Senior Speaker: Anthropology

A message from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences:

Each year, our graduating students in every major select a student to speak on behalf of their area of study. Because we are a large college, the time allotted to our ceremony does not allow for each speaker to appear on stage. However, these speeches have been recorded for your viewing pleasure. 

At its core, our College supports open and free inquiry and debate about the most weighty and consequential subjects that face us all. Each student was given a minute to speak on whatever topic they think will be meaningful to their peers. Some of the contributions are lighthearted, others are serious, and some may inspire some people and conflict with the values and beliefs of others. But that is the nature of free inquiry and debate: it should challenge us and make us think. We are proud of every one of our graduates, whether or not we agree with the views they express here. 

Transcript:

Anthropology challenges us to look closer and to be honest about what we see. It teaches us that knowledge is never neutral, that “if you're breathing, you're biased,” and that recognizing that bias is not a flaw but the beginning of ethical responsibility. In our classrooms, labs, field sites, and discussions at UMass Amherst, we've learned not only to study humanity, but to question how that study is shaped by history, power, and perspective. We've learned to pause before we conclude, to listen before we define, and to think critically, even about our own assumptions. Perhaps the most humbling lesson we've learned is that the answer is often “it depends,” and we’ve probably all written that at least once on an exam. And while that may not always satisfy, it reflects something essential: the world is complex, and understanding it requires patience, humility, and care. We've seen that knowledge carries responsibility. Anthropology is grounded in respect for the people, histories, and stories we engage with. It asks not only what we can study, but what we should, and how to do that work with integrity. And so, congratulations to the Class of 2026. As we move forward, into our communities, careers, and whatever comes next, we carry with us a discipline that values empathy as much as evidence, and reflection as much as discovery. And that balance is something the world needs now more than ever.