Penn Class of 2023, 267th Commencement, May 15, 2023

 

University of Pennsylvania Commencement
 

Franklin Field on Monday, May 15, 2023

The University of Pennsylvania's 267th Commencement ceremony will take place on Monday, May 15, 2023, in Franklin Field at 10:15 a.m., and will be preceded by student and academic processions through campus. The ceremony will end at approximately 12:15 p.m. and will feature the conferral of degrees, the awarding of honorary degrees, greetings by University officials, and remarks by the Commencement speaker, Idina Menzel, Tony Award-winning actress, singer/songwriter, producer, and author.

This year, due to added security requirements, the gates to Franklin Field will open at 7:00 a.m. for all guests. Every person entering Franklin Field will be subjected to an airport-style security screening, which will slow entry into the stadium. Please plan to arrive early. Note that only certain small items (including cell phones, wallets, and small clutches) will be permitted. A good rule of thumb: if an item does not fit in your pocket, please do not bring it with you. Please see list of prohibited items.

Before entering Franklin Field, graduating students will assemble at 39th Street and Locust Walk starting at 8:00 a.m. for a procession across campus. The procession will begin at 8:30 a.m. The graduates will also have to go through a separate security check-point once they reach the stadium.

Please note: For the webcast, hit the play button above. If you are unable to access the ceremony on this page, please go to the University of Pennsylvania YouTube channel. If you have trouble accessing the content of the web page please contact the webmaster@upenn.edu.

2023 Commencement Program Flipbook

Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipients

The speaker and honorary degree recipients for The University of Pennsylvania's 267th Commencement ceremony include Idina Menzel, Abhijit Banerjee, Jean Bennett, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Esther Duflo, and Brent Staples (see slideshow.)
 

See Full Biographies

Idina Menzel

Idina Menzel

Actress, singer, songwriter of stage and screen
Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, 2004

2023 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Doctor of Arts

More about Idina Menzel
Abhijit Banerjee

Abhijit Banerjee

Nobel Prize in Economics, 2019
Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Honorary Doctor of Laws

More about Abhijit Banerjee
Jean Bennett

Jean Bennett

Co-pioneer of gene therapy to reverse inherited retinal disease
F.M. Kirby Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania

Honorary Doctor of Sciences

More about Jean Bennett
Jocelyn Bell Burnell

Jocelyn Bell Burnell

Astrophysicist who discovered pulsars
Visiting Professor of Astrophysics and Professorial Fellow at Mansfield College, University of Oxford
Chancellor, University of Dundee, Scotland

Honorary Doctor of Sciences

More about Jocelyn Bell Burnell
Esther Duflo

Esther Duflo

Nobel Prize in Economics, 2019
Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Honorary Doctor of Laws

More about Esther Duflo
Brent Staples

Brent Staples

Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Writing, 2019
New York Times Editorial Board member, author

Honorary Doctor of Letters

More about Brent Staples

Address & Phone

1 College Hall, Room 211
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-7006