Commencement marks an important milestone and accomplishment in our students’ academic journey. It is a moment that reflects years of hard work and commitment, and offers students, friends and families a time to celebrate their accomplishments and look forward to the next chapter in their lives.
This year, I am honored to announce that California Assembly Speaker Emeritus and University of California (UC) Regent John A. Pérez will serve as our 2023 All Campus Commencement speaker on Saturday, June 17, 2023.
Pérez was elected to the California State Assembly in 2008, representing downtown Los Angeles and communities of east Los Angeles. In 2010, he was unanimously elected California’s 68th Assembly Speaker, and became one of the longest serving speakers in the California Assembly during the era of term limits.
As Speaker, Pérez united his colleagues to end California's era of chronic budget deficits. He worked with Governor Brown and members of the Senate to eliminate the structural deficit that left California's budget imbalanced for more than a decade, and successfully passed back-to-back balanced, on-time budgets that resulted in across the board upgrades in California's credit rating.
In 2013, he authored legislation that made affordability and accessibility of higher education one of the most important statewide priorities through the passage of the landmark Middle Class Scholarship Act. The Middle Class Scholarship Act has provided tuition relief of up to 40% for nearly 100,000 California State University and University of California students.
From 2019-2021, Pérez served as chair of the Board of Regents and is currently chair of the regents’ Health Services Committee. One of the largest drivers of economic opportunity in the world, the UC Board of Regents focuses on ensuring that the University of California provides an elite education without elitist barriers and ensures that the cost of education is affordable, equitable and predictable.
Prior to his distinguished service in the assembly, Pérez was a longtime member of the Labor Movement, where he spent more than 15 years working to create jobs, expand healthcare and protect workers’ rights through finding common ground with business leaders. He has served on a number of boards, including the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, where he worked to bring increase economic opportunities for local businesses. As the state legislature’s first openly gay leader, Pérez also has been a longtime supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and an integral figure in the fight against HIV/AIDS, including serving on the President’s Commission on HIV/AIDS under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Pérez also founded a boutique government affairs consulting firm, where he focuses on helping businesses, labor organizations and non-profits navigate dynamic political landscapes at the local, state and federal level. He is an inspirational and passionate speaker and I look forward to the insights and experiences he will share with our graduates and guests.
The 2023 in-person All Campus Ceremony will be held at RIMAC Field. Chancellor Khosla will officially confer degrees by academic division upon graduates gathered as one student body. Graduates or their guests who are unable to join in-person undergraduate college, Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, and professional school and Division of Extended Studies commencement ceremonies occurring on June 17 and 18 will have the opportunity to livestream these ceremonies on UC San Diego's Commencement website at the scheduled date and time of the ceremony.
Commencement Ceremony Activities
Registration is open. Graduates and their guests will have the opportunity to attend the All Campus Ceremony, and are encouraged to attend their undergraduate college, graduate school or graduate division ceremonies, where they will be individually recognized by name. Ceremonies will be held June 16-18 for each of the colleges as well as the Rady School of Management, School of Global Policy & Strategy, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science, and the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. The Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences will hold a commencement celebration on May 13 at Price Center. The School of Medicine (SOM) will host its commencement ceremony on the SOM Ceremonial Lawn on June 4.
National Anthem Singer
UC San Diego is searching for an individual or group of students to perform The Star-Spangled Banner, our national anthem, live during UC San Diego’s All Campus Commencement. The position is open to all students (undergraduate or graduate) who are graduating June 2023 or graduated in fall 2022 and are in good standing. Applications are due by May 15 and auditions will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2023. More information is available at the 2023 All Campus Commencement website.
Student Speaker
Each year, we invite one graduating student (undergraduate or graduate) to deliver a keynote address during All Campus Commencement. This tradition is an opportunity to share your unique journey and offer an inspiring celebratory send-off to your peers. We look forward to announcing the student speaker in late May.
Faculty
Faculty registration is open for All Campus Commencement, as well as the commencement ceremonies for the Rady School of Management, School of Global Policy & Strategy, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science, and the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs.
Faculty registration is open through Monday, May 8, 2023. To receive alma mater and degree-specific regalia rentals you must register by that date.
Note, if you request late registration and request regalia rental, the order will be filled with UC San Diego regalia and hood.
Volunteers
Volunteers play an integral role in our commencement ceremonies by helping us ensure that our graduates and their guests have a meaningful experience on this important day. We are seeking volunteers to help guide graduates to their seats, answer family and visitor questions and more during the All Campus Commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 17. Indicate your interest by registering on the Commencement website, or contact Celest Avila at c3avila@ucsd.edu for more information.
I look forward to celebrating you and your UC San Diego accomplishments and experiences at our 2023 All Campus Commencement ceremony. To register and for more details, visit the Commencement 2023 website. I hope to see you there.
