The Relevance of Liberal Arts: Dean Sita Ramamurti Commencement Remarks

Remarks for January 2026 Commencement
Dean Sita Ramamurti
College of Arts & Sciences

Good evening, and congratulations to our graduates!

Today we celebrate your accomplishments, your journey, and the moment you’ve reached.

During your time at Trinity, you have grown not just in knowledge, but in confidence, in character, and in the power to make a difference. Today, we celebrate all that you have become, and all that you are ready to be.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank your families, friends, mentors, and our faculty and staff, who have supported you and are here today to cheer you on. Thank you all for being here!

Now, graduates, if you hear people questioning whether a liberal arts education is practical, marketable, or even relevant in today’s world, I want you to pause and consider what this education has truly given you. In an era defined by technological disruption, shifting careers, and complex global challenges, the most valuable skill isn’t mastering a single job or tool. It’s the ability to adapt and keep learning.

One of the greatest strengths of a liberal arts education, and the gift you take with you today, is intellectual adaptability. We haven’t prepared you for one narrow role; we’ve helped you learn how to think, how to analyze information, communicate clearly, understand different perspectives, and ask meaningful questions. These skills don’t expire, even as industries and job titles change.

And to our nursing graduates especially—this matters. Nursing is often viewed as purely technical, but you know that’s not the whole story. Every day, you draw on empathy, communication, ethical judgment, and cultural understanding—skills deeply rooted in the liberal arts.

So, graduates, embrace adaptability fully. Let it guide how you face uncertainty. Let it guide how you seize opportunities. Let it guide the lives you build and the impact you leave behind.

You may remember the lesson often credited to Charles Darwin: survival belongs not to the strongest or the smartest, but to those who can adapt.

A liberal arts education is not the opposite of practical—it is practical at the deepest level.
I’ll leave you with this final thought:

Nurture your curiosity.
Nurture your openness.
Nurture your commitment to continual growth.

These qualities will carry you far beyond today.

Congratulations, graduates, we are so proud of you!