Tufts held its 170th Commencement for the Class of 2026 on Sunday. Following opening remarks by University President Sunil Kumar and the conferral of honorary degrees, students heard from former pharmaceutical executive Kenneth Frazier, who gave the commencement address.
After students took their seats, the Class of 1976, celebrating their 50th reunion, processed in.
The University administration, followed by Kumar, Frazier and chairman of the Board of Trustees, Jeffrey Moslow, exited Ballou Hall and took their seats on stage.
Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson, pictured, accompanied this procession.
Frazier gestures to his wife, a Tufts alumna, who is sitting in the front row.
Jeffrey Moslow (middle), chairman of the Board of Trustees, is pictured approaching the stage.
University Chaplain Rev. Elyse Nelson Winger is pictured delivering the invocation.
After the invocation and opening addresses, honorary degrees were conferred to Frazier, David Walt, professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School, and four-time Grammy-award winning drummer and producer Terri Lyne Carrington.
Frazier then delivered the commencement address.
Terri Lyne Carrington receives an honorary Doctor of Music degree.
Following Frazier’s address, the deans of each school conferred the degrees.
Alastair Cribb, dean of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, had earlier received a certificate of dean emeritus status.
Kumar and Provost and Senior Vice President Caroline Genco announced on Thursday that Cribb will step down as dean on Aug. 31.
Melissa R. Mazan, Associate Dean of Professional Education, will serve as interim dean starting Sep. 1.
Provost Caroline Genco is pictured handing the certificate to Cribb.
Muslim Chaplain Khan Shairani delivers the benediction.
Following the benediction and recessional, students and families made their way toward department ceremonies.
Managing Editor Grace Nelson delivers the student address for the English Department.
