At a time when algorithms shape attention, institutions face growing distrust, and many young people are questioning where they belong, speakers at Framingham State University’s 2026 Undergraduate Commencement returned repeatedly to a simpler, more human idea: community matters.

Delivering the keynote address, cultural strategist and Boston While Black founder Sheena Collier challenged graduates to resist cynicism and isolation in a rapidly changing world and instead “build what doesn’t exist.”

“In a world that profits from your disconnection,” Collier told graduates, “choosing to build real community is a radical act.” 

Family, friends, faculty and staff packed the DCU Center in Worcester on Saturday, May 23, to celebrate 583 graduates in the Class of 2026
Drawing on stories from her own life and family history, Collier encouraged students to see moments of discomfort and disconnection not as obstacles, but as signals pointing them toward the work they are meant to do. 

“The gap is not in your way,” she said. “The gap is showing you the way. So leave here today and participate fully in the world. Refuse to wait for someone else to build what only you can see. The world you are walking into needs exactly who you are. So don't wait for permission. Go build it.” 

Collier, who also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the ceremony, connected her message directly to Framingham State’s history and mission, praising the university’s longstanding commitment to expanding access to education and opportunity. 

President Nancy Niemi echoed those themes in her remarks to graduates, urging students to reflect on their “origin stories” and the values that shaped their journeys to commencement day. Niemi described Framingham State’s own origin story as one rooted in hope and the belief that education could strengthen democracy and transform lives. 

“My guess is that each of your origin stories is grounded in equally hopeful ideas,” Niemi said, pointing to graduates’ love for their disciplines, communities, families, and themselves as the foundation for the futures they will build. She encouraged graduates to lead with courage, ask difficult questions, and create what civil rights leader John Lewis once called “good trouble.” 

Student speaker Olivia Dunleavy reflected on her own winding path through higher education and the sense of belonging she ultimately found at Framingham State. A Computer Science major who transferred colleges before arriving at FSU, Dunleavy spoke about discovering community through student leadership, journalism, friendships, and campus life. 

“The people are the reason I stayed,” Dunleavy said. “FSU has gifted me with not just friends but a forever family.” She urged graduates to carry forward the university’s “Live to the Truth” motto by challenging false narratives, speaking up, and using their voices to make change in the world around them. 

Earlier in the week, Framingham State celebrated 303 Master’s Degree recipients during a ceremony at Framingham State’s Logan Gymnasium. Keynote speaker Dr. Robert Awkward, the longtime coordinator of Framingham State’s Master of Human Resources program, encouraged graduates to create their own luck, balance work with self-care, and remain hopeful. 

“I don’t think you can live a fulfilling life if you don’t remain hope-filled,” Awkward said. “Oh, there will be tests, trials and tribulations. You already know that….At the heart of it is your ability to remain positive and hopeful in the midst of challenges.”