Trinity Announces CT Governor Ned Lamont as 2025 Commencement Speaker

Lucy Sheldon ’27

News Editor

On Thursday, April 3, Trinity College announced Governor Ned Lamont as the 2025 commencement speaker in an email to the college community. Trinity also announced two distinguished individuals who will be receiving honorary degrees from Trinity College during Trinity’s Commencement ceremony: Shabana Basij-Rasikh and Joseph M. Connors ’69. 

On May 18, Lamont will address the graduating senior class, enshrining his legacy at Trinity as the 199th commencement speaker to Trinity College graduates. Governor Lamont was sworn into office as the 89th governor in 2019. A Harvard alum, class of 1976, Lamont began his career in public service and philanthropy shortly after graduating from college. Lamont was the founder of a local newspaper that covered town meetings and the Board of Selectmen in an area that suffered the loss of its largest employer, amplifying the voices of the Connecticut community. In addition, he was a volunteer teacher at Harding High School in Bridgeport, where he taught his high school students the fundamentals of small businesses and helped them land internships. He was also on the faculty at Central Connecticut State University as an adjunct Political Science and Philosophy professor. 

As governor, Lamont has prioritized the fiscal state of Connecticut. When he first took office, Connecticut was in a nearly $4 billion deficit; the state had not had a surplus for decades. With his leadership, Lamont eliminated the budget deficit without raising taxes, turning the $4 billion deficit into a nearly $4 billion surplus. In fact, Lamont actually cut taxes while improving the fiscal situation of Connecticut. In 2023, Lamont announced the largest tax relief package in Connecticut’s history that would take effect by 2024, putting real money back in people’s pockets. This relief package included a gas tax holiday, capped car tax, and an increased child tax rebate of up to $250 per child. In addition, he provided direct relief to seniors and retirees by eliminating the tax on pensions and 401ks. Moreover, Lamont has prioritized job creation, workforce development and infrastructure investment. Lamont established a Community Investment Fund totaling $875 million to promote economic development in underserved communities throughout the state and allocated $103 million in American Rescue Plan funds to bolster Connecticut’s workforce that took a hit following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Basij-Rasikh is honored by Trinity College for her involvement and esteemed leadership within the School of Leadership Afghanistan (SOLA), which she co-founded and runs as president. SOLA opened in 2016 as the first and only boarding school for Afghan girls. Under Basij-Rasikh’s direction, SOLA maintained operations in Kabul from its inception until the summer of 2021. However, when the Taliban returned to power, she facilitated the evacuation and transition of her entire school and student body from Kabul to Rwanda, where she then resumed operations. 

Dr. Connors, alumnus of Trinity College class of 1960, is being recognized at Trinity’s 199th Commencement celebration for his clinical work and research on techniques to improve the diagnosis and treatment of lymphoid cancers. Through clinical trials, genomics, and immunological techniques, Dr. Connors has studied Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. Throughout his career, he has earned numerous awards, including the German Hodgkin Lymphoma Study Group Karl Musshoff Lifetime Achievement Award 2010, LifeSciences BC Dr. Don Rix Award for Lifetime Achievement 2013, and Canadian Medical Association Lifetime Achievement Award 2013. He is now a clinical professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia.