169th Commencement

Commencement Ceremony
Location: Alice Millar Chapel
Address: 1870 Sheridan Road, Evanston
Time: 9:00-11:00am

We’ re honored to announce that Dr. Simran Jeet Singh will be the speaker for the commencement ceremony. Writer, educator, and activist Dr. Simran Jeet Singh is a professor of history at Union Theological Seminary and author of The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life. In his work and contemplative talks, he offers a fresh approach to ethical living—one in which love, caring, and service go hand-in-hand with personal happiness. Dr. Singh’s vision of hope shows how each of us can turn away from fear, uncertainty, and anger to move toward renewal and positive change.

Growing up in Texas as the son of Indian immigrants and a self-described “turban-wearing, brown-skinned, beard-loving Sikh,” Simran Jeet Singh constantly confronted racism, bullying, and ethnic slurs. But, where others may have grown bitter or angry, he looked to the lessons of Sikh teachings he grew up with to seek out the good in every situation and find positive ways to direct his energy. These tenets of love and service to others empowered him to forge a life of connection and a commitment to justice that catapulted him to the national stage.

Currently, Dr. Simran Jeet Singh is also a Soros Equality Fellow with the Open Society Foundations, a Senior Adviser on Equity and Inclusion for YSC Consulting, a Senior Adviser for Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program, and host of the podcast, Wisdom & Practice, with the Aspen Institute and PRX. He was recently named a 2022 Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity. He lives with his family in New York City. For more information on Speaker, please visit www.prhspeakers.com.

Reception
Location: Rector Terrace (weather permitting) and Loder Hall
Address: 2121 Sheridan Road, Evanston
Time: Immediately following Commencement

PARKING

The small lot on Garrett Place will be reserved for the Board of Trustees meeting, but open for all access after the Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 17. We recommend street parking, Northwestern lots, and City of Evanston lots:

• Northwestern University parking map is available here.
  • Parking Lot 118 (just south of Garrett visitor lot)- park from 8am-4pm w/o ticket enforcement. All lots free after 4pm- Do not park in Reserve spaces, you will be ticketed.
  • Park Lots 222, 224, 225 (just south of Alice Millar) park from 8am-4pm w/o ticket enforcement.
• Street Parking
  • Free 2-hour parking until 6pm (Follow additional signage rules, if applicable)
• City of Evanston parking map is available here. Note that Church Street Self Park is conveniently located at Church St and Chicago Ave near the Commencement Ceremony. It is only $6 to park up to 5 hours.