2025 Commencement Weekend
Congratulations Class of 2025! Join us for Wake Forest University’s Commencement weekend on May 16–19. Graduation Exercises, where the President will confer undergraduate degrees, is on the morning of Monday, May 19 on Hearn Plaza, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at approximately 1 p.m.
Updates and details for this year’s Commencement Weekend will be shared throughout the year. We encourage all graduates of the Class of 2025, as well as faculty and visitors, to check back here regularly for the latest information and updates.
If you are a graduating senior, please visit the Out of the Forest website for important deadlines and information you need to know before you leave Mother So Dear.
Commencement Preparation
Whether you’re a graduate or a faculty member, commencement requires some advance planning. We’ve provided all the information and resources you’ll need to prepare for the big day.
Ceremony & Event Details
Commencement is a special time when graduates, family members, and friends gather to celebrate their time spent at Wake. We hope that you will be able to celebrate with us.
Schedule of Events
These events will celebrate our 2025 graduates. Some events, including the Baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies, will be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in-person. Visit our Schedule of Events page for a complete listing of Commencement Weekend activities and events.
May 16-18
Hooding & Commencement Ceremonies (Professional Schools)
Sunday, May 18
Baccalaureate Ceremony
11 a.m. ET
Monday, May 19
Commencement Ceremony
9 a.m. ET
2025 Commencement Speakers
Scott Pelley
One of the nation’s top journalists, Scott Pelley has been reporting for the CBS News program “60 Minutes” for more than 20 years. During this time, half of the major awards won by “60 Minutes” have been for stories he has reported.
Emma Jordan-Simpson
Reverend Emma Jordan-Simpson, president of Auburn Theological Seminary. With her appointment as President in 2021, Jordan-Simpson became the first Black woman and non-Presbyterian to lead Auburn Theological Seminary.