Announcing our 2025 Commencement Speaker

My fellow Terrapins,

First, I want to congratulate Coach Frese and Coach Willard, as well as our women’s and men’s basketball teams for reaching the prestigious Sweet 16 in the 2025 NCAA tournament! Our teams have thrilled us and represented us with pride on the national stage.

And soon, our graduates will be center stage as we honor their incredible achievements at commencement. On May 21, we will gather in SECU Stadium to recognize the graduates from summer 2024, fall 2024 and spring 2025.

Today, I write to share exciting news about this year’s commencement speaker, an international superstar and best-selling author who - in many ways - got his start right here on our campus. I’ll let him speak for himself.

This incredible speaker honors the long history between the University of Maryland and Muppets creator Jim Henson, who graduated from UMD in 1960.

A home economics major with an eye for innovation, Henson created Kermit using one of his mother’s coats and a ping-pong ball cut in half. From those humble beginnings, Kermit has gone on to become one of the world’s most beloved and enduring cultural icons—all while sharing a message of optimism and believing in yourself.

We are honored that he will share his insights with our graduating class, their families, and friends. We are also deeply grateful to the College of Arts and Humanities Dean Stephanie Shonekan, Craig Kier, and the Arts for All initiative for helping make this opportunity possible.

Commencement ceremonies

I look forward to seeing all of our graduates at SECU Stadium on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 6 p.m. for the campus commencement ceremony. Individual school and college ceremonies will be held on Tuesday, May 20, Wednesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 22. The Commencement website has additional information about tickets, ceremony schedules, regalia and answers to frequently asked questions.

We are so fortunate to welcome Kermit the Frog back to campus for this annual celebration of Terrapin excellence.

Go Terps,