Commencement
May 6, 2022
Over the April 30–May 1 weekend, the University of Portland community gathered at the Chiles Center to honor its graduating class of 2022. It marked the University’s first in-person commencement ceremonies since 2019, following virtual ceremonies in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic precautions.
“We had a weekend full of festivities, a weekend full of celebrating,” said Herbert A. Medina, PhD, the University’s Acting President and Provost. “It’s been absolutely wonderful, and I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to do this all in person.”
On Saturday, UP’s Air Force and Army ROTC commissioned 25 new officers in a morning ceremony. Saturday afternoon, the UP School of Nursing Commencement and Pinning Ceremony honored 230 graduates. In her commencement address, Dr. Marla E. Salmon (’71, ’72, ’93, ’99) told nursing graduates that 50 years ago, in 1972, she was pinned and graduated from the UP School of Nursing.
“My advice after 50 years is to hang out with the right people,” Dr. Salmon told the Class of 2022. “The second is to make great mistakes. And the third is to keep compassion and care at the center.
“I wish for you all a wonderful life and a wonderful career that’s filled with love, joy, and good works.”
Sunday morning’s Commencement II Ceremony honored graduating seniors from UP’s Pamplin School of Business and Shiley School of Engineering, followed by an afternoon Commencement III Ceremony for the College of Arts & Sciences and School of Education.
Kunal Nayyar, UP alumnus from the Class of 2003, returned to Portland to give the commencement address for both Sunday ceremonies. Nayyar, who starred in the hit CBS comedy “The Big Bang Theory,” advised graduates to “live a life of yes” and to embrace their own unique journey.
“You must not waste any time trying to be someone other than yourself. You are beautiful as you are. You are a unique expression of this universe,” Nayyar said. “I see all of you and it fills me with so much joy to get a sense of all the incredible things that you are about to go out and do.”
Of the 1,093 students in UP’s graduating class of 2022, 989 attended weekend commencement ceremonies.
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