Commencement Address Spring 2023
Sunday, May 12, 2023
Please be seated everyone … and welcome to the 2023 University Commencement!
Let me thank and congratulate everyone who was a part of that fun video. It showcases what makes UT Dallas so special.
I noticed quite a few of you enjoying Queen’s rock classic, “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
You may know that Sir Brian May, the lead guitarist, is also an astrophysicist. He earned a doctorate from Imperial College in London.
Now that makes for quite an interesting intersection of science and art! I think that the creative, deep-thinking Dr. May would be quite at home at UTD.
Comets, to paraphrase the song: There is no stopping you now.
Congratulations to you, Class of 2023!
Joining me on stage are various members of the University faculty and staff in leadership roles.
And, on their behalf, I want to say to this wonderful gathering of students, families, and friends: Welcome to UT Dallas!
This is our second year to hold this outdoor celebration and from what I can tell by the size of the crowd, many of you got word of how much fun we had last year!
It’s almost as exciting as snagging a ticket for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Except that our show won’t feature a three-hour setlist and there won’t be any over-the-top costumes … other than these cool robes that you see on stage.
But don’t worry. There will be many moments made for Instagram, including a cosmic light show and an outdoor party afterward.
As you can imagine it, takes a lot of people working together to put on an event like this one. But one person, in particular, deservers a great deal of credit for taking my suggestion to hold an outdoor celebration and turning it into a reality: Judy Barnes.
Judy is the senior director of university events and will retire in December. In her time as UT Dallas, has helped make sweet memories for many thousands of our students and their families and friends. Thank you, Judy!
I love being president of this great university. One reason is that I get to be a part of a wonderful enterprise, a place where innovation happens.
Just think about the depth of knowledge and the breadth of experience that is regularly imparted here.
You may be an artist or an audiologist. You may be an engineer or an entrepreneur. Or, some combination of all of those. Regardless, each of you has been supported and encouraged by our outstanding faculty and staff.
And, as president, I also get to host special events such as this.
One of my roles tonight is as the opening act for our keynote speaker, Aaron Aryanpur. A proud member of the Class of 2000, Aaron was nominated by our students to speak and I look forward to his remarks.
Before we hear from Aaron, though, I want to take a moment to reflect on our University’s growth and progress.
Fifty years ago – in 1973 – then-UT Dallas president Bryce Jordan presided at the University’s inaugural graduation ceremony.
I’ve seen the black and white photo of the first graduates accepting their diplomas from President Jordan.
There were no undergraduates in that first graduating class of four people; no Alma Mater to sing; no cosmic light show… and, alas … no Temoc.
Temoc blazed into existence 25 years ago and has been bringing main character energy ever since.
The world was very different a quarter of a century ago. We were facing the dawn of a new millennium with a measure of apprehension, not quite sure what Y2K had in store for us. The internet – with all of its shiny and promising capabilities – was grabbing our attention.
Google was just getting started. Cell phones weren’t widely used and we had never heard of taking a selfie. Imagine going on vacation and actually being away from everything without having to go off the grid!
At UT Dallas, some of the top majors for undergraduates in 1998 also appear on our 2023 list, specifically: computer science, biology, psychology and business administration.
But there were not yet degrees being offered in:
- Arts, Technology & Emerging Communications [2003],
- Mechanical Engineering [2008], or
- Healthcare Studies [2012].
Those three and many more have been added since 1998.
Our enrollment then totaled 9,518 students. Compare that with the 31,570 students who we welcomed this fall.
Needless to say, our University has changed dramatically in the years since Temoc was created.
And we continue to change, whether through new degrees, new buildings, new traditions. Earlier this week we announced a significant gift from the Harry Bass Foundation that is bringing about a change for one of our schools.
The School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology will now be known as the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. This gift represents a vote of confidence in our university and in turn, our graduates.
There is a throughline in the experience of UT Dallas students.
Regardless of what year you attended, you encountered excellent faculty and staff and took part in innovative programs. You studied with, and got to know, people who very different from you.
Much like every generation of students, you helped shape UT Dallas into what it is today.
And just like Comets of decades past, you found encouragement and support from your family members and friends who made it all possible.
Students, you came to UT Dallas to launch your future. And now, as that future unfolds before you, let me encourage you to pause for just a moment.
Recall the challenges and opportunities that opened doors to new activities and interests.
Reflect on the research you spent hours conducting or the internship you worked so hard to get. And finally, remember.
Remember what it felt like to walk on campus for the very first time. And how it felt to discover the perfect place to study or hang out with your friends.
Remember it all.
Those moments, when combined with your bright minds and excellent education, are the fuel that will propel you forward.
So, thank you for choosing UTD for your education, and thank you for all you have given back to the Home of the Comets.
It has been our honor and privilege to be a part of your journey.
Whoosh!