Fall 2023 Commencement: Stories of Impact and Inspiration

Posted on December 18, 2023

On the heels of my decision to step down as university president, I find myself reflecting on our recent Commencement ceremonies with a mix of nostalgia and pride. When I joined the SNHU community, our graduation ceremonies were vastly different, honoring just a small fraction of the learners we serve today. Back then, we were a quiet university nestled in New England, but today, we are a global university serving more than 225,000 learners worldwide.

Our Fall Commencement marked a milestone for over 22,000 eligible graduates, a testament to their dedication and hard work. During the weekend, we welcomed more than 4,000 graduates and over 21,000 guests to the SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH, and the spirit of accomplishment was palpable. It was a long day with three ceremonies, but I always find our Commencement celebrations to be energizing, and I am grateful we get to do them twice a year.

You get to see the true impact of the SNHU community on Commencement weekend, and the arena is always full of powerful and inspiring students, including:  

Robyn, a semi-truck driver from Las Vegas who took her SNHU education with her along her cross-country route. The mother of 8, grandmother of 33, and great-grandmother of 12 specializes in transporting hazardous materials and government equipment and worked on her SNHU assignments in all 48 contiguous states. Her ultimate goal: to become a lawyer and support survivors of abuse.

Kia, a student who has been diagnosed with Narcolepsy. Despite her best efforts, Kia struggled to stay awake in traditional classes, often missing important details and notes. Determined to excel, Kia would reteach herself the curriculum after school. Transitioning to online learning with SNHU proved to be a better fit, and her business degree has already led to a significant pay increase.

Michelle, a registered nurse and first-generation college graduate who successfully completed two SNHU programs while recuperating from a heart transplant. Unfortunately, Michelle missed the opportunity to attend her undergraduate ceremony due to her recovery and the pandemic. At Commencement, she proudly walked in celebration of both accomplishments. With her academic knowledge and unique experience, she aims to help other patients attain their best possible outcomes.

Josh, an active-duty U.S. service member who completed his SNHU studies while deployed in the Middle East. Josh immigrated from the Philippines as a child, and crossed the stage as a first-generation graduate, with a very proud family as his cheering squad. 

Samiyah and Diana, a couple from Arizona who earned their degrees together while battling challenges including facing homelessness, discrimination, and health complications, all while also raising their son. Diana is hoping to use her degree to pursue a new path in IT. Samiyah, leveraging her degree and her journey as a woman of color with disabilities, aspires to transition into advocacy work within the healthcare and justice systems. Samiyah chose to walk with her partner and forgo her own undergraduate ceremony, and graduated Summa Cum Laude. 

Marisa and Michael, fraternal twins from Massachusetts who opted for different modalities at SNHU to suit their individual needs. Michael pursued his degree on campus, focusing on communications with a minor in esports. As a broadcast technician for SNHU’s esports team, he aims to build a career in the esports industry. Marisa, on the other hand, prefers online learning and hopes to pursue a career in book publishing with her communications degree.

Brenda and Alexis, a mother and daughter duo who graduated together from SNHU. Brenda is an experienced barber instructor and fulfilled a lifelong dream by earning her SNHU degree. Alexis, who is a licensed cosmetologist, is following in her mom’s footsteps and aims to use her degree to become an instructor and future program director.

Luis, who immigrated from Columbia at age 10 in pursuit of the American Dream. After completing high school, he underwent a brain surgery that temporarily halted his plans to attend college. After two unsuccessful attempts in higher ed, he finally found the right fit at SNHU. With his business degree, he secured a new position and is now using his studies to improve his company’s bookkeeping and marketing strategy. He also aspires to start a nonprofit to support the LGBTQ+ community at home and abroad.

Our Commencement ceremonies are a reminder of what higher education can look like when we meet students where they are and provide the supports they need.  

Almost as impressive as our students is the care and kindness on display from the SNHU staff. At every turn, you see an SNHU employee fixing a gown, helping a person with a disability cross the stage, or stepping in to help a graduate find a seat and enjoy the moment. This care and community were on full display at our recent Commencement ceremonies.  

Our celebrations continued with a special virtual event for our staff graduates. This, to me, was like family graduation, celebrating 176 SNHU staff graduates from 26 states. While tirelessly supporting our students and balancing working from home and family obligations, they were also working hard to complete their degrees, and they get an inside look at what our students experience. 

Following the conclusion of our in-person exercises, more than 6,500 graduates engaged in a ceremony presented in SNHU’s immersive, 360-degree virtual reality format. The inclusion of virtual ceremonies means that over half of our graduating class now partakes in our Commencement celebrations. 

Among the virtual participants was Shane, a veteran and author from Texas. After medically retiring from the Army, Shane explored traditional, in-person courses but found a better fit when he transitioned to online learning. During his recovery, he found comfort in creative writing with SNHU. Shane has written and published his first novel, The Rise of Waterbear, as well as a short story for the Penmen Review. With his bachelor’s degree in hand, Shane plans to continue on for his MFA, and hopes to one day teach at SNHU. He credits a great deal of his success to his tribe, the Choctaw Nation, for the support and scholarship they provided him.

Having our Commencement celebrations right before the holiday season was such a gift. It reminded me of how much we have to be grateful for that we work at this place at this time.