Stanford University has announced that Alexander Nemerov, a prominent art historian and professor at the university, will deliver the address at the 2025 Baccalaureate ceremony. The event is set to take place on Saturday, June 14, at Frost Amphitheater.
Nemerov’s scholarly work evaluates American culture and art’s role as a medium of truth and human experience. He joined Stanford initially in 1992 and returned in 2012 after a stint at Yale University, where he also chaired the Department of History of Art. At Stanford, he again served as chair of the Department of Art and Art History for several years.
Dean Tiffany Steinwert, responsible for religious and spiritual life at Stanford, remarked, “As a scholar and teacher, Alexander Nemerov has used art as a lens for understanding our past and our place in the world.” The dean expressed confidence that his address would inspire graduates “to envision their futures at life’s crossroads.”
The Baccalaureate serves as a prelude to Stanford’s Commencement ceremonies scheduled for the following day, June 15. It includes contributions from students through a speaker contest, with entries due by April 27, incorporating reflections from diverse religious traditions.
The senior class presidents, Jason Chen Lin, Danny Mottesi, Shreya Ramachandran, and Blaine Wells noted, “In his lectures and writings, Dr. Alexander Nemerov compellingly explores how our relationship with the past can inform and inspire the future.” They anticipate Nemerov’s perspectives will enrich the ceremony.
Known for his dynamic teaching style, Nemerov has been portrayed by The Stanford Daily as a mythical figure in academia. His career includes notable lectures at the National Gallery of Art, and he recently published “The Forest: A Fable of America in the 1830s.”
Reflecting on his selection, Nemerov stated, “I am honored to have been chosen to give this year’s Baccalaureate address. I have learned so much from my students at Stanford, and I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect with them on such a meaningful occasion.”
The weekend’s events will continue with Olympian Katie Ledecky delivering the Commencement address on June 15 at Stanford Stadium. Further details regarding the celebrations are provided on the university’s dedicated website.
