Academic Year 2022-23

Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that colleges and universities may no longer consider race as a factor in admissions. I write today to underscore that Bucknell’s long-standing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, in myriad forms, is a cherished institutional value. An equitable Bucknell is imperative to our students’ education and ability to thrive as community-minded citizens. Student success determines institutional success, and the future of higher education will be led by colleges and universities that champion equity and inclusion.

Hello and thank you classmates, family, faculty and staff for coming to the Class of 2023 Commencement. Mostly family, faculty and staff — classmates, we kind of have to be here.

Good morning, Bucknell! It is beautiful to be back here. What a view from here. Our graduation was in Davis Gymnasium. I never got to see this before. President Bravman, thank you for bestowing upon me the prestigious honor of addressing and celebrating the Class of 2023. Thank you for your leadership and your vision over your tenure, most significantly for guiding our beloved Bucknell through the pandemic. As Bucknellians, we’re proud to see our vibrant inspirational, intellectual community thriving in the year 2023 under your leadership.

Thank you, Tom. Fantastic job. Everyone, please be seated.

Well, good morning on this truly glorious day! What class more than this deserves such a day? I’m John Bravman, president of Bucknell University, and I am so pleased to welcome the families and friends of the Class of 2023 to help celebrate the newest graduates of Bucknell University. A most special welcome to the mothers here today, seeing the young lives you nurtured from their earliest moments make this once in a lifetime transition.

I write to share with you a summary of our annual spring Board of Trustees meeting, which took place on campus from Wednesday, April 26, through Friday, April 28. My thanks to our faculty colleagues who participated in the various committee meetings, including Professor Margot Vigeant, acting faculty chair; Professor Alan Cheville, faculty secretary; and Professors Thomas Cassidy, Matthew Heintzelman, Erin Jablonski, Tom Kinnaman, Dustyn Martincich, David Mitchell, JT Ptacek, Linda Smolka, Ryan Snyder, Brandon Vogel and Lucas Waddell. 

I am pleased to announce that the national search for Bucknell's inaugural vice president of equity & inclusive excellence has successfully concluded with the hiring of Vernese Edghill-Walden '87, an expert on diversity issues with three decades of leadership experience in higher education.

I write to share a summary of the winter 2023 meeting of the Board of Trustees, which took place Feb. 1-3 in New York City.

I write to share this summary report of the fall 2022 Board of Trustees meeting, which took place on campus from Wednesday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 21.

Good evening members of our distinguished faculty and staff. And welcome, Bucknell University transfer students and Class of 2026!

Welcome everyone, and thank you so much for joining me today. It’s a pleasure to see everyone back on campus. We have about 1,000 students in Lewisburg already, and the rest will arrive over the coming week. Summer is ending, but don’t worry, our winter break is only 124 days away.