cafes and bars and service projects and fieldwork, you're sharing power, committing small acts of democracy at every turn. Right now, in this moment, I can think of no better advertisement for education in general and for your education in particular. It's in you that our democracy's hopes lie. Go on, get out there and do it.”
A special acknowledgement was given to Dennis DeTruck, PhD, Robert A. Fox Leadership Professor and Professor of Mathematics, who received the LPS Award of Distinction. LPS winners of distinguished teaching awards, Class of 2026 student award winners, and LPSGov officers were also recognized before the presentation of graduates, which concluded the ceremony.
We invite you to join us in honoring the accomplishments of our Class of 2026.
Watch a video of the ceremony on YouTube >
View photos from the ceremony on the Graduation 2026 page >
