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Logistics for both Ceremonies
The 2025 Commencement Ceremony
Links will become live as we grow closer to the ceremony date.
School of Nursing - May 5, 2025 - 10:00 a.m. (Feed begins at 9:45 a.m.)
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and School of Healthcare Leadership - May 5, 2025 - 2:00 p.m. (Feed begins at 1:45 p.m.)
| Event | Time | Location/Event Notes |
| Graduates Report | 8:30 am | North Lobby - Level 1 Graduates report to the Convention Center and check in at the North Lobby- Level 1. You will be directed to your preparation and line-up area from there. |
| Line-up and Preparation | 9 - 9:40 am | Room 205ABC Program Staff will prepare all School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and School of Healthcare Leadership students for the lineup in room 205ABC. Please make sure that you have your Grad Pass from the Marching Order system available as that QR code will trigger the system to read your name as you cross the stage. Your program staff will review the seating and stage instructions with you. Please follow the directions of your program staff member. |
| Procession Begins | 9:45 am | Level 2 The academic procession begins, moving from Level 2 up to the Ballroom East/West on Level 3. Please follow the directions of your Program Staff and Faculty Marshals. |
| Ceremony Start | 10:00 am sharp | Ballroom East/West - 3rd Floor Commencement Ceremony begins. |
| Ceremony End | Approximately 12:00 Noon | Ballroom East/West - 3rd Floor Commencement Ceremony ends. After the stage party, directors, and faculty have recessed, graduates will recess from the ballroom, at the direction of the Faculty Marshals, and return to the preparation rooms on Level 2 to pick up personal belongings. Please remove any personal items left in room 205ABC and clear the space by no later than 12:15 pm. |
| Event | Time | Location/Event Notes |
| Graduates Report | 12:30 PM | North Lobby - Level 1 Graduates report to the Convention Center and check in at the North Lobby- Level 1. You will be directed to your preparation and line-up area from there. |
| Line-up and Preparation | 1 - 1:40 pm | Room 205ABC Program Staff will prepare all School of Nursing graduates for the lineup in room 205ABC. Please make sure that you have your Grad Pass from the Marching Order system available as that QR code will trigger the system to read your name as you cross the stage. Your program staff will review the seating and stage instructions with you. Please follow the directions of your program staff. |
| Procession Begins | 1:45 pm | Level 2 The academic procession begins, moving from Level 2 up to the Ballroom East/West on Level 3. Please follow the directions of your Program Staff and Faculty Marshals. |
| Ceremony Start | 2:00 pm sharp | Ballroom East/West - 3rd Floor Commencement Ceremony begins. |
| Ceremony End | Approximately 4:00 pm | Ballroom East/West - 3rd Floor Commencement Ceremony ends. After the stage party, directors, and faculty have recessed, graduates will recess from the ballroom, at the direction of the Faculty Marshals, and return to the preparation rooms on Level 2 to pick up personal belongings. Please remove any personal items left in room 205ABC and clear the space by no later than 4:15 pm. |
All parking for the event will be in the BCEC South Parking Lot (see map below):
If you are carpooling and want to drop folks off before parking, you will be able to make a quick stop at the North Lobby entrance and then proceed to the South Lot to park. The cost for parking in the South Lot for 2025 will be $30.00.
To self-park in the BCEC South Lot, from Summer Street, turn onto East Side Drive and continue straight along the side of the building. At the end of the building, make a right and go down the ramp. At the bottom of the ramp, turn left and you will see the entrance to the South Parking lot in front of you.
Regular shuttles will transport all guests from the South Lot to the North Lobby entrance.
Note: If you choose to walk from the parking area, the entrance to the BCEC on the Southeast side of the building will be open. (See floor plans above)
Commencement Student Speakers
2025 Commencement ceremonies will be held on Monday, May 5, 2025, and will feature two student speakers. The morning ceremony will include a graduate from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences or School of Healthcare Leadership. The afternoon ceremony will include a graduate from the School of Nursing.
Click here to apply to be a 2025 Commencement Student Speaker.
Contact Ronan Campbell (rcampbell [at] mghihp.edu (rcampbell[at]mghihp[dot]edu)) if you have questions about this exciting opportunity.
Lauren Whitman
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology - Class of 2024
Lauren Whitman's unwavering dedication to creating positive change and serving her community has been a driving force throughout her academic journey. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science with minors in Disability Studies, Human Development and Family Sciences, Public Health, and Spanish from the University of Delaware, embodying her commitment to interdisciplinary learning and advocacy.
Continuing her path, Lauren pursued an MS in Speech-Language Pathology at MGH Institute of Health Professions. During her time at the Institute, Lauren worked as an Admissions Ambassador and served as the President of NSSLHA (National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association).
Looking ahead, Lauren eagerly anticipates completing her Clinical Fellowship year and obtaining her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP). Her passion for all facets of her field underscores her readiness to embrace any professional opportunity that comes her way. Above all, she is driven by the profound desire to advocate for clients and make a tangible difference in the lives of patients and their support networks, fostering an environment where every individual's voice is heard and valued.
Leah C. Rothchild
Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing, Class of 2024
After graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, Leah Rothchild worked as a certified recovery support worker providing peer mentorship to individuals with substance use disorders, and as a care coordinator for women and children experiencing housing insecurity. She simultaneously volunteered with the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force, and the New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition.
Guided by her lifelong dream of a career that would allow her to contribute to the physical and mental health of children, Leah pursued her MSN from the MGH Institute of Health Professions, studying to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. During her three years at the IHP, Leah has been recognized for her leadership and dedication to equity, justice, patient care, and advocacy. She served as a student government class representative, a peer mentor, a teaching assistant, a member of the School of Nursing Advisory Board, and she currently represents the state of New Hampshire as a Graduate Nursing Student Advocacy Leader.
While studying at the IHP, Leah discovered her passion for global nursing through opportunities to work and study in Uganda, Malawi, and India. Leah believes that global health partnerships are vital to improving health outcomes, increasing understanding of social determinants of health, and sharing knowledge to create sustainable change. She looks forward to future opportunities to build cross-cultural professional relationships and collaborate on innovative solutions to complex health problems across the globe.
Leah looks to a future where all children have access to equitable, high-quality healthcare. She is excited to begin her new role as a pediatric nurse practitioner and hopes to incorporate increased mental health services into pediatric primary care to provide more comprehensive care to her patients.
Academic Regalia
All graduating students in any given year will order regalia when applying for graduation. We value the centuries-old decorum and proud traditions associated with academia regalia. The cap, gown, and hood are international symbols of learning and accomplishment. With their unique heraldry and degree-specific designs, these regalia are long-standing emblems of our higher education culture.
Regalia will be delivered directly to you based on the information provided at the time of your order when you applied for graduation. If you have not ordered, please do so by visiting University Caps and Gown, INC. Orders attempted after posted deadlines will need to be done directly through our //steve.erickson [at] balfour-rep.com (Balfour - University Cap and Gown representative). Please indicate that you missed the order deadline when contacting our representative.
We recognize, while promoting an inclusive, welcoming Commencement experience for all, that there are traditional regalia and ceremonial garments of similar importance associated with other cultures. Students who wish to substitute the regalia of their family heritage in place of the