Lael Brainard ’83, P’22, Hon.’25: “You Will Continue to Be Tested—I Know You Will Rise to the Challenge”
Economist Lael Brainard ’83, P’22, Hon.’25 was named an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Wesleyan’s 193rd Commencement ceremony. In her speech to the Class of 2025, she spoke of how Wesleyan helped shape the person she is today, someone for whom public service is the highest calling.
“It was here that I came to believe that my country could do so much better to live up to our values and our ideals,” stated Brainard, the former director of the National Economic Council. “And it was here that I started to understand it was partially on me to push in that direction.”
Brainard also encouraged graduates to make service to their country or community a part of their path forward, and she expressed faith in the novel—and perhaps unexpected—contributions that the Class of 2025 will make for the betterment of the world.
A former vice chair of the Federal Reserve and undersecretary of the Treasury, Brainard has contributed to the successful resolution of several financial crises, including the Asian financial crisis, Euro area crisis, COVID-19 crisis, 2023 debt limit impasse, and U.S. regional banking crisis. The New York Times has described Brainard as “America’s top financial diplomat” for her high-level negotiations with China and Europe. She founded the Brookings Global Economy and Development program. Brainard received a BA with university honors from Wesleyan University and a PhD in economics from Harvard University, where she was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship. She is also the recipient of a White House Fellowship, the Alexander Hamilton Award, and the Harvard Centennial Medal.
Brainard made the following remarks during Wesleyan’s 193rd Commencement ceremony on May 25:
Thank you. Congratulations to the Wesleyan Class of 2025.
It is truly an honor to celebrate your achievements with you today. And to welcome you into this community where we all share a very special and select bond. Like you, it was here at Wesleyan where I first became who I am today, thanks to the friendships I made and the guidance of my professors. It was here at Wesleyan that I first cried about the outcome of an election. And I am not a crier. It was here that I came to believe my country could do so much better to live up to our values and our ideals. And it was here that I started to understand it was partially on me to push in that direction.
In moments when I am tested, I still reach back to the lessons I learned here at Wesleyan—to lead with my values, to think outside the box, to never give up. In the first months of the pandemic, when our economy seized up, I struggled with how we were going to save the jobs of tens of millions of Americans who were at risk of losing their livelihoods and their lives, and the millions of businesses that were on the brink of bankruptcy. But we thought outside the box, we persevered, we found a way forward. Too many lives were lost. Too many were interrupted. But thanks to the health workers and others who put their lives on the line, we turned one of our darkest moments into one of our finest.
Today we are being tested again. For the Class of 2025, much has already been asked of you. You started your freshman year as the pandemic was raging, and you are going out into the world at a time of profound challenge. There has never been a more important time to defend the strong institutions and rule of law that make us who we are as a nation. Both are under greater threat today than I have seen in my lifetime.
I want to express my admiration for the way you have engaged with these challenges—with your humanity, your head, and your heart. I am proud to be a member of this same community. And I want to express my appreciation for President Roth's leadership, both here in this community and around the country.
For me, public service has been my highest calling. I know some of you have already served our country with distinction, and I want to thank you for your service. For many more, I encourage you to spend some part of your careers serving our country or your community.
And for all of you, much more will be asked. You will continue to be tested—I know you will rise to the challenge. You are going to build from the strong foundations your professors and coaches have helped you forge here in this wonderful crucible we call Wesleyan. You will make novel connections across different realms of inquiry and practice. And you will take on the biggest challenges in the coolest ways, leading from your values, thinking outside the box, never giving up.
So, look around you. These are your classmates who will astonish you with their contributions. These are your lifelong friends who will celebrate you when you surprise yourself and the world with the amazing contributions you will make.
I want to close by saying thank you to the members of the amazing faculty, and to express my appeciation to parents and grandparents. I know you are full of love and pride for these amazing graduates that you have raised up to be who they are today. The sun truly did rise on this Class of 2025 this morning. Congratulations. I cannot wait to see all the good you will do in the world.
