Commencement Ceremony 2025

BSE's Commencement takes place on Wednesday, May 21, 2:00 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall.

Distinguished keynote address: Robert Reich, professor emeritus, Goldman School of Public Policy, former U.S. Secretary of Labor

Robert B. Reich is Professor of Public Policy Emeritus at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley. He has served in three national administrations, including as secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton, for which Time Magazine named him one of the 10 most effective cabinet secretaries of the 20th century.

He has written 18 books, including the bestsellers "The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It;" "The Common Good; Saving Capitalism;" "Aftershock;" "Supercapitalism;" and "The Work of Nations," which has been translated into 22 languages. His memoir, "Coming Up Short," will be available in August 2025.

He is co-creator of the 2017 Netflix original documentary "Saving Capitalism" and of the award-winning 2013 film "Inequality for All." He is co-founder of Inequality Media, from which his videos have been viewed more than 1 billion times with average weekly reach of more than 14 million.

In 2003, Reich was awarded the prestigious Vaclav Havel Vision Foundation Prize, by the former Czech president, for his pioneering work in economic and social thought. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The 131st commencement for UC Berkeley's School of Education (BSE) will be held Wednesday, May 21, 2:00 p.m. in Zellerbach Hall.

Meg Stomski, PhD, School Psychology Program

Meg Stomski (she/her) is a Japanese American fifth-year PhD candidate in the School Psychology program at the Berkeley School of Education. Born in Japan and raised between cultures, she draws on her bicultural background and a commitment to cultural humility in her approach to education and mental health. Meg is deeply committed to advancing equity and expanding access to high-quality care and educational support for historically marginalized youth. She has supported Bay Area communities through her work in Oakland public schools and at Contra Costa Child and Adolescent Services, a community mental health agency.

As a researcher, her work explores bullying and mental health outcomes among immigrant and minority youth. Her dissertation — a multi-method study on how Asian American youth make sense of their bullying experiences through attribution — was awarded the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice Student Research Grant from the National Association of School Psychologists.

After graduation, Meg will continue her training at the CPMC Kalmanovitz Child Development Center in San Francisco, where she will complete a postdoctoral fellowship in child psychology. The center offers mental health services to children and adolescents, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Meg plans to become a licensed psychologist and continue supporting children and families by strengthening mental health care through practice, advocacy, and research within schools and communities.

Outside of her work, Meg finds joy in connecting with her Japanese community, spending time outdoors, sharing meals with friends, and experimenting with new coffee creations.

Keldon Clegg, MA + Administrative Credential

A proud East Bay native, Keldon Clegg is a vice principal at Berkeley High School, where he has served for more than 15 years as a teacher, instructional leader, and advocate for educational equity. He has taught Global Studies, IB History, and World of Media, and supported civic engagement through student programs like AVID and We the People: The Citizen and The Constitution. In addition to his classroom work, Keldon has served as a Teacher on Special Assignment leading initiatives in instructional technology, WASC accreditation, and schoolwide professional development. He currently supervises the Puente Program, which supports historically underrepresented students in accessing and succeeding in higher education. Keldon holds a Master’s in Education from the Principal Leadership Institute at UC Berkeley, where he was a proud member of Cohort 23. He hopes to continue moving forward in his life grounded in the ideas of continuous improvement instilled by the BSE—whether in his work as a school leader or in the collaborative storytelling of his ongoing Dungeons & Dragons campaigns.

Photo courtesy of photographer Kai Hanschen, and The Jacket newspaper.

Emma Rose Neal, BS, Educational Sciences

Emma Rose Neal is graduating from UC Berkeley with bachelor’s degrees in Educational Sciences and Media Studies. Her passion for education began as a piano teacher in Marin County, where she established a thriving studio teaching 45 students of all ages each week. After transferring from community college to UC Berkeley, she continued her work in education as an undergraduate researcher with the Center for Research on Expanding Educational Opportunity and co-President of Aspiring Educators and Student Affairs Professionals, a vibrant student organization she co-founded amongst her peers this year. As a first-generation immigrant and college student, Emma strongly values the education she has received and is committed to making high-quality education accessible to all. She plans to pursue a lifelong career in education, supporting students in building confidence and creating safe, energizing spaces where they can realize their full potential.

faded berkeley seal with text u c berkeley school of education commencement wednesday may 21 20 25

This event will be livestreamed and recorded. The livestream starts Wednesday, May 21, 2:00 p.m. Pacific time.

Additional questions about commencement? Send an email to bsecommencement@berkeley.edu.

Check this webpage for Information about Commencement 2025 event logistics.