The College of Arts and Sciences celebrated the class of 2026 during this year’s commencement ceremony on June 11. Dean David Brown, PhD, welcomed the crowd to the Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts, which, for the day, he described as the “happiest place on earth!” 

“You’re entering a world that is complicated, challenging, and in need of your talent, your creativity, your compassion, and your courage,” Brown told graduates. “You have a degree from Drexel University. What the world needs most, right now, is you.”  

Jessica Vasserman, BS biological sciences ’26, addressed her fellow graduates as this year’s student speaker. Her speech reflected on the importance of finding connection and community.  

“With each step down the road, our worlds get a little bigger, and our perspective shifts,” Vasserman said. “Home grows with us, taking new shape as our lives broaden.”  

“Drexel gave this to me, and I’ve never felt more like myself than I do now. But I didn’t become myself because of Drexel. I became myself because of the people Drexel tied together... I couldn’t have made it without my people.” 

The college welcomed alum Danielle Reinhart ’99 to deliver the keynote address. With over 25 years of experience in the technology and financial sectors, Reinhart has built a career as a trusted executive leader.  

Reinhart reflected on her time at Drexel, where she was the first student to complete a dual BS/MS in mathematics and finance in five years, a path that prepared her to rise through the ranks at industry giants. 

“Thanks significantly to the staff at Drexel, I had a bachelor’s in mathematics, a master’s in finance and a job at IBM right out of college,” Reinhart said. “Not too shabby for a kid that only cared about sports but then made the wise choice to go to school where you don't wait for life to start after graduation; you start building it on day one. Whether you were grinding in a lab, a design studio, an office or a boardroom, you’ve already proven you can handle the 'real world.'” 

Reinhart credits her Drexel experience with paving the way for the career she has today, and for teaching her the importance of building relationships. She shared words of wisdom with the class of 2026 as graduates embark on their next chapter.   

“Drexel taught you how to be a professional. But my challenge to you today is to be a human. Use your education and ultimately your career, not just to climb a ladder, but to build bridges. A degree tells the world what you know, but your character tells the world who you are.” 

Watch a recording of the ceremony here.