Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University President Todd Diacon offered graduates an unconventional yet powerful message during the August 2025 commencement ceremony, weaving together personal experiences, a global perspective and practical wisdom in an address focused on resilience, empathy and maintaining a healthy perspective throughout life.
Drawing from his recent battle with acute dengue fever contracted in Brazil, Diacon shared how the experience taught him valuable lessons about both personal fortitude and social responsibility.
"I'm doing so to say that I am fortunate ... that I was fortunate when I got sick, and I'm doing so to encourage you to think about the plight of others even as you encounter your own difficulties," he told the graduates.
Watch President Diacon's address:
The president described his weeklong struggle with the mosquito-borne illness, which left him hospitalized and unable to keep food down for seven days. But rather than dwelling on his suffering, he emphasized what he learned about privilege and perspective when he noticed other dengue patients sitting outside the Brazilian hospital without access to the same level of care he received.
"I'll never forget looking out of the window of my brother-in-law’s car and seeing them and their suffering," Diacon said, encouraging graduates to "think about those people sitting in the sun as you leave this place and think about what you will do to help others after your graduation."
The "looking out the window" theme carried throughout his remarks, both as a metaphor and a literal practice. Diacon described how his thoughts converge when he gazes from his campus office overlooking Risman Plaza during challenging times in higher education.
"Looking out my window gives me perspective. It provides context. It reminds me of how privileged I am to have this job, this calling, and to be able to call Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ my home," he said, noting that despite experiencing more change in one year than in his previous 38 years in higher education, seeing students in their caps and gowns reminds him why the work matters.
The president concluded with practical advice for the graduates: develop resilience, compassion and patience while maintaining a clear perspective on their challenges.
His final words of wisdom included both inspiration and humor.
"Oh, and one more thing: always stay hydrated when experiencing uncontrollable vomiting."