Baccalaureate Ceremony
The annual baccalaureate ceremony returns to Bovard Auditorium on May 11, 2023.
Each year, as part of USC’s Commencement celebrations, the Office of Religious Life hosts USC’s annual Baccalaureate Ceremony. Baccalaureate is a multi-faith celebration led by USC’s religious directors, student leaders, musical groups, and university dignitaries.
Baccalaureate also features a distinguished keynote speaker as well as a graduating student speaker. The service itself features music and readings from a wide range of religious traditions, and concludes with a benediction over the graduating students. Baccalaurate is held at USC’s historic Bovard Auditorium and is followed by the popular Baccalaureate Dinner for graduating students and their families.
2022 Baccalaureate Ceremony
Past Baccalaureate Ceremonies
Speaker | Worship Assistants | |
| 2022 | Maya Soetoro-Ng | Rabia Ali, Muslim Student Union Raynooka Kabir, Interfaith Council Abigail Yosian, Chabad & Hillel @ USC Rev. Jim Burklo, Senior Associate Dean of Religious Life Vanessa Gomez Brake, Associate Dean of Religious Life |
| 2019 | Mayor Eric Garcetti | Briana Trujillo, Interfaith Council Zayn Razi, Muslim Student Union Ariele Batist, Christian Life Rev. Jim Burklo, Senior Associate Dean of Religious Life Vanessa Gomez Brake, Associate Dean of Religious Life |
| 2018 | Tina Lawson Watch the Video | Sheikh Jamaal Diwan, Muslim Chaplain Rev. Jim Burklo, Senior Associate Dean of Religious Life Vanessa Gomez Brake, Associate Dean of Religious Life |
| 2017 | Deepak Chopra Watch the Video | Bailey London, Executive Director, USC Hillel Rev. Jim Burklo, Associate Dean of Religious Life |
| 2016 | Marianne Williamson Watch the Video | Rev. Kelby Harrison, Director, USC LGBT Resource Center Rev. Jim Burklo, Associate Dean of Religious Life |
| 2015 | Pico Iyer Watch the Video | Rosie Chinea Shawver, USC Caruso Catholic Center Bart Campolo, Humanist Chaplain, USC Secular Student Fellowship Rev. Jim Burklo, Associate Dean of Religious Life |
| 2014 | Rainn Wilson SoulPancake Watch the Video | Melaina Williams, Canterbury USC Rev. Jim Burklo, Associate Dean of Religious Life |
| 2013 | Krista Tippett On Being Watch the Video | Rev. Frank Wulf, Pastor, United University Church Rev. Jim Burklo, Associate Dean of Religious Life |
| 2012 | Lisa Ling Our America with Lisa Ling Watch the Video | Matthew Brensilver, Buddhist Meditation Organization Rev. Jim Burklo, Associate Dean |
| 2011 | Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez Archdiocese of Los Angeles Watch the Video | Randolph Dobbs, Baha’i Student Association Rev. Jim Burklo, Associate Dean |
| 2010 | Reverend Karen Tse International Bridges to Justice | Michael Jeser, Director of Jewish Life Ali Mir, Director of Muslim Life |
| 2009 | The Very Rev. Canon Reverend Michael Battle, Ph.D. PeaceBattle Institute | Rev. Jim Burklo, Associate Dean Father Lawrence Seyer, USC Catholic Center |
| 2008 | Dr. Richard Mouw President, Fuller Theological Seminary | Michael Sylvester, Athletes in Action Rev. Elizabeth Davenport Senior Associate Dean |
| 2007 | Rabbi David Ellenson, Ph.D. President, Hebrew Union College | Brother Michael Parson, Latter-day Saints Reverend Tita Valeriano, Lutheran Ministry |
| 2006 | Chaplain Sharon Kugler Johns Hopkins University | Ven. Muruthamure Pannaloka Rev. Elizabeth Davenport |
| 2005 | Reverend Dr. Philip A. Amerson President, Claremont School of Theology | J. Wesley Robb, Professor Emeritus Swami Atmavidyananda, Religious Director Rev. Susan Halcomb Craig, Pastor UUC |
| 2004 | Very Reverend John S. Bakas Dean, Saint Sophia Cathedral | Rabbi Dov Wagner, Chabad Swami Sarvadevananda, Hindu Student Org. Revd. Elizabeth Davenport, Associate Dean |
| 2003 | Nikky G. Kaur Singh Chair, Religious Studies Dept. & Crawford Family Professor of Religious Studies, Colby College | Rev. Susan Halcomb Craig, UUC Mr. Ira Dotson, ReJoyce in Jesus Mr. Joseph Medicine Crow, Tribal Historian |
