WNBA superstar and George Washington University basketball legend Jonquel Jones, B.A. ’19, drew on lessons learned from her childhood in the Bahamas, her record-setting career at Foggy Bottom and her championship run with the New York Liberty to cheer on the Class of 2025 in a lively GW Commencement address Sunday.
“Success is rarely simple,” she told the crowd of graduates, alumni, faculty, family and friends gathered on the National Mall. “And while it may sound cliche, it really is the journey that makes it all worth it. That’s where life happens, where you find out who you are, find people who believe in you and where you will learn lessons that will carry you through your successes and failures.”
Jones, who pairs her athletic accomplishments with her advocacy work as a role model for young women athletes, encouraged graduates to “trust your instincts” to guide them through the life decisions and pivotal moments ahead.
“Your gut doesn’t lie,” she said. Recalling her own choice to come to GW, she shared her resolve “to lean into my gut—reminding me that the voice inside you is not just noise. It’s wisdom.
“Trust that feeling. Because your instincts, your spirit, your gut—that is where your power lives,” she said.
Jones headlined a joyous 2025 Commencement celebration as GW continued its tradition of being the only university to hold graduation ceremonies on the National Mall. The 2024 WNBA Finals MVP and a member of the GW Athletics Hall of Fame, Jones reflected on her youth in the Bahamas, as “a kid with a big dream and no real roadmap.” She credited mentors like her parents, her coaches in the Bahamas and GW Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach Diane Richardson with helping her follow her hoop dreams to the United States.
After transferring from Clemson, Jones forged a historic career with the Buff and Blue, twice leading GW to the NCAA Tournament and becoming only the third player in school history to score over 1,000 points, grab 800 rebounds and record 100 blocks.
With her triumphs on the court and her humanitarian work off it making her a household name in professional women’s basketball—while leading the Liberty to a championship she was also named one of USA Today’s Women of the Year for her impact on communities and culture—Jones highlighted the positive influences in her life. She implored graduates to also “surround yourself with people who see where you want to go and want to help you get there.” Their guidance and encouragement, she added, “will lift you up, support you in your pursuit of greatness and celebrate your wins.”
As a vocal advocate for social justice, mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ visibility in sports, Jones reminded graduates that responsibility for civic engagement is a hallmark of their GW education.
“It means bold ideas that shake up the world, service to others and remembering the community that brought you where you are now,” she said. “It means stepping into the world not just as professionals, but as people of integrity—people who understand that impact matters more than status, and that lifting others up is one of the greatest forms of leadership.”
At the same time, Jones urged graduates to balance their hard work with the “pure joy” of life. With references to campus memories like bacon-piled sandwiches at the GW Deli and late-night laughs with classmates in Guthridge Hall, Jones told them to cherish the “quiet in-between moments” that make the grinding hours of practicing and studying worthwhile.
Joy “comes in the doing, in the journey along the way. It’s the fuel that keeps you going,” she said. “The laughter, the friendships, the freedom to just be. Those are not distractions, they are essential… In those moments of joy, you will find those moments you’ll remember most.”
Welcome graduates!
Provost Christopher Alan Bracey opened the ceremony by welcoming graduates and family members and noting the contributions of alumni and donors who funded scholarship opportunities. Recalling his yearly Convocation address to incoming classes, he asked the graduating students to remember their own first years at GW and think about how the promises extended to them during their early days on campus—“pursuing truth, building diverse relationships and academic achievement”—had indeed come to pass.
“You can reflect on the opportunities you embraced, the diverse people you met, the disciplines you mastered and the skills you developed,” he said. “You have broadened your horizons and set yourself firmly on the path of excellence for whatever you do next.”
At the same time, Bracey acknowledged the challenges facing society and beseeched graduates not to be “a spectator to the conversations that will determine our collective future” by shying away from controversial issues or rigorous debates.
“Make your voice heard,” he said, “and when you do, be sure to let the world know that you are a graduate of George Washington University.”
Board of Trustees Chair Grace Speights, J.D. ’82, followed Bracey by recognizing the critical role fellow graduates, faculty and family and friends played in supporting the Class of 2025 throughout their GW journey. “With their guidance and encouragement, you were challenged, learned and grew. You leave our scholarly community wise, capable individuals with new knowledge and skills that have set you on a path of great success,” she said.
Board Chair Grace Speights told the graduates: "You leave our scholarly community wise, capable individuals with new knowledge and skills that have set you on a path of great success.” (Florence Shen/GW Today)
Speights then introduced GW President Ellen M. Granberg, who continued a Commencement tradition by asking the parents, families and friends of the Class of 2025 to rise to accept congratulations and thanks. After also acknowledging the unwavering dedication and support of GW faculty and staff, Granberg congratulated graduates on their “many and varied” successes.
“You all exemplify the very best of the George Washington University,” she said. “As your degrees are conferred today, I hope you each feel an immense sense of pride and accomplishment. You have earned this!”
To begin his remarks, Maxwell Gocala-Nguyen, M.A. ’16, president of the GW Alumni Association, recognized special guests in the audience, including alumni emeriti—those who graduated 50 or more years ago—and several GW Monumental Alumni. He then welcomed the Class of 2025 to a family of more than 330,000 alumni from around the world. While pointing to the role his fellow GW community members have played in his life, Gocala-Nguyen encouraged graduates to embrace their responsibility as mentors for students who would one day follow in their footsteps across the Commencement stage.
“As new alumni, you hold a unique perspective in helping to bridge the community to prospective and current students. Your continued engagement allows for those robust discussions…to continue through your perspective, expertise and insight,” he said. “Together, we can continue to evolve and grow GW’s outreach and impact, all while forging new friendships that may last a lifetime.”
President Ellen M. Granberg urged the graduates to "go boldly, raise high and show the world what it means to be a GW Revolutionary.”(Joy Asico/GW Today)
“Good trouble”
Gocala-Nguyen then introduced the Class of 2025 student Commencement speaker, Natalia Anzaldúa, who earned a doctoral degree in occupational therapy at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, part of the program’s first graduating cohort.
Anzaldúa, who was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and moved to a small Texas border town at the age of 4, greeted the crowd with a hearty, “Buenos dias!”
“Oh, wait. Forgot to code switch,” she joked, before recounting how her youthful “troublemaker” curiosity frequently landed her in the principal’s office—and also empowered her ambition to work with the disability community. “GW was the first place where my troublemaking tendencies were seen as advocacy efforts,” she said.
Commencement student speaker Natalia Anzaldúa said GW "always encouraged me to keep asking ‘why?" (Florence Shen/GW Today)
A first-generation student in the United States, Anzaldúa said GW fostered her intellectual curiosity and “always encouraged me to keep asking ‘why?’” She described her efforts to develop the first ever Accessibility Hour at the White House Easter Egg Roll. Leaving the White House, Anzaldúa called her grandmother—who waved to her from the Commencement crowd—and cried on the phone for a dream she never imagined would come true. Now, upon graduation, she said, she was living another dream—proudly becoming one of less than 5% of Latino occupational therapists and 1% of Latina women holding a doctorate degree.
Quoting modern civil rights legend John Lewis’ summons to “Get in good trouble,” Anzaldúa praised a GW community that “opened doors and opportunities for me I had never met anyone accomplish before.
“And now? I’m trouble walking through the door,” she said.
Honorary degrees
Granberg then returned to the podium to confer honorary degrees.
The first degree was bestowed to Mark D. Lerner, B.B.A. ’75, the managing principal owner and vice chair of the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team and a principal of Lerner Enterprises, among the largest private real estate development firms in the Washington area.
Granberg praised Lerner, one of GW’s Monumental Alumni, for building “a legacy of professional achievement, leadership and philanthropy that has left an indelible mark on the Washington, D.C., region.” In addition to uniting the city around the 2019 World Series championship, she recognized Lerner’s contributions to transforming the region’s urban and suburban landscapes while maintaining innovation, sustainability and quality standards.
She also highlighted his philanthropic leadership and noted that Lerner has remained engaged with the university community, serving on the board of directors of GW Hillel and supporting numerous university initiatives.
“Mr. Lerner’s lifelong commitment to his alma mater and the Washington region stands as a testament to his vision, generosity and sustained impact,” Granberg said.
Mark R. Shenkman received an honorary degree at Commencement. (Florence Shen/GW Today)
Eleanor Holmes Norton (center) receives congratulations from Provost Christopher Alan Bracey (r) upon receiving an honorary degree. (Joy Asico/GW Today)
Mark D. Lerner also received an honorary degree during Commencement on the National Mall. (Florence Shen/GW Today)
The second degree was awarded to D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, whom Granberg extolled for “a lifetime courageously advocating for civil rights, women’s rights and the people of Washington, D.C.”
In tracing Norton’s accomplishments, Granberg highlighted her career as a landmark litigator with the American Civil Liberties Union, the first female chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the elected delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the District of Columbia since 1991.
Granberg described Norton as “a legal trailblazer, a civil rights leader and a dedicated public servant” who has consistently championed the rights and representation of the residents of her D.C. hometown.
“Eleanor Holmes Norton has transformed American society through her courage, intellect and unshakable commitment to justice,” Granberg said.
Mark R. Shenkman, M.B.A. ’67, a preeminent figure in finance and philanthropy, received the third honorary degree.
A pioneer in the high-yield bond and loan markets, Shenkman is the founder and president of Shenkman Capital Management, one of the first independent investment firms dedicated to high-yield asset management. Among his many accolades, Shenkman has been inducted into the Fixed Income Analysts Society Hall of Fame and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Museum of American Finance.
A GW emeritus trustee, Shenkman’s long list of university honors include the Alumni Outstanding Service Award and Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. In 2021, he was named one of GW’s Monumental Alumni and the campus residential building Shenkman Hall is named after him.
“His enduring connection to our university reflects a profound commitment to education and public service,” Granberg said.
William Ahrens, a graduating accounting and finance student, assisted Granberg in presenting Lerner’s honorary degree. Jennifer Lee, who earned a master’s of professional studies degree in legislative affairs, helped award Norton’s Doctor of Public Service while Ella Younger, who received a B.S. in finance and international business, aided Granberg in presenting the honorary degree to Shenkman.
Maxine Engel, a graduating double major in public health and business and the captain of the GW Women’s Basketball Team in both her junior and senior seasons, helped Granberg present fellow GW basketball star Jones with her honorary degree.
The main event!
Later, the proud moment for the Class of 2025 arrived when friends, family and loved ones cheered graduates as they received their charge from Granberg.
Granberg recognized the significance of holding the ceremony on the National Mall—the site, she noted, of landmark moments from the 1963 March on Washington to the March for Our Lives in 2018. “This mall does not discriminate,” she said. “It’s a place of community and solidarity, and today, it belongs to you, the GW Class of 2025.”
As she congratulated the graduates for their achievements “in the classroom, the studio and the research lab,” she told them about the top three lessons she’s learned from students since becoming GW’s 19th president in 2023.
“First,” she said, “you’ve taught me that voices matter at GW,” adding that “GW’s way is to think deeply, listen generously and speak with understanding and respect.
“Second,” she continued, “you’ve shown me that engagement is one of GW’s superpowers,” as she spotlighted students who enriched their GW stories with opportunities on the Hill, in advocacy and in fields from health policy to media.
For the third lesson, she concluded, “You’ve shown me what it means to ‘Raise High’ at GW,” as she praised a community spirit “grounded in hope and the belief not just that tomorrow will be a better day, but that you, as GW Revolutionaries, will make tomorrow a better day.”
Granberg closed by assuring graduates that “the world needs you right now. This is a world hungry for the new voices, new ideas and new kinds of leadership that you will bring. Now is your time, Class of 2025… Go boldly, raise high and show the world what it means to be a GW Revolutionary.”