2025 Commencement Ceremonies
Washington University
Commencement Ceremonies
May 9 – 12, 2025
Class Acts 2025: Jeremiah ‘Jay’ Truel
“I went into dermatology to help vulnerable people — to walk them through scary times when they’re looking for guidance but unsure who to trust,” says MD Class of 2025 graduate Jeremiah “Jay” Truel. Influenced by his father’s compassionate interactions with people experiencing homelessness, Truel co-founded StreetMedSTL, providing medical care at encampments and shelters, and established Unhoused Health to train medical students in trauma-informed care. His dermatology residency will continue his mission to address skin conditions that disproportionately impact those without housing.
School of Medicine Commencement schedule
In addition to the university-wide Commencement ceremony on the Danforth Campus, each academic program at the School of Medicine holds separate graduation ceremonies at which students receive their diplomas and individual recognition.
Tickets & Event Policies
Tickets are required for all school ceremonies. Programs will communicate and distribute tickets for their individual ceremonies directly to the graduates. Guests are strongly encouraged not to bring bags. Please see the WashU Commencement website for all event policies.
Ceremonies are listed below by academic program and are not in chronological order. All times are Central Time (CT). Outdoor ceremonies are rain or shine events.
All Graduates
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025
9 a.m. Francis Olympic Field – Danforth Campus
All-University Commencement
University-wide Commencement livestream and details »
Keynote Speaker: Simone Biles, widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time; Biles will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during the ceremony
Doctor of Medicine
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025
3 p.m. The Stifel Theatre, St. Louis
Commencement Recognition Ceremony
MD livestream and ceremony details »
Keynote Speaker: Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, distinguished infectious disease physician, public health leader and researcher who served as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Audiology & Communication Sciences
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025
1:30 p.m. Eric P. Newman Education Center – WashU Medicine
Commencement Recognition Ceremony
PACS livestream and ceremony details »
Program in Audiology & Communication Sciences (PACS) website »
Biology & Biomedical Sciences
FRIDAY MAY 9, 2025
9:30 a.m. The 560 Music Center – 560 Trinity Ave.
DBBS Hooding & Recognition Ceremony
DBBS livestream and ceremony details »
Keynote Speaker: Nicquet Blake, PhD, vice provost of student academic affairs, dean of the graduate division of UC San Francisco; one of the nation’s leading voices on dignity, access and inclusion in higher education
Joint Master’s Programs
FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2025
4 p.m. Eric P. Newman Education Center – WashU Medicine
Joint Recognition Ceremony
Joint Master’s Programs ceremony program (PDF) »
Keynote Speaker: Kerry Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, esteemed researcher, academic and practitioner in occupational therapy and adaptive technology
Programs in Applied Health Behavior Research, Data Science and Biostatistics, Clinical Investigation, Genetic Counseling, Medical Physics, Population Health Sciences, and Predoctoral Clinical Research (TL1)
Occupational Therapy
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025
1:30 p.m. Graham Chapel – Danforth Campus
Diploma Ceremony
OT ceremony details »
Keynote Speaker: Sarah Adam, OTD, OTR/L, CBIS, assistant professor and academic fieldwork coordinator, Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Saint Louis University
Physical Therapy
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025
1:30 p.m. Khorassan Ballroom, The Chase Park Plaza
Diploma Distribution & Hooding Ceremony
PT livestream and ceremony details »
Faculty Speaker: Ruth Clark, PT, PhD, assistant professor of physical therapy and neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, member of St. Louis Public Schools Health & Wellness Committee