Image

The 2025 ISS graduation celebration proved to be a special one for our community. Each and every graduate in attendance took the opportunity to take to the podium to share words of gratitude, camaraderie, and Husky pride, while sharing their individual stories of persistence and hope in the face of barriers. Mutual support and encouragement emerged as themes as ISS grads used their time to congratulate and honor one another. Program Co-Director, Mel Wensel, described the moment as one of “healing, validation, affirmation” for those who had experienced disruptions in their academic journey before finding ISS. Keynote speaker, Professor James Pfieffer, honored the additional wisdom and experience ISS students bring to his classes and exhorted ISSers to use their social science knowledge to find ways to heal divides, take on social challenges, and be “champions of democracy.” Congratulations, once again, to our 2024-2025 graduates! Thank you for making it a memorable celebration.

You can watch the 2025 ISS Graduation Celebration on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/IOLQUxZbDO8

Congratulations to our 2025 grads!