WORCESTER – Worcester State University will celebrate its 150th graduating class at its Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16 at the DCU Center.
John Elder Robison will the commencement speaker at Worcester State’s 150th commencement ceremony.
Bestselling author and neurodiversity scholar John Elder Robison will deliver the commencement address and speech language and hearing sciences major Abigail Saner ‘26 will deliver the Senior Class Address. The 2026 Commencement marks the capstone of Worcester State’s 150th anniversary celebration, and graduating seniors will wear a specially designed 150th graduating class pin. The university was founded in 1874 and its first class graduated in 1876.
“Commencement Day is always one of the best days in the academic calendar, as it serves as both a celebration of our students’ accomplishments, as well as the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. This historic Commencement is extra special, reminding us that for 150 years Worcester State University has been an anchor institution in our community with an unwavering commitment to educational excellence, access, and opportunity,” said President Barry Maloney. “Together with our excellent speakers, I look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 with family and friends at our 150th Commencement ceremony.”
Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at age 40, Robison serves as the Neurodiversity Scholar in Residence at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., and is one of the founders of the Neurodiversity Program at the school. He is an active participant in the ongoing discussion of ethical and legal issues relating to autism therapy, services, and intervention. He is particularly interested in improving the quality of life for both autistic people and their family members. He’s been a member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and he serves on other boards for the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.
His books, including Switched On: A Memoir of Brain Change and Emotional Intelligence, Look Me in the Eye, Be Different, and Raising Cubby are among the most widely read accounts of life with Asperger’s in the world. Collectively, they have been translated into more than fifteen languages and are sold in more than 60 countries.
Speech language and hearing sciences major Abigail Saner ‘26 will deliver the Senior Class Address at the 150th commencement ceremony.
Saner, a Gardner native, is a member of the Honors Program and Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society with a double minor in psychology and disability studies. During her four years at Worcester State, Saner has been a member of the Dance Team, serving as president during the 2024-25 season. She represented the university to prospective students and families as a lead tour guide with the Undergraduate Admissions Office and worked in Residence Life as a resident assistant in Dowden Hall. She is the recipient of the Dr. A. Barbara Pilon & Albert J. Pilon Jr. Scholarship and the Shirley Albert Endowed Scholarship.
The university will bestow two Honorary Doctoral degrees at this year’s commencement. The Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa will be conferred on Robison for his dedication to improving the quality of life for autistic people and their families. And, the Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa will be conferred on prominent Worcester attorney Michael Angelini, a partner in Prince Lobel’s Business Transactions Practice Group. A longtime community leader with decades of service on charitable, public, and corporate boards, Angelini is a two time recipient of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Community Service Award.
The Commencement ceremony begins at 9:45 a.m. For more information about attending, please visit the Commencement website. The event will be livestreamed and can be viewed here.
