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2024 Commencement Speakers

Baccalaureate degree ceremony

Tuesday, May 14 | 2 p.m.

Headshot of Tony Xu in a white shirt in front of a tan background

Keynote speaker:

Tony Xu

B.S.’07 IEOR
CEO & Co-founder, DoorDash

Tony Xu is the CEO and co-founder of DoorDash, a technology company that connects consumers with their favorite local businesses in more than 25 countries across the globe. Born in China, Tony came to America with his parents and grew up working in a restaurant alongside his mother. He and his co-founders started DoorDash to help local businesses succeed.

Prior to co-founding DoorDash in 2013, Tony worked in product at Square, led special projects for the CEO and CFO at eBay, and began his career at McKinsey & Co.

Master’s degree ceremony

Tuesday, May 14 | 9 a.m.

Headshot of Alexia Aubault wearing an orange, black and white patterend-shirt in front of a tan background

Keynote speaker:

Alexia Aubault

M.S.’05 Ocean Engineering
CTO, Ocergy

Alexia Aubault has 18 years of experience in the offshore wind sector, specializing in the emerging field of floating wind technology. As a naval architect and offshore engineer, she embarked on her journey in offshore renewable energy before it became a thriving industry in the U.S. Now, as a founding member of Ocergy, she is dedicated to advancing offshore renewables by promoting smart products that reduce costs and foster industrialization.

In 2023, the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) awarded Alexia the prestigious Blakely Smith Medal for Outstanding Accomplishment in Ocean Engineering.

Doctoral degree ceremony

Saturday, May 18 | 9 a.m.

Headshot of Ashok Gadgil in a light blue shirt and dark blue jacket in front of a gray background

Keynote speaker:

Ashok Gadgil

M.A.’75, Ph.D.’79 Physics
Andrew and Virginia Rudd Family Foundation Chair Professor of Safe Water and Sanitation and Professor of the Graduate School, Civil and Environmental Engineering


Ashok Gadgil is widely considered to be a “humanitarian inventor.” For decades, he has created low-cost engineering solutions — including water purifiers, arsenic removal technology and fuel-efficient cookstoves — that have proved transformative for low-resource communities across the world. In 2023, he was recognized with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement.