Doctoral, MFA, and Medical Professional Degree Candidate Ceremony
Friday, May 9, 2025 | Kohl Center
Welcome to the one hundred and seventy-second University of Wisconsin–Madison Commencement! Below is the commencement program featuring the ceremony agenda, speaker profiles, flag bearers, and attire details. Printed programs will be available at the ceremony.
Looking for information to prepare for the ceremony and day of logistics? Click below to find details on arrival times, seating, carry-in policies, and more.
Ceremony agenda
Processional of the Official Party
“Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1”
Performed by the University Commencement Band, Mead Witter School of Music
The audience is requested to rise as the procession of the official party enters led by Class of 2025 degree candidates representing each of the schools and colleges with their respective flags.
The National Anthem
Benjamin Jacob Johnson ’25, Master of Music, Performance
Presiding Officer
Provost Charles Lee Isbell Jr., PhD
Welcome from UW–Madison Chancellor
Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin, JD, PhD
Welcome from the UW System Board
of Regents
Regent Vice President Kyle M. Weatherly ’04, MPA’06
Conferral of Honorary Degrees
Candidates conferred by Morton Ann Gernsbacher, PhD, Chair, Committee on Honorary Degrees
Donna Shalala, PhD
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Escorted by Gloria Marí-Beffa, PhD, Professor of Mathematics
Frank James Sensenbrenner Jr. JD’68
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Escorted by Daniel P. Tokaji, JD, Dean of the Law School
Welcome to Alumnihood Video
Video by the Wisconsin Alumni Association
Conferral of Academic Degrees
Graduate School
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Musical Arts
Master of Fine Arts
Educational Specialist
Dean William J. Karpus, PhD
School of Medicine and Public Health
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Master of Genetic Counselor Studies
Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Master of Public Health
Dean Robert N. Golden, MD
College of Letters & Science
Doctor of Audiology
Dean Eric M. Wilcots, PhD
School of Education
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Dean Marcelle Haddix, PhD
School of Nursing
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Dean Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN
School of Pharmacy
Doctor of Pharmacy
Dean Steven M. Swanson, PhD
School of Veterinary Medicine
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dean Jon Levine, DVM
Closing Remarks
Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin, JD, PhD
“Varsity”
Performed by the University Commencement Band, Mead Witter School of Music
Varsity! Varsity! U rah rah! Wisconsin,
Praise to thee we sing!
Praise to thee our Alma Mater,
U rah rah! Wisconsin!
Recessional of the Official Party
“Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4”
Performed by the University Commencement Band, Mead Witter School of Music
Speakers
School and college flags
The school and college flags used in today’s ceremony were commissioned for commencement by then-Chancellor Rebecca Blank in 2015. They are used in this and other similar ceremonies, including convocation for incoming students — the complementary celebration to commencement that begins students’ university careers.
The flags’ background wave design reflects the university’s location along Lake Mendota. Colors on each flag reflect the traditional academic colors for the courses of study within each school or college. The Graduate School, College of Letters & Science, and School of Education are multicolored, representing their varied disciplines. Flags also feature the year in which each school or college was founded, from 1848 for the Law School and School of Medicine and Public Health (authorized in the charter for the newly created university) to 1983 for the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Flag bearers in the opening procession were selected by the dean of each school and college to represent their fellow students.
College of Letters & Science
Anthony Rebello, Doctor of Philosophy, Computer Sciences
Graduate School
Shruthi Magesh, Doctor of Philosophy, Microbiology
School of Education
Rebecca Jean Freitag, Doctor of Occupational Therapy
School of Medicine and Public Health
Sonam Dolma, Doctor of Medicine
School of Nursing
Michael Allan Jaeb, Doctor of Philosophy, Nursing
School of Pharmacy
Rhiann Mari Sato, Doctor of Pharmacy
School of Veterinary Medicine
Ashley Oppermann, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Academic colors and attire
During the ceremony, participating graduates will wear academic attire symbolizing level of degree earned, academic and scholastic achievement, and affiliations.