Affinity Ceremony Programs
Baccalaureate Ceremony
Saturday, May 23, 2026
12:15 p.m.
The Chapel
Processional
Led by Kariamu Drummers
Welcome
Autumn Taliaferrow
Invocation
Reverend Callista Isabelle, Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices
Welcome Remarks
Elizabeth Bradley, President
Greetings
Carlos Alamo, Dean of the College
Introduction of Faculty Speaker
Syed Arman Rasool
Faculty Remarks
Dr. Mariam Rashid
Tribute to Families
Sharon Llanes
Introduction of Guest Speaker
MingJia Ni
Baccalaureate Address
T.R. Williams
Presentation of JTASK Award
Emily Benalcázar-García
Recipient: Kenneth Palmer
Tribute to Seniors
African Violets
Closing Remarks
Kathleen Langston
Recessional
Led by Kariamu Drummer
Latiné Sarape Ceremony
Saturday, May 23, 2026
1:45–2:45 p.m.
Villard Room, College Center
Welcome
Bienvenida
Jaime L. Del Razo, Associate Professor and Chair of Education
Faculty Greeting to Seniors
Saludo de la facultad a los graduados
Carlos Alamo, Dean of the College, and Professor of Sociology and
Latin America & Latinx Studies
Keynote Speaker
Orador principal
Angelica Gutierrez ’13, Student Leader
Student Leader Remarks
Oradoras de la clase de graduación
Emely Benalcazar-Garcia ’26, Latiné Student Union (LSU)
Mirka Juarez ‘26, Ritmo
Samuel Rebuelta-Sanchez ’26, Latiné Student Union (LSU)
Sarape Ceremony
Ceremonia de Estola
Jaime L. Del Razo, Assistant Professor of Education
Carlos Alamo, Dean of the College, and Professor of Sociology and
Latin America & Latinx Studies
Angelica Gutierrez ’13
Group Photo
Foto del grupo
African American Alumnae/i of Vassar College (AAAVC) Kente Cloth Ceremony
Saturday, May 23, 2026
3:00–4:00 p.m.
The Aula, Ely Hall
Welcome to the AAAVC and Congratulations
Nicole Savage ’08, AAAVC Co-Chair
Faculty Remarks
Leroy Cooper, Associate Professor of Biology and the Pauline Newman Director of Science, Technology, and Society
Graduates’ Remarks
Olivia Sparks ’26 and Ahmed Abdul Mumeen ’26
Welcome to the AAVC
Maybelle Taylor Bennett ’70, AAVC Trustee
Bestowal of Kente Stoles to the Class of 2026
AAAVC Bestowers and Speakers
Group Photo
Asian, Asian-American, Pacific Islander Stole Ceremony
Saturday, May 23, 2026
4:15–5:15 p.m.
Skinner Hall
Welcome
Hiromi Tsuchiya Dollase, Professor of Chinese & Japanese
Faculty Greeting to Seniors
Sophia Siddique Harvey, Associate Professor of Film & Advisor to the Class of 2026
Keynote Speaker
Raymond Magsaysay ’17
Student Leader Remarks
Alicia Jade Salva ’26, Southeast Asian Students’ Alliance (SEASA)
Areebah Aziz ’26, South Asian Students’ Alliance (SASA)
Rebecca Kim ’26, Korean Student Association (KSA)
Bestowal of the Stoles
Hiromi Tsuchiya Dollase, Professor of Chinese & Japanese
Sophia Siddique Harvey, Associate Professor of Film & Advisor to the Class of 2026
Raymond Magsaysay ’17
Group Photo
First-generation, Low Income (FLI) Program Cord Ceremony
Friday, May 22, 2026
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Villard Room, College Center
Welcome
Michelle Quock, Director of FLI Program
Student Leader Remarks
Jimena Saavedra ’26
Message to Seniors
Edgar Rivera-Cash ’14
Bestowal of Cords
Michelle Quock, Director of FLI
Cyrenius Fitzjohn, Program Manager of FLI
Edgar Rivera-Cash ’14
Group Photo
Native American and Indigenous Stole Ceremony
Friday May 22, 2026
4:15–5:15 pm
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
Welcome
Rebecca Pollet, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Faculty Greeting to Seniors
Leora Gansworth, Assistant Professor of American and Native American Studies
Student Leader Remarks
Shaylee Bonsness ’26, Native American and Indigenous Students Alliance (NAISA)
Peter Campell ’26, Native American and Indigenous Students Alliance (NAISA)
Maya Winter ’26, Native American and Indigenous Students Alliance (NAISA)
Bestowal of the Stoles
Rebecca Pollet, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Leora Gansworth, Assistant Professor of American and Native American Studies
Molly McGlennen, Professor of English and on the Ethel and Alexander Klemin Chair in English and Director of American and Native American Studies
Group Photo