| 2002 | Elder Henry B. Eyring Commissioner of Education The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | Scott Hall, InterVarsity Rabbi Jonathan Klein, USC Hillel Michael Parson, Latter-day Saints Student Assoc. |
| 2001 | Cardinal Roger Mahony Archbishop of Los Angeles | Rev. William Messenger, Catholic Center David Michaelian, Campus Crusade Ven. Jongmae Park, Buddhist Association |
| 2000 | Rev. Cecil L. Murray Senior Minister First AME Church | Rev. Diane Kenney, United Ministry Sheikh Sadullah Khan, Muslim Students Dale Anderson, Christian Scientists |
| 1999 | Professor Lina Gupta Department of Philosophy Glendale Community College | Ms. Fina Arnold, InterVaristy Mr. Mike Parson, J.D., Latter-day Saints Rev. Glenn M. Libby, Episcopal/Anglican |
| 1998 | Rev. Dr. John H. Townsend Sr. Minister Emeritus of the First Baptist Church of Los Angeles | Rev. Susan Halcomb Craig, UUC Rev. Neil Walker, Baptist Student Union Rev. Shawn Zambrows, American Baptists |
| 1997 | Right Reverend Frederick Borsch Bishop of Episcopal Diocese Los Angeles | Rev. William Messenger, Catholic Center Rev. Wilbur Barnett, Lutheran Pastor Mohammed Khan, Muslim Advisor |
| 1996 | Dr. Ananda W.P. Guruge Senior Special Advisor to Director General of UNESCO | Dennis Tuma, Campus Crusade Dr. Gloria Haithman, Baha’i Advisor Julie Morris, USC Canterbury |
| 1995 | Most Reverend Gabino Zavala Archdiocese of Los Angeles | Rev. Wilbur Barnett, Lutheran Pastor Rabbi Uri Herscher, Hebrew Union College Rev. William Messenger, Catholic Center Rev. Shawn Zambrows, American Baptists |
| 1994 | Dr. Maher Hathout Islamic Center of Southern California | Rabbi Susan Laemmle. Hillel Jewish Center Mike Parson, Latter-day Saints Students |
| 1993 | Dr. E. Grace Payne Executive Director Westminster Neighborhood Association | Father Larry Walling, Catholic Center Rev. Diane Kenney, United Ministry Rabbi Susan Laemmle, Hillel Jewish Center |
| 1992 | Rabbi Daniel Landers National Education Director Simon Wiesenthal Center | Father Lawrence M. Jenco, Catholic Center Dr. Paul Hyde, Latter day Saints Rev. Heidi Singh, Buddhist Chaplain |
| 1991 | Most Reverend Carl A. Fisher Archdiocese of Los Angeles | Rabbi Ari Hier, Hillel Jewish Center Rev. Shawn Zambrows, American Baptists Fr. Eric Hung-Fat Law, Episcopal Chaplain |
| 1990 | Reverend Alvin Rudisill University Chaplain | Rabbi Laura Geller, Hillel Jewish Center Dean Robert Mannes, InterVarsity Advisor Wilbur Barnett, Lutheran Pastor Sister Joanne Bauer, Catholic Center |
| 1989 | Dr. David L. Lieber President, University of Judaism | Rev. Patricia E. Farris, UUC Rev. James Smith, Pentecostal Ministries Fr. George Luznicky, Catholic Center |
| 1988 | Dr. J. Wesley Robb | |
| 1987 | Archbishop Roger Mahoney | |
| 1986 | Father James N. Loughran President, Loyola Marymount | Rev. Shawn Zambrows, American Baptists Rev. Eric Hung-Fat Law, Episcopal Chaplain |
| 1985 | Uri D. Herscher, D.H.L. Executive Vice President Hebrew Union College | Kevin Hughes, Campus Crusade Father Don Duplessis, Catholic Center |
| 1984 | Rev. Schubert M. Ogden Professor of Theology Southern Methodist University | Sister Angela Milioto, Catholic Center Rev. Lawrence T. Young, UUC |
| 1983 | Rev. Monsignor John Tracy Ellis Professorial Lecturer in Church History Catholic University of America | Rev. Diane Kenney, United Ministry David Rimington, Latter day Saints Rev. Dr. Peregrine Graffius, Catholic Center |
| 1982 | Rev. Richard W. Cain President, School of Theology Claremont University | Douglas Walker, United Ministry Rev. Dr. Edward Penonzek, Catholic Center |
| 1981 | Nahum Norbert Glatzer, Ph.D. Professor of Religion & Judaica Boston University | Rabbi Laura Geller, Hillel Jewish Center Sister Noelle O’Shea, Catholic Center Rev. Samuel Chetti, American Baptists |
| 1980 | Right Rev. Dr. John A.T. Robinson Dean of Chapel, Trinity College Cambridge University | Rev. Don Duplessis, Catholic Center Rev. Wilbur Barnett, Lutheran Pastor Rabbi Laura Geller, Hillel Jewish Center |
| 1979 | Cynthia Clark Wedel, Ph.D. President, World Council of Churches | Rev. Randy Deering, Baptist Student Union Rev. Dr. Edward Penonzek, Catholic Center |
