The Paradox of Education: Dean Mostowy Commencement Remarks

For my next few blogs I will be publishing the excellent remarks of our deans from the January 2026 commencements, starting Dean Thomas Mostowy of the School of Professional and Graduate Studies:

Remarks for January 2026 Commencement
Dean Thomas Mostowy

First and foremost, Congratulations to all the graduates! Also, a special thank you to all the friends and family here today, who have supported the students along the way and can now share in their achievement and celebration.

In the three years I have served as Dean and have been asked to speak at graduation, I’ve relied on quotes from great writers about the importance of education as well as the responsibility placed on the educated. I have always found a way to speak in a lighthearted and humorous way; however, during these unprecedented times, that seems a little out of place.

Instead, this year, I’ve decided take my cue from perhaps the most important writer of the civil rights movement, James Baldwin, whose words about the importance and responsibility of the educated person only ring truer with time.  To quote:

“The paradox of education is precisely this – that as one begins to become conscious, one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.”

 If anyone wonders why, at the present time, there seems to be an entire political movement, as well as a government policy, dedicated to attacking higher education, Baldwin’s quote provides at least part of the answer.

AS does this: “It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” Blind allegiance supports oppression and authoritarianism. Justice; and opportunity are never the goal.

Graduates; education provides you the tools and critical thinking skills necessary to become conscious of your society and the role you play in it. Education provides the tools to question the customs and norms that provide advantage and comfort to a few, while demanding the pain and sacrifice of many. Furthermore, education provides you the enlightenment necessary to dream of a better future and the knowledge and skills to build it.

Perhaps that is why, for much of American’s history, as Baldwin noted: “It is very nearly impossible to become an educated person in a country so distrustful of the independent mind.”

Most of you know, at least somewhat, the story of Trinity’s founding at a time when higher education was systematically denied to women and also to most others in American society. Why? As Baldwin stated; the inherent distrust of educated, independent minds who were not considered part of societies’ elite by virtue of their wealth and privilege.

SO, the opportunities and tools for change that education provides had to be hoarded and only made available to those born to serve the status quo. The attacks you hear about in the media against DEI, while wrapped in the rhetoric of “merit” are really an excuse to DENY opportunity based on merit; to ENSURE that the greatest opportunities are only available to a select few as a form of birthright.

The fear is that equal opportunity and access to education will prove that people of different races, genders, and ethnicities have talent and motivation that exceeds those who have been gifted opportunities by their social status.   YOU frighten them.  They don’t want the competition.

The problem is, that sort of discrimination, the denial of equal opportunity, harms not just those who suffer discrimination directly, but society as a whole because it is denied the talents of so many who could move our nation forward, instead of trying to re-create a mythical past that never really existed.

SO; What do we, more importantly, what do YOU, with your newly acquired education and diplomas, do about it? YES, go out and build a great career and life for you and your families; BUT remember, along with growth, success, and opportunity, there is something more your education provides; and, that is… responsibility.

When I was sitting in your place decades ago, we thought, in our arrogance, that the difficult battles were behind us. The Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, the War on Poverty, etc. Now some seek to repeal not only those, but the last 100 years of progress towards those goals. It’s a little daunting to have to fight those battles all over again. There will be failures and setbacks once again, so I’ll leave with one more message from Baldwin:

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

 Congratulations once again!