California Attorney General Rob Bonta delivered the keynote address at both School of Social Ecology commencement ceremonies. Photos by Steve Zylius
More than 1,500 graduate
More than 1,500 cap- and gown-clad School of Social Ecology students were celebrated at two commencement ceremonies in the Bren Events Center on June 16.
Dean Jon B. Gould served as the master of ceremonies, warming up the crowd for the addresses at both ceremonies by UC Irvine Provost Hal Stern and California Attorney General and keynote speaker Rob Bonta. Student speakers were Sophia Hobby (2025, B.A. psychological science and criminology, law & society) at the morning graduation for School of Social Ecology baccalaureate and master’s candidates, and Jun Jang (2025, B.A. Asian American studies and political science) in the afternoon Social Ecology/Humanities event. The latter also featured an alumnus address by retired commercial and marine fighter pilot Charles Quilter (2010, Ph.D. history).
During his address, Stern mentioned that this was just one of many UC Irvine graduation ceremonies he participated in this commencement season, but that he was also able to break away briefly to see his daughter “get a degree at another university that shall remain nameless. One thing that experience did for me was remind me how special the UCI commencement is. You are all in for a treat.”
After noting that Bonta is the first Filipino American and second Asian American to serve as the state’s top cop, revealing that the AG’s progressive views were shaped by his parents’ involvement in the civil rights movement and ticking off several accomplishments, Gould remarked, “On a personal note, I would add that I had the opportunity to meet the attorney general two years ago, and he struck me at that time as a man who had a lot that he needed and wanted to get done for California. I think we have seen that very much in just the last week alone.”
Among the loudest cheers and applause at both ceremonies came when Bonta mentioned he has sued the Trump administration 26 times, including three times in the last week. He issued a call to action to the new graduates.
“UC Irvine gave you the skills, curiosity and willingness to question and challenge the status quo — use that,” the attorney general said. “Across the nation, our rights, freedoms and safety are under attack. Our diverse communities and our people are under attack. Now is not the time for silence or blind compliance; the stakes are too high.”
Near the end of Bonta’s address, he said that despite today’s challenges, he is optimistic about the future — because of the young faces facing him at that moment.
“You endured a global pandemic, grew up experiencing active shooter drills and sometimes active shooters,” he said. “You witnessed miscarriages of justice and took to the streets declaring, ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Stop Asian Hate.’ You turned your pain into purpose. ... Don’t slow down. If anything, put your foot on the gas. We need you. We are counting on you.”
Gould highlighted an impressive list of accomplishments by Hobby, including working as a legal assistant, serving tirelessly as a student government senator, which earned her and the committee she chaired outstanding recognitions from her peers, and completing a Social Ecology Honors Program senior thesis on hate crime protections for people with disabilities, under the guidance of Professor Valerie Jenness and Associate Professor Amanda Geller.
“She has been committed to advocacy and access, and she is excited to carry on beyond UCI,” the dean said. “She is graduating today with degrees in criminology, law & society and psychological science, with a minor in philosophy. How you had the time for that, I do not know.”
Hobby credited her mother going back to school in her 40s with three kids and a husband, determined to become a teacher, with inspiring her to “want to learn and to teach forward, too. And by that, I mean to take what you know, what you’ve learned, what you’ve lived, and make it useful to someone else.” It’s what steered Hobby to the School of Social Ecology.
“As Social Ecology Senator, I had the honor of working with Associate Dean Susan Charles and members of ASUCI to implement a grant that connected students to emergency aid during the financial aid crisis,” she said. “But what I remember more than the policies is the people. Students working multiple jobs, showing up to class from long commutes, navigating the added challenges of being an immigrant or international student, and still finding ways to support each other. That is teaching forward.”
School of Humanities Dean Tyrus Miller introduced Jang, a first-generation college student graduate from Koreatown in Los Angeles, where his “proud Korean immigrant parents instilled in him values of humility, kindness and service.”
Jang, who arrived at UC Irvine intending to pursue a degree in constitutional law, switched majors after taking his first Asian American studies course and realizing what he really wanted was for his work to be rooted in community.
“I invite you to remember your core memories with others,” he told his fellow Anteaters. “Your first ‘Petr Drop.’ Your first visit to Seaside. Your first visit to Sharkeez — you know who you are. [Crowd laughter] To remember those memories that in many ways helped you sleep at night against the ever-pervasive thoughts that you do not belong, that you are not enough.”
During his afternoon ceremony address, Stern reasoned that many new graduates in the arena were reflecting on their time at UC Irvine.
“As you sit here today, you likely remember the hard work and long hours that you put in, and I don’t mean just decorating your caps, by the way,” the provost said to laughter. “You worked through many long hours of homework assignments, research papers, essays, and, of course, lots and lots of exams. This is hard work. I suspect for some of you, you even had doubts along the way whether you’d get here. But you did, you worked through it all, and for that you deserve congratulations.”
Social Ecology 1 commencement:
Social Ecology II commencement (with Humanities):
Newly-minted Ph.D.s also walked the stage during their hooding ceremony:
News Coverage:
Orange County Register: California AG Rob Bonta urges UCI grads to stand for justice in commencement address
KTLA News:
Downloadable photos on Flickr
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