Harvard Kennedy School celebrates our graduates who carry the School’s mission of public service around the globe.

Our graduates embody the aspiration that skilled leadership and smart public policy can improve people’s lives.

This page will be updated regularly with details about the Commencement 2024 celebrations at HKS. For general information about Harvard Commencement, events schedules, and locations, visit commencement.harvard.edu.

Public service is written into Harvard Kennedy School’s DNA, Nicholas Burns, U.S. ambassador to China and a former HKS professor, told the crowd of graduating HKS students and their families on Wednesday as the speaker for the HKS Graduation Address.

Graduating Student Profiles

 

Livestreams

 

Class Day is a time-honored HKS tradition where graduating students and their guests as well as faculty members and staff celebrate the Class of 2024.

 

Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, will deliver this year's graduation address. 

 

The Diploma Ceremony is held directly following Morning Exercises. Diplomas will be awarded to graduates individually at this special celebration. 

Returning your regalia

If you rented your regalia for Commencement Week, it must be returned to the Coop's 1400 Massachusetts Avenue Location (3rd floor) by June 7.

Contact the Harvard Coop directly with any questions. 



First Destination Survey

As HKS students know, data is important to clarify trends and impact. 

The HKS Office of Career Advancement shares its First Destination Survey with graduating students each year to evaluate graduates' hiring and career-choice trends, which are important for the dean, faculty, staff, and current and prospective students.

Whether you are currently engaged in a job search, considering offers, joining a new employer, returning to your pre-HKS employer, or continuing your education, it is important for you to be represented in your class’s data. 

Please take the First Destination Survey. Your responses will be an opportunity to give feedback to OCA, report on your post-graduation plans, and equip OCA with valuable information on how to serve you now and in the future.



Who to contact

HKS Commencement Team

Associate Director of Student Services Jane Finn-Foley serves as the HKS Commencement Coordinator and leads the Degree Programs and Student Affairs Commencement planning team. She is the school's primary contact for all things related to Commencement. 

Contact Jane if you have questions or need assistance.

Class Marshals

Being elected as Class Marshal is an honor bestowed upon two graduating members of each degree program.

As a group and with oversight from the Office of Student Services and the Commencement Coordinator, the 8 class marshals execute the Class Day Awards Ceremony (including selecting, with input from their classmates, the Carballo Teaching Award and the Sue Williamson Spirit Award for Staff) and serve as a resource for their class regarding commencement and related activities.

The 2024 Class Marshals were announced in Spring 2024.

#HKSGrad

 

Read about our exceptional graduates and watch livestreams of the Class Day Awards Ceremony, remarks from former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon MC/MPA 1984, and the Class of 2023 HKS Diploma Ceremony.