More than 800 graduates from across the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences proudly crossed the stage during the 2025 KSAS Master’s Graduation Ceremony on Monday, May 19 on Homewood Field in Baltimore, marking the successful completion of their Johns Hopkins degrees.
Veronica Donahue, Krieger’s associate dean for graduate and professional programs, opened the celebration, noting the diversity of the graduating class. She recognized the achievements of all graduates, from the youngest, Kaylee May Law, an 18-year-old MA in Government graduate, to the oldest, Myrna Blyth, age 86, who earned her Master of Liberal Arts degree.
One of the evening’s highlights included the commencement address to the graduates and an audience of 4,500 guests by Sean Carroll, Homewood professor of Natural Philosophy.
Carroll urged the graduates to consider the infinite choices in their finite lives.
“A typical, average human being lives for three billion heartbeats,” Carroll said. “When it comes down to making choices about what you are going to do, think of it in terms of heartbeats. What is the best way that I can use my three billion heartbeats? Some choices that you have to make are very hard, but if you put the effort in and make the difficult choice, it can pay off and lead to more meaningful impact down the road. It might be a choice that affects yourself, your family, and friends, or the world, a world that you are being launched into as Hopkins graduates. There are one million different ways in which the world is changing rapidly. You have the opportunity in a world like that to make choices that can have enormous impact, even if you are just one person.”
MA in Non-Profit Management graduate Kathy Tran was among the joyous members of the Class of 2025 who participated in the celebration.
“Johns Hopkins is an amazing school. The courses were so relevant to my career. They deepened my skill sets, and I made great connections,” Tran said. “I am so proud to be a part of it.”
Christopher S. Celenza, the James B. Knapp Dean of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, congratulated the graduates on the completion of their rigorous coursework, tireless research, and for their dedication while navigating employment schedules and family obligations.
“Tonight, we celebrate not only your achievements, but also the fortitude and commitment that were required to take each next step in the process that brought you to this moment,” Celenza said.
Following the ceremony, the graduates, their guests, and Johns Hopkins faculty and staff celebrated with a reception on Keyser Quad in front of the iconic Gilman Hall.