UC San Diego Alumna Alicia Garza, Principal at Black Futures Lab & Co-founder of The Black Lives Matter Global Network, to Address Class of 2021

It is my distinct honor to announce that our 2021 commencement speaker is UC San Diego alumna Alicia Garza. Ms. Garza is a principal at Black Futures Lab and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network. She joins the company of such past UC San Diego commencement speakers as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus.

As an influential activist, social innovator and the co-founder of one of the largest civil rights movements in history, Ms. Garza believes Black communities deserve what all communities deserve—to be powerful in every aspect of their lives. Her remarks will surely inspire the more than 8,000 graduates and their families, along with the 10,000 audience members we expect to join us online. Commencement ceremonies will take place on Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13.

Ms. Garza’s determination to be a catalyst for change has deeply influenced our campus community and more than 200,000 Triton alumni across the globe. Her commencement address will be deeply personal to our Triton community. In her book, The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart, Ms. Garza mentions her time at UC San Diego as formative for her advocacy work.

Ms. Garza will receive the UC San Diego Medal for her influential and pioneering contributions to civil rights. Her work around the issues of health, rights for domestic workers, ending police brutality, anti-racism, and violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people of color have made a significant impact on the rights of many in our nation and around the world.

UC San Diego is unequivocally committed to equity and inclusion. We challenge ourselves to take bold actions to create and support a culture of inclusiveness and equal opportunity so that every member of our community can thrive and reach their full potential. We do this because we believe that the diversity of California itself has been a source of strength, innovation, and leading-edge accomplishments throughout the state’s history and into the present.

The University of California has been a major contributor and continues to be a facilitator of social and economic mobility through its work to achieve its mission. In order for the university to continue to deliver on that mission, we must demonstrate compelling interest and active intent to ensure access and growth is possible for all talent. That includes students, faculty and staff regardless of cultural differences, identity or individual circumstances. Words of wisdom from a fellow alumna of Ms. Garza’s significance underscore the value of our mission and encourage our graduates to continue to boldly impact their communities and our nation far into the future.

Commencement Ceremony Activities

Graduates will have the opportunity to attend ceremonies in-person, on RIMAC field, with no more than two guests. All participants must be either fully vaccinated or have had a negative COVID test within 24 to 72 hours prior to the ceremony. Participants will be required to complete a symptom screener upon entry. All health and safety measures will be observed, based on CDC, state and county guidelines for travel and gatherings, including continuous masking. For graduates not able to participate in person, commencement ceremonies will be offered online via livestream for all graduates, families and friends.

Ceremonies will be held for each undergraduate college as well as the Graduate Division, Rady School of Management and the School of Global Policy and Strategy. Events will reflect the culture of each college and division, and will feature an address from me, Ms. Garza, and a student speaker. Each registered graduate will be individually recognized whether joining remotely or in-person, and the university will officially confer degrees upon all graduates.

More details are available on the Commencement 2021 website.

Pradeep K. Khosla
Chancellor