Commencement has a long and rich history. Read along below for the traditions of graduation and to learn more about the honorary degrees and speeches presented at UMSL's past commencements.
Written speeches and speakers names can be found below. Our speakers from Spring 2018 and after are available in the recording archive.
Miranda Ming, ceremony V
Executive Director, Momentum Academy
May 11, 2024
Speech
The Honorable Brian Williams, ceremony IV
Missouri State Senate, District 14
May 11, 2024
Joseph Yancey, ceremony III
Executive Director, retired, Places for People, Inc.
May 11, 2024
Speech
Warner Baxter, ceremony II
Executive Chairman, retired, Ameren
May 10, 2024
Speech
Anne Ream, OD, ceremony I
Optometrist and Co-Owner, Ream Optometry
College of Optometry
May 10, 2024
Kathy Boyd-Fenger, ceremony III
Executive Director and Head of School, LOGOS School
December 16, 2023
Daniel Isom, ceremony II
Vice President of Corporate Safety, Security and Crisis, Ameren
December 16, 2023
Rissa Rawlins, ceremony I
Interim Chief Executive Officer, Regional Health Commisson
December 16, 2023
Brian Salmo, ceremony VI
Managing Director, Hermann Companies
May 14, 2023
Speech
Amber Simpson, PhD, ceremony V
Senior Learning & Performance Consultant, Edward Jones
May 14, 2023
Speech
Cheryl D.S. Walker, ceremony IV
Attorney at Law
May 13, 2023
Speech
Dr. Gary Morse, ceremony III
Vice President/Associate Executive Director, Places for People, Retired
May 13, 2023
Speech
Earl Swift, ceremony II
Author and Journalist
May 13, 2023
Dr. Jennifer Coyle, cermeony I
President, Pacific University
May 12, 2023
William Woodrow Gwaltney, cermeony III
Retired National Park Ranger
December 17, 2022
Speech
Douglas Harrison, ceremony II
Vice President and Dean, School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology at University of Maryland Global Campus
December 17, 2022
Speech
Steven Harris, ceremony I
Managing Partner, RubinBrown
December 17, 2022
Speech
Terry Elmendorf, ceremony VI
Retired Vice President & CFO, The Boeing Company
May 15, 2022
Speech
Rhonda Key, ceremony V
Assistant Superintendent of High Schools, Hazelwood School District
May 15, 2022
Speech
Evelyn Moore, ceremony IV
F/A-18 Director of Engineering & Chief Engineer, The Boeing Company
May 14, 2022
Speech
Matthew Shank, ceremony III
President, Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges, President Emeritus, Marymount University
May 14, 2022
Nicole Adewale, ceremony II
Principal/Owner ABNA Engineering Inc.
May 14, 2022
Speech
Sean Mulqueeny, OD , ceremony I
President, Mulqueeny Eye Centers and Clinical Associate Professor, University of Missouri Saint Louis College of Optometry
May 13, 2022
Brittany Hogan, ceremony VI
Manager, Center of Humas Service Leadership
Delmar Devine
December 19, 2021
speech
Opal Jones, ceremony V
President and CEO, DOORWAYS
December 19, 2021
speech
Akeem Shannon, ceremony IV
Founder and CEO, Flipstik
December 19, 2021
speech
Brian Williams, ceremony III
Senator, Missouri State Senate
December 18, 2021
speech
Marcela Manjarrez, ceremony II
Senior vice President and CCO, Centene Corporation
December 18, 2021
speech
Toni Douihy, ceremony I
Vice President, Assistant General Counsel
Macy's, Inc.
December 18, 2021
speech
Darrion Cockrell
2021 Missouri Teacher of the Year
May 15, 2021
speech
Ella Jones
Mayor, City of Ferguson
December 19, 2020
speech
Timothy Nowak, ceremony III
Executive Director, World Trade Center St. Louis
December 14, 2019
speech
Marie A. Casey, ceremony II
President and Founder, Casey Communications, Inc.
December 14, 2019
speech
Denise Murphy, ceremony I
Vice President for Patient Care Systems and Senior Nurse Executive, BJC HealthCare
December 14, 2019
speech
Lisa D. Yanker, ceremony VI
Retired Vice President, IBM
May 19, 2019
speech
Charles J. Pearson, ceremony V
Superintendent of Schools, Normandy Schools Collaborative
May 19, 2019
speech
Bethany Johnson-Javois, ceremony IV
Chief Executive Officer, St. Louis Integrated Health Network
May 18, 2019
speech
Sara E. Foster, ceremony III
Executive Vice President, Commerce Bancshares, Inc.
May 18, 2019
speech
Claire Schenk, ceremony II
Partner, Thompson Coburn LLP
May 18, 2019
speech
Dr. Edward S. Bennett, ceremony I
Assistant Dean of Student Services and Alumni Relations, and Professor, UMSL College of Optometry
May 17, 2019
speech
Sheila A. Burkett, ceremony III
Co-Founder & CEO, Spry Digital
December 15, 2018
speech
Christine Brewer, ceremony II
American Soprano
December 15, 2018
song list and performance
Richard K. Jung, ceremony I
Strategic Advisor, Thrively
December 15, 2018
speech
Thomas Schlafly, ceremony VI
Chairman of the Board, the St. Louis Brewery, LLC
Senior Council, Thompson Coburn, LLP
May 13, 2018
speech
Sharonica Hardin-Bartley, ceremony V
Superintendent of Schools, The School District of University City
May 13, 2018
speech
Tony Thompson, ceremony IV
Chairman and CEO, Kwame Building Group Inc.
May 12, 2018
speech
Susan K. Feigenbaum, ceremony III
Curators' Distinguished Teaching Professor Department of Economics, UMSL
May 12, 2018
speech
Bobby Norfolk, ceremony II
Speaker, Author, Storyteller, Teaching Artist
May 12, 2018
speech
Arol Augsburger, ceremony I
President, Illinois College of Optometry
May 11, 2018
speech
Kei Y. Pang, ceremony III
Chief Executive Officer, Nidec Motor Company
December 16, 2017
speech
Gary F. Bell, ceremony II
Founder and Artistic Director, Stray Dog Theatre
December 16, 2017
speech
Cheryl Jones, ceremony I
President and CEO, Girls Inc.
December 16, 2017
Dr. Thomas Hoerr, ceremony V
Scholar in Residence with College of Education, UMSL
May 14, 2017
speech
Jennifer Cordia, ceremony IV
Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer, Christian Hospital and Northwest Healthcare
May 13, 2017
speech
W. Raymond Barrett, ceremony I
Chairman and Founder, Biomedical Systems
May 12, 2017
speech
D'Andre Braddix, ceremony II
Assistant Dean of Students, UMSL
December 17, 2016
speech
John Vatterott, ceremony I
Owner, Ceder Creek
December 17, 2016
speech
Tim Hebel, ceremony I
BS computer science 2016
Founder, Beanstalk Web Soutions
May 14, 2016
speech
Jordan Pickering, ceremony II
CCJ doctoral student
May 14, 2016
speech
Barbara W. Brown, OD 1988
ceremony III
May 14, 2016
speech
Lee Fetter, ceremony IV
BJC Group President
May 15, 2016
speech
Joseph A. Stieven, ceremony V
CEO, Stieven Capital Advisors, LP
May 15, 2016
speech
Jim Krueger
Vice Chancellor for Managerial and Technological Services, UMSL
Dec. 19, 2015
speech
Ronald B. McMullen
President, Christian Hospital
Aug. 8, 2015
speech
June McAllister Fowler
VP, BJC Healthcare
May 16, 2015
speech
Colleen Starkloff
Co-founder, Starkloff Disability Institute
May 16, 2015
speech
The Hon. Terry Swinger OD
Optometrist and former Missouri
legislator
May 16, 2015
speech
Maxine Clark
Founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop
May 17, 2015
speech
Gladys Caines Coggswell
Storyteller and historian
May 17, 2015
speech
Patrick J. Sly
Executive VP, Emerson
May 17, 2015
speech
Robert G Heil
Founder, Heil Sound
Dec. 20, 2014
speech not available
Jorge Riopedre
Exec. Dir.,Casa de Salud
Dec. 20, 2014
speech
Karla Bakersmith
CEO, Scrubs & Beyond
Dec. 20, 2014
speech
Grayling O. Tobias
Superintendent
Hazelwood School District
Aug. 9, 2014
speech
Steven R. Sullivan
President, Provident, Inc.
Aug. 9, 2014
speech
Joseph Bergfeld
President, Pittsburgh Pipe and Supply Co.
May 17, 2014
speech
Randy E. Sims
President and Founder
Sims Exectuive Search
May 17, 2014
Stephen J. Burrows
Business executive and educator
May 18, 2014
speech
The. Rev. Starsky Wilson
President and CEO, Deaconess Foundation
Dec. 14, 2013
speech
The Hon. Jason Kander
Missouri Secretary of State
Dec. 14, 2013
speech
Kirk Richter
retired Vice-President and treasurer,
Sigma Aldrich Corp.
Dec. 14, 2013
speech
David Hilliard
President and CEO, Wyman Center
Aug. 10, 2013
speech
JoAnn M. Shaw
Vice President and
Chief Learning Officer
BJC Center for LifeLong Learning
Aug. 10, 2013
speech
Jeffrey Weaver, OD
Executive Director
American Board of Optometry
May 18, 2013
speech
Dennis Reagan
President and CEO, the Muny
Aug. 4, 2012
Speech
Jean Carnahan
Former U.S. Senator
Aug. 4, 2012
Speech
Andrew Hall
Former President and CEO of Stage Stores Inc.
May 13, 2012
Speech
Lt. Col. James Craig
Commander, The Gateway Battalion Army ROTC detachment St. Louis
May 12, 2012
Speech
Patricia Wolff, MD
Executive Director of Meds & Food for Kids
May 12, 2012
Speech
Jerry Dunn
Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Child Advocacy Center
Dec. 17, 2011
Speech
Cynthia Prost
President of Arts and Education Council
Dec. 17, 2011
Speech
The Honorable Suresh Kumar
Assistant Secretary of Commerce
Dec. 17, 2011
Speech
Robert Reeg
President of MasterCard Technologies
Aug. 6, 2011
Speech
Charlie Hoffman
Former President and CEO of Covad Communications
Aug. 6, 2011
Speech
Art McCoy
Superintendent of the Ferguson-Florissant School District
May 15, 2011
Speech
Earl Horton, BSBA
May 15, 2011
Speech
Dori Carlson O.D.
May 14, 2011
Speech
Gary Dollar
President and CEO at United Way of Greater St. Louis
May 14, 2011
Speech
Deborah Patterson
President of Monsanto Fund
May 14, 2011
Speech
Norman Eaker
Principal and CEO, Edward Jones
Aug. 7, 2010
Speech
John "Jack" Galmiche
President and CEO of KETC Nine Network
May 15, 2010
Students
May 15, 2010
Thomas Knoten, MA philosophy
Amanda Duckwall, BS biology
Speech
Thomas Klein, BA English
Lee Ann Barrett
Executive Director of the Missouri Optometric Association
May 15, 2010
(College of Optometry)
Inda Schaenen
Educator and doctoral candidate
May 16, 2010
(College of Education)
Erwin Branahl
Retired engineer and McDonnell Douglas executive
May 16, 2010
(College of Business Administration and UMSL/Washington University Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program)
Speech
Karen Kalish
Executive Director and Founder of Cultural Leadership
and the Teacher Home Visit Program
Dec. 19, 2009
(College of Arts and Sciences)
Speech
Debra Hollingsworth
Vice President for External Affairs at AT&T Missouri
Dec. 19, 2009
(College of Arts and Sciences)
Speech
Warner Baxter
President and CEO of Ameren UE
May 16, 2009
(College of Arts and Sciences)
Speech
Gary Belsky
Editor in Chief of ESPN The Magazine
(Colleges of Education, College of Nursing, College of Fine Arts and Communication, School of Social Work, Bachelor of General Studies and Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Masters in Public Policy Administration)
Speech
Don Marsh
Journalist, author and current host of 90.7 FM KWMU's St. Louis on the Air
Aug. 2, 2008
(College of Education, College of Nursing, College of Fine Arts and Communication)
Speech
Charles Armbruster
retired UMSL chemistry professor
Aug. 2, 2008
(College of Arts and Sciences, School of Social Work, Bachelor of General Studies, Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, Master's in Gerontology, Master's in Public Policy Administration)
Speech
John Hixson
President and Chief Executive Officer, LaBarge Products, Inc.
Aug. 2, 2008
(College of Business Administration, UMSL/WU Joint Undergraduate Engineering)
Speech
James R. Kimmey
President and CEO, Missouri Foundation for Health
Dec. 16, 2006
(College of Nursing and Health Studies, UMSL/WU Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program, College of Fine Arts and Communication, School of Social Work, Bachelor of General Studies, UMR-EEC, Gerontology Masters Program and Masters in Public Policy Administration)
Speech
Robert Lewis
Principal and President, Development Strategies
Dec. 16, 2006
(College of Arts and Sciences)
Speech
Robert Frank
President, Illuminor LLC
Dec. 17, 2006
(College of Education)
Speech
The Honorable Robin Carnahan
Missouri Secretary of State
Dec. 17, 2006
(College of Business Administration)
Speech
The Honorable William Lacy Clay
Missouri Representative to the U.S. House of Representatives
May 13, 2006
(College of Nursing, UMSL/WU Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program, College of Fine Arts and Communication, School of Social Work, Bachelor of General Studies, UMR-EEC, Gerontology Masters Program and Masters in Public Policy Administration)
Speech
William Thomas Walker
Dean, Continuing Education and Outreach, UMSL
May 13, 2006
(College of Arts and Sciences)
Speech
Stephen Lehmkuhle
Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, University of Missouri System
May 13, 2006
(College of Optometry)
Speech
Elizabeth Fitzgerald
President. The Magic House
May 14, 2006
(College of Education)
Speech
Peter Schick
President, Moneta Group
May 14, 2006
(College of Business Administration)
Speech
H. Gerald Schwartz Jr.
Senior professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Engineering Management Program, Washington University in St. Louis
Dec. 17, 2005
(College of Nursing, UMSL/WU Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program, College of Fine Arts and Communication, School of Social Work, Bachelor of General Studies, UMR-EEC, Gerontology Masters Program and Masters in Public Policy Administration)
Speech
Mark A. Burkholder
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, UMSL
Dec. 17, 2005
(College of Arts and Sciences)
Speech
Thomas R. Hoerr
Director, New City School
Dec. 18, 2005
(College of Education)
Speech
David G. Otto
Principal, Edward Jones
Dec. 18, 2005
(College of Business Administration)
Speech
Charles D. Schmitz
Dean and Professor of the College of Education, UMSL
Aug. 7, 2005
(College of Arts and Sciences, School of Social Work, College of Education, Evening College, College of Fine Arts and Communication, Master's in Gerontology, Master's in Public Policy Administration)
Speech
Gregory Boyce
President and COO, Peabody Energy
Aug. 7, 2005
(College of Business Administration, College of Nursing, UMSL/WU Joint Engineering Program)
Speech
Lee Armstrong Clear
Vice President and Marketing Manager, Clear Channel Radio-St. Louis.
May 14, 2005
(Eveving College, Barnes College of Nursing and Health Studies, UMSL/WU Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program, College of Fine Arts and Communication, UMR-EEC, Gerontology Masters Program and Masters in Public Policy Administration)
Speech
Susan K. Feigenbaum
Professor and Chair, Department of Economics, UMSL
May 14, 2005
(College of Arts and Sciences and School of Social Work)
Speech
Jerald Wayne Strickland
Interim Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, University of Houston
May 14, 2005
(College of Optometry)
Speech
Charles D. Schmitz
Dean and Professor of the College of Education, UMSL
May 15, 2005
(College of Education)
Speech
K. Lynn Wieck, Ph.D. RN
CEO, Management Soultions for Healthcare
Dec. 18, 2004
(Evening College, College of Nursing, UMSL/WU Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program, College of Fine Arts and Communication, UMR-EEC, Gerontology Masters Program and Masters in Public Policy Administration)
Speech
Scott H. Decker
Curators' Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, UMSL
Dec. 18, 2004
(College of Arts and Sciences and School of Social Work)
Speech
Charles D. Schmitz
Dean and Professor, College of Education, UMSL
Dec. 19, 2004
(College of Education)
Speech
Keith Womer
Dean, College of Business Administration, UMSL
Dec. 19, 2004
(College of Business Administration)
Speech
Donald H. Driemeier
Deputy to the Chancellor, UMSL
Aug. 8, 2004
(College of Arts and Sciences, Evening College, College of Education, College of Fine Arts and Communication, Gerontology Masters Program and Masters in Public Policy Administration)
Speech
Cecil G. Wood
Senior Vice President, UMB Bank
Aug. 8, 2004
(College of Business Administration, College of Nursing and UMSL/WU Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program)
Speech
Stanley I. Proctor
Chemical Engineer & President, Proctor Consulting Services
May 15, 2004
(Evening College, Barnes College of Nursing & Health Studies, UMSL/WU Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program, College of Fine Arts & Communication, UM Rolla Engineering Education Center, Gerontology Masters Program, Physiological Optics Masters Program, and Masters in Public Policy Administration)
Roger Beachy
President & Director, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
May 15, 2004
(College of Arts and Sciences)
The Honorable Anne Ream
curator, University of Missouri System Board of Curators
May 15, 2004
(College of Optometry)
Lynn Beckwith, Jr.
Interim E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor, University of Missouri - St. Louis & St. Louis Public Schools
May 16, 2004
(College of Education)
Thomas Schlafly
Attorney at Law, Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin L.L.P
President, St. Louis Brewery Inc.
May 16, 2004
(College of Business Administration)
Thomas F. George
Chancellor, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Jan. 11, 2004
(College of Education)
David G. Niklaus
Business Columnist, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Jan. 11, 2004
(College of Business Administration)
Jean Carnahan
U.S. Senator (former)
Jan. 10, 2004
(College of Arts & Sciences)
Jill A. McGuire
Executive Director, St. Louis Regional Arts Commission
Jan. 10, 2004
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Elson S. Floyd
President, University of Missouri System
Aug. 10, 2003
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Dr. Donald Suggs
President & Publisher, St. Louis American
May 17, 2003
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Blanche M. Touhill
Chancellor Emeritus, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Jan. 12, 2003
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Lawrence Barton
Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Aug. 11, 2002
University of Missouri - St. Louis
The Honorable William Lacy Clay
United States Congressman (former)
May 18, 2002
University of Missouri - St. Louis
The Honorable Peter Kinder
President Pro Tem, Missouri Senate
Jan. 13, 2002
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Joseph T. Porter
Attorney at Law, Polsinelli Shalton & Welte P.C.
President, University of Missouri - St. Louis Alumni Association
Aug. 12, 2001
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Hon. Francis F. Slay
Mayor, City of St. Louis
May 19, 2001
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Jan Newton
President, Missouri Division, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company
Jan. 14, 2001
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Peter H. Raven
Director, Missouri Botanical Garden
May 20, 2000
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Ellen Sherberg
Publisher, St. Louis Business Journal
January 9, 2000
University of Missouri - St. Louis
The Honorable Connie Hager Silverstein
curator, University of Missouri System Board of Curators
Aug. 8, 1999
University of Missouri - St. Louis
David C. Darnell
President, NationsBank Midwest
May 15, 1999
University of Missouri - St. Louis
John W. Bachmann
Managing Principal, Edward Jones
Jan. 10, 1999
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Robert R. Archibald
President, Missouri Historical Society
Aug. 9, 1998
University of Missouri - St. Louis
M. Brian Mulroney
Canadian Prime Minister (Former)
May 16, 1998
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Manuel T. Pacheco
President, University of Missouri System
Jan. 11, 1998
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Osborne Earl "Ozzie" Smith
Shortstop, St. Louis Cardinals
Aug. 10, 1997
University of Missouri - St. Louis
The Honorable Thomas F. Eagleton
United States Senator
May 17, 1997
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Malaika Horne
President, University of Missouri System Board of Curators
Jan. 12, 1997
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Kala M. Stroup
Commissioner, Missouri Coordinating Board of Higher Education
Head, Missouri Department of Education
Aug. 11, 1996
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Antoinette Bailey
President, McDonnell Douglas Foundation
May 18, 1996
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Stephen W. Lehmkuhle
Professor of Optometry, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Aug. 6, 1995
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Julius Hunter
News Anchor, KMOV-TV St. Louis
Jan. 8, 1995
University of Missouri - St. Louis
The Honorable Mary S. Gillespie
curator, University of Missouri System Board of Curators
Aug. 7, 1994
University of Missouri - St. Louis
William F. Woo
Editor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
May 15, 1994
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Cynthia B. Thompson
curator, University of Missouri System Board of Curators
Jan. 9, 1994
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Joseph S. Martinich
Associate Professor of Business Administration, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Aug. 8, 1993
University of Missouri - St. Louis
John F. Dill
President and CEO, Mosby-Year Book, Inc.
May 16, 1993
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Eugene M. Lang
Founder, I Have a Dream Foundation
Jan. 10, 1993
University of Missouri - St. Louis
James L. McHugh
curator, University of Missouri System Board of Curators
Aug. 9, 1992
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Stanford McDonnell
Chairman Emeritus, McDonnell Douglas Corporation
May 17, 1992
University of Missouri - St. Louis
John P. Lichtenegger
President, University of Missouri System Board of Curators
Jan. 5, 1992
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Donald Phares
Professor of Economics, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Aug. 4, 1991
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Robert Yeckel
Chair, Missouri Coordinating Board of Higher Education
May 12, 1991
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Douglas Bennet
President, National Public Radio
Jan. 6, 1991
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Thomas M. Jordan
Curators' Professor of Behavioral Studies, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Aug. 5, 1990
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Stephen Jay Gould
Professor of Zoology, Harvard University
May 13, 1990
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Admiral Stansfield Turner
Admiral (retired), United States Navy
May 13, 1990
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Willie Mae Ford Smith
National Heritage Fellow, National Endowment for the Arts
Aug. 6, 1989
University of Missouri - St. Louis
The Honorable Vincent C. Schoemehl, Jr.
Mayor, City of St. Louis
May 14, 1989
University of Missouri - St. Louis
The Honorable Edwin S. Turner
President, University of Missouri System Board of Curators
Jan. 8, 1989
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Robert McFerrin
Baritone Artist in Residence, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Aug. 7, 1988
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Leonard Slatkin
Music Director and Conductor, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
May 15, 1988
University of Missouri - St. Louis
The Honorable Roger B. Wilson
Missouri State Senator
Jan. 3, 1988
University of Missouri - St. Louis
The honorary doctorate degree is the highest form of recognition offered by the University of Missouri to persons of exceptional distinction. To learn more about honorary degrees, please visit the Honorary Degree website.
The University of Missouri - St. Louis Alma Mater, Heart of Missouri was composed by John Francis Dill and Diane Ceccarini.
The distinctive academic attire of gowns, cape and hoods dates back to the 12th Century, when scholars were usually members of the clergy and wore robes similar to those of other church orders. In those days of unheated classrooms and dormitories, the gowns and hoods served a very practical purpose. Today, they identify the academic achievement of the wearer and reflect a continuous tradition 800 years old.
Both the gown and the hood indicate the degree that the wearer either holds or is about to receive. The gown for the bachelor's degree has a closed front and long, pointed sleeves. Masters wear a closed-sleeve robe with a slit near the upper arm and with the pointed part of the sleeve dangling below the arm. The doctor's hood is faced down the front with velvet and has tree velvet cross-cars on each bell-shaped sleeve. The velvet may be black, or its color may indicate the field in which the degree is taken. Graduates of some institutions may wear gowns in the color of the university which granted their degrees; e.g., crimson for Harvard, blue for Yale, bright gold for Johns Hopkins.
Hoods are not worn for the bachelor's degree. The master's hood is shorter than the doctor's and lacks it colored panels. Hoods are lined with the colors of the institution granting the degree and are edged with velvet in the color symbolic of the wearer's academic field: philosophy, dark blue; law, purple; public policy, peacock blue; education, light blue; fine arts, brown; arts, letters and humanities, white; science golden yellow; business, tan; music, pink; nursing, peach; engineering, orange; and optometry, seafoam green.
The mortar board cap came into use after the hood had ceased to be worn on the head. The tassel, worn over the left temple, is usually black, although a colored tassel may be worn to designate one's academic discipline, and the tassel on the doctor's cap may be of gold thread. Some doctor's caps are made of black velvet.
The wearing of the academic attire is one of the "rights and privileges" that accompanies a degree.
