17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß

As part of 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß's 2025 spring convocation activities, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences was excited to celebrate our graduates at two ceremonies during the afternoon of Tuesday, June 10.Ìý

More than 370 FASS students received their degrees as part of the 2025 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß Spring Convocation.

The first ceremony saw the graduates of the following departments and programs cross the stage:

Black and African Diaspora Studies; Environment, Sustainability and Society; European Studies; French; Gender and Women's Studies; German; International Development Studies; Law, Justice and Society; Philosophy; Russian Studies; Social Anthropology; Sociology; Sociology and Social Anthropology; and Spanish.

The second ceremony witnessed graduates of the following departments and programs:

Cinema and Media Studies; Classics; Costume Studies (Diploma); English; History; Music (BA and BMus); Musicology; Political Science; Religious Studies; Theatre.

This spring, 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß marked a historic milestone and saw the first two graduates of itsÌýBlack and African Diaspora StudiesÌý(BAFD) major. James Dixon, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with double major in Black and African Diaspora Studies and Philosophy was the first Dal grad to cross the Convocation stage to receive a degree with a major in BAFD. Portia Wright received her Bachelor of Science degree with double major in Psychology and BAFD at the Faculty of Science's Convocation celebrations on June 19.

James Dixon and Portia Wright were the first two students to graduate from 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß with majors in Black and African Diaspora Studies.

The Black and African Diaspora Studies major was heralded as a big step forwardÌýwhen it launched in fall 2023Ìýas one of the first programs of its kind in Canada. The graduation of Dixon and Wright marks an important personal achievement, but it’s also a landmark moment for 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß that will serve as a call to future scholars driven to explore Canada’s long-overlooked Black and African Nova Scotian history, heritage, and culture.

James Dixon was the first graduate of 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß's Black and African Diaspora Studies major to cross the Convocation stage.

Read about James and Portia's journeys to earning their degrees with major in BAFDÌýin this Dal News feature, andÌýÌýin an interview that was broadcast on Information Morning - NS.Ìý

Many of the new Dal grads were featured in theÌýDal News Spring Convocation StorytellingÌýand among them, in addition to James Dixon, were several new FASS grads representing a variety of programs offered across the Faculty:

• Uihyeok Jung, BA with Combined Honours in Sociology and History
• Meaghan De Adder, BA with Combined Honours in Political Science and International Development Studies
• Sophia Maskine, Bachelor of Music with a concentration in vocal performance
• Liam Oko, BA in Theatre (Acting)

You can watch the complete recordings of both ceremonies celebrating the 2025 spring convocation graduates online via the following links:

17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß celebrated nearly 5,200 new graduates across 21 Spring Convocation ceremonies.Ìý17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß photographer, Danny Abriel captured some special moments. Find a selection of those photos in this photo essay that was featured in Dal News:ÌýBehind the lens: Scenes from the Class of 2025's Spring Convocation.

In between the two ceremonies, FASS held a celebratory reception in the Student Union Building. The reception welcomed new grads and their loved ones, as well as faculty and staff of 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Office of Advancement who were so happy to gather together and celebrate the graduates' achievements and wish them all the best on their next steps.

Please find below several photos taken at the FASS convocation ceremonies by Dal photographer Danny Abriel as well as photos taken at the FASS convocation ceremonies and reception by Genevieve MacIntyre (Manger of Communications, Marketing and Student Recruitment for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences).

The platform party take position on the Convocation stage. Dr. Liesl GamboldÌý(front row, pictured second from the left), associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology and this year’s recipient of the university-wide 2025 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß Alumni Association Faculty Award of Excellence for Teaching was the convocation speaker for the first FASS ceremony of the day. (Danny Abriel photo)

Dal President Kim Brooks addresses the graduates and their families.Ìý(Danny Abriel photo)

17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß Provost and VP Academic Dr. Wanda Costen shares her remarks of congratulations to the new grads.Ìý(Danny Abriel photo)

Dr. Jennifer Andrews (Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), James Dixon (first 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß grad with a major in Black and African Diaspora Studies to cross the Convocation stage), and Dr. Isaac Saney (Coordinator of the Black and African Diaspora Studies Program at 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß) celebrate this milestone moment.Ìý(Danny Abriel photo)

Ìý

So many smiles were shared and achivements celebrated as hundreds of new FASS grads were granted their degrees and welcomed into the 17³Ô¹ÏÍøÔÚÏß alumni community.
Ìý

Danny Abriel photos:

Genevieve MacIntyre photos:

Faculty members of the Department of Classics gathered for a photo with some of their new grads.

FASS alum Caroline Blair-Smith (pictured right), VP Human Resources for Nova Scotia Power, was the convocation speaker at the second FASS ceremony of the day.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences hosted a reception in between the two FASS ceremonies to celebrate the spring 2025 FASS grads along with their loved ones.Ìý
Ìý

Mini cupcakes shaped to spell out FASS!