With the theme “The Future is Golden”, Roxbury Community College (RCC) celebrated its largest recent graduating class at its 50th commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15, at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center. The nearly 300 members of the Class of 2026 were recognized for exemplifying the talent, determination, and perseverance that have defined RCC since its founding in 1973. More than 70% of the RCC graduating class of 2026 are Boston residents.
“At Roxbury Community College, your success is not accidental. It is built intentionally by a community that believes deeply in what education makes possible,” said Dr. Jonathan K. Jefferson, President of Roxbury Community College. “Many of us share your lived experiences. We know that access to opportunity can change the trajectory of a life. This institution has become a true highway for economic mobility. And today, each of you steps onto that highway equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resilience to move forward with purpose.”
Dr. Suzanne Elise Walsh, President of City University of Seattle and Board Chair of Achieving the Dream, delivered the 2026 commencement keynote address.
“Your journey through RCC may have been a little volatile, a little uncertain, a little complex, and a little ambiguous, and yet here you are. What it took to get you here will get you there when things get tough,” said Dr. Walsh. “You are uniquely ready to give back to your family, to your friends, and to your community. You have a responsibility to serve in new ways that people expect and that they need.”
Dr. Walsh's career spans philanthropy, institutional transformation, and global higher education. She previously served as the 19th President of Bennett College, a historically Black college for women, and directed more than $70 million in national initiatives at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Quiana N. Wilson, of Jamaica Plain, delivered the student commencement address, capping a remarkable journey back to higher education that began when she returned to RCC in January 2025 to finish the degree she had started twenty years ago.
“RCC gave me the space to discover what I’m capable of. I was met with support every time the Holy Spirit gave me a new idea,” said Quiana N. Wilson, 2026 Student Speaker, Roxbury Community College. “Honor that inner voice that is calling you higher. Do not let your circumstances define your identity. And do not forget that your best days are ahead of you.”
Wilson achieved multiple consecutive 4.0 semesters, was formally cited by the Massachusetts Senate for academic excellence, and earned two prestigious honors from Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society International: recognition as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa All-USA Academic Team and selection as the 2026 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar for Massachusetts, chosen from more than 2,300 nominees nationwide. She will transfer to Northeastern University in Fall 2026 on a full scholarship to pursue a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Digital Communication and Media.
The ceremony also honored three community leaders whose contributions have strengthened RCC and the Greater Roxbury community. The family of the late Judge Leslie Harris accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf.
Dr. Charles Anderson, President and CEO of The Dimock Center, received the Community Service Award. He thanked RCC for its partnership with his organization, saying, “For every problem there is a solution, and we need to work together to find it.”
Roeshana Moore-Evans, Founder and Principal Strategist at Equity Empowerment, was
honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award. “Diamonds are not created without pressure,”
she said. “Community will carry you forward more than competition ever will.”
At the ceremony, the College also honored the accomplishments of Dean of Students
Lisa Carter, who is retiring after 32 years of work at the school.
