‘Promote the Health of Our Nation’: Commencement Speaker Encourages Nursing Graduates

(May 18, 2025) — The 308 graduates of the School of Nursing gathered on Healy Lawn to celebrate the commencement of the Class of 2025 surrounded by their friends and family.

“Graduates, you are advancing in the most trusted profession. This must not be taken lightly,” said Roberta Waite, EdD, RN, PMHCNS, ANEF, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing. “Nursing requires deep resilience, strength, wisdom and sacrifice.”

Waite also took a moment at the start of the ceremony to share an exciting announcement about the future of the School of Nursing.

“And for those who graduate after you, they will do so from our renamed school, the Berkley School of Nursing. We are honored to be entrusted with a transformative gift announced earlier this week from the Berkley Family Foundation,” said Waite to the crowd, which stood and cheered in response.

First, Trust Yourself

The faculty of the School of Nursing selected Loretta S. Jemmott, PhD, MS, RN, to be the commencement speaker and to receive an honorary doctor of science from Georgetown for her evidence-supported research related to decreasing rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STI).

In her address, she shared three core strategies to achieving success. “First, believe in yourself — if it’s gonna be, it’s up to me,” Jemmott told graduates. “Second, embrace challenges as opportunities.” Her final strategy was to live by her six P’s: “power, passion, persistence/perseverance, patience, partnership and prayer.”

“So go out there and let them feel your brilliance, your compassion, your commitment and your unwavering drive to uplift and promote the health of our nation with your social justice and health equity lens,” said Jemmott.

Ready to Change the Health Care Sector

Interim Georgetown President Groves conferred the 25 undergraduate and 96 graduate degrees to the nursing students. “I now invite faculty, family and friends of the graduates to join me in congratulating all of the graduates on their achievements,” said Waite.

A group of students graduating from the BSN-DNP program discussed their shared enthusiasm for starting their next chapter. “I’m excited to have reached this accomplishment and ready to start my work helping moms and babies,” said April Pulver (G’25), who is graduating as a Nurse-Midwife/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (NM/WHNP).

“As a Family Nurse Practitioner, I’m looking forward to changing the health care sector from a primary care perspective,” said Julie McCarthy (G’25). “I’m also just so happy to be here today.”

Heather Wilpone-Welborn
GUMC Communications

Scenes From Commencement 2025