Cambridge, MA — May 16, 2026
It began on Friday, May 15, with the Threshold Celebration and Doctoral Commencement on South Campus. Although the weather was damp and drizzly, feelings of warmth and celebration took over as Lesley’s commencement weekend began. The Threshold Celebration was pure joy as students were honored and recognized for their achievements. In the afternoon, doctoral candidates stepped into the world after giving years to their pursuit. Throughout all the ceremonies, proud families erupted as their person’s name was called — it was these genuine and joyful scenes that reminded us why milestones like this matter. By the time the evening concluded, the stage was set to do it all again.
On Saturday, May 16, four ceremonies, held at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., unfolded across a sunny South Campus, each one celebrating the Class of 2026. With more than seven hundred students crossing the stage, the ceremonies felt distinctly Lesley: personal, community-centered, and close at hand to where the graduates' memories were made.
Provost Brian Becker began each ceremony with a tribal land acknowledgment, a welcome to the community, a nod to the newly imagined commencement format, and a reminder about what makes a Lesley education matter. “You are becoming teachers, artists, social workers, advocates,” he told graduates. “The world you are entering needs what you are trained to do — not eventually, but right now.”
In Their Own Words
At each of the ceremonies, one student was selected to speak to their classmates, and each one reflected the spirit that defines a Lesley education.
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- Student speaker Amir Zamani, a Master’s of Social Work graduate, moved the room by honoring his mother, his father, and the ESL teacher whose beliefs shaped his path. "It is our turn to carry this responsibility forward," he said, "just as others did for us."
- Allyson Nesbitt, a double Lesley alumna earning her Master's in Education encouraged students with a simple yet powerful piece of advice: think back to your eighteen-year-old self, remember your why, and know that you are the change you want to see.
- Ilyssa Pearlman, earning her Bachelor of Science in Expressive Arts Therapy, urged her fellow graduates to choose paths that reflect who they truly are, to lean on the community that carried them here, and to never forget how powerful one’s own voice can be.
- Martha Mugagga, Bachelor of Science in Business Management, shared her congratulations and enthusiasm with equal parts humor and heart. She challenged anyone who labels her generation “lost” and encouraged her fellow graduates to take up space and stand firm. She ended her speech asking the audience to join her in the traditional Ugandan ululation.
Degrees of Distinction
Across the four ceremonies, Lesley honored extraordinary alumni with honorary doctorates whose remarkable accomplishments in their fields reflect the university's core values and beliefs.
- Actor-turned-therapist and Lesley double alumna Eliza Dushku Palanjian was recognized for her work in psychedelic therapy, trauma, and mental health advocacy. She spoke of loss, longing, and the pull toward meaning, dedicating her remarks to her late Aunt Patricia on her birthday, calling the moment "sacred, divine, and very Lesley."
- Incoming Principal of Phillips Exeter Academy and Lesley alumna, Jenny Karlan-Elliott answered the question she knew was quietly nagging at every graduate — was it worth it? One hundred percent, she said, without hesitation. Reflecting on her own career, she urged graduates to seek mentorship, protect human connection, and make a list of ten things that fill their cup. Joy, she reminded them, is not a luxury — it's what sustains meaningful work.
- Esther Perel, psychotherapist and globally recognized thought leader, was honored for her work exploring human relationships and emotional well-being. Unable to attend, her remarks were read by Trustee Lynda Lee Sheridan, who encouraged graduates to think about disruption differently and enter the next chapter of their lives with a sense of adventure and a willingness to fail.
- Healthcare executive and Lesley alumnus John Couris was honored for his pioneering work in healthcare and urged graduates to move forward with the three things his Lesley education instilled in him and guide him to this day — resilience, kindness, and curiosity.
As the day ended, the Lesley campus was alive with a well-earned celebration. Graduates and families continued taking photo after photo, sharing laughs, and soaking in every moment. For the Class of 2026, it was truly a day to remember, one that will live fondly in their hearts long after their tassels moved to the left.
The Class of 2026 now joins more than 100,000 Lesley alumni worldwide — graduates who carry their education, and this community, with them wherever they go.
