As Class Day Nears, Harvard College Has Yet To Name Annual Speaker

Harvard College has not yet said who will address graduating seniors at Class Day, breaking from the University’s typical timeline for naming the annual speaker.

The Harvard Alumni Association has not publicly named a speaker for the May 27 ceremony. For the last two decades, Harvard has typically announced the College Class Day speaker in late April or early May.

Last year, Harvard announced basketball player, author, and activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as Class Day speaker on April 22 — 36 days before the ceremony. This year, the announcement has still not come with nine days remaining before Class Day.

The HAA leads the speaker selection process with input from the Class Committee, a group of 32 graduating seniors elected by their peers in the fall. The committee also helps organize senior events, including Senior Assassins, fundraising for the Harvard College Fund, and the Class Day ceremony.

It is unclear if a Class Day speaker has been confirmed privately. First Marshal Charisma W. Chen ’26, Second Marshal Mohan Hathi ’26, Treasurer Nicholas S. “Nick” Kalkanis ’26 and Secretary Jacqui R. Schlesinger ’26 declined to comment on the delay in a statement.

“The HAA leads choosing the Class Day speaker with input from the leadership of the Class Committee. Please stay tuned for an email from the Class Committee soon for the announcement,” they wrote.

HAA spokesperson Cameron Wolfsen wrote in a statement that the HAA leads the Class Day speaker selection process “in coordination” with the Class Committee.

Class Day, traditionally held the day before University-wide Commencement, includes speeches from the featured speaker, College administrators, and graduating seniors.

Harvard has announced its College Class Day speaker more than a month before the ceremony in most recent years, with a median announcement date 28 days before Class Day.

The latest announcement in that period came in 2024, when Harvard named Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons ’67 and Securitas employee Bill Oliverio as Class Day speakers one day before the ceremony. The announcement followed a prolonged speaker search in which more than 10 people declined to serve as speakers.

But other recent announcements came significantly earlier. Former Vice President Joe Biden was announced 42 days before the 2017 ceremony, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 34 days before the 2018 ceremony, former Vice President Al Gore ’69 28 days before the 2019 ceremony, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 28 days before the 2022 ceremony.

Other Harvard schools have already announced their Class Day speakers. Harvard Business School announced on May 6 that former U.S. Sen Mitt Romney will address its graduates, while Harvard Law School announced on May 13 that Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 will speak at its ceremony.

Both HBS and HLS will hold their Class Day ceremonies on May 27.

The University-wide Commencement ceremony will take place the following day. Late-night host and comedian Conan O’Brien ’85, who was announced in early March, will address graduates from across Harvard’s campus.

—Staff writer Sebastian B. Connolly can be reached at [email protected] or on Signal at sbc.23. Follow him on X @SebastianC4784.

—Staff writer Summer E. Rose can be reached at [email protected] or on Signal at ser.85. Follow her on X @summerellenrose.