Duke Kunshan University celebrated its 2025 commencement on Friday, conferring degrees on 481 graduates and honoring a class shaped by resilience, adaptability and global ambition.
The outdoor ceremony, held in DKU Square, recognized 339 undergraduate and 142 master’s students from across China and around the world. Students, families, faculty and guests gathered in celebration, many traveling long distances to mark this milestone.
Speakers included Chancellor Yaolin Liu, Executive Vice Chancellor John Quelch, student speakers Abdul Haey-ee (Ace) Asim and Wingki Chu, and Junyi Li, who gave the faculty speech.
“You are not just DKU graduates — you are DKU itself,” said Quelch. “Carry this name forward in your resumes, your workplaces, your communities. Wherever life takes you, live out the DKU spirit — with empathy, integrity and a deep sense of global responsibility.”
Quelch encouraged graduates to lead with humility and principle, embrace cultural fluency, and “innovate with a conscience.”
Liu praised the students for building a “vibrant, inclusive and global community” and for turning DKU into “a place of belonging.”
“Let purpose — not just ambition — shape your path,” Liu said. “Stay curious, stay open, and use what you’ve learned here to serve society. And always remember: DKU will be your home, wherever you go.”
DKU’s fourth undergraduate cohort collecting their degrees has already secured hundreds of offers between them for further study at universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, Tsinghua and Peking University. Dozens have been admitted to Ph.D. programs, while the likes of Meta, JPMorgan Chase, Xiaomi and other top employers have made job offers.
Asim from the Class of 2025 delivered the undergraduate student speech in which he reflected on growth, identity and the value of experience. He encouraged his peers to prioritize experience over outcomes and to embrace uncertainty as a catalyst for discovery.
“Sometimes, it’s that first act of improvisation that leads to the catchy melody,” he said. “So keep your sights high and your feet on the ground. You won’t regret giving something your all.”
Chu, the graduate student speaker, from the global health program, described DKU as a place where boundaries — academic, cultural and personal — were constantly crossed and redefined.
“That’s the magic of this program and this campus,” she said. “We learned to bridge our personal passions with global challenges — to lead with purpose, to build across disciplines, cultures and borders.”
During the ceremony, DKU awarded honorary fellowships to Mingkang Liu, former chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, and Thomas M. Gorrie, DKU trustee and Duke University trustee emeritus, in recognition of their longstanding support for the university.
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Scott MacEachern, vice chancellor for academic affairs, announced the degree conferral proceedings. Degrees were conferred by Mary Frances Luce, interim dean of Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and trustee of DKU Board of Trustees, Yaolin Liu, and John Quelch. Graduates were recognized by Xin Li, associate vice-chancellor for graduate studies and research; Lingling Wang, registrar and dean of academic services; and Christopher Van Velzer, dean of student experience.
Friday’s ceremony started at 9 a.m. with a faculty procession led by Floyd Beckford, professor of chemistry and chair of the Faculty Assembly. Students Enkhkhuslen Bat-Erdene,Eric Yitong Su,Faith Ho, Tianyu Xu and Kyle Hudson were selected as flag bearers from each academic division.
Junyi Li, a lecturer in the Language and Culture Center and recipient of DKU’s 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award, delivered a faculty address.
“Class of 2025, you are a paradox: deeply rooted in this community today, yet destined to soar into future skies we can’t even imagine,” she said. “Wherever you go, take DKU’s spirit with you — the courage to ask ‘what’s next?’ even when the path flickers like a dying projector bulb.”
The DKU Choir performed the alma mater, “With Voices Raised,” between the procession and commencement speeches.
In the final moments, a tribute video brimming with graduates’ memories and heartfelt wishes from teachers stirred deep emotion among all present.
Congratulations, DKU Class of 2025.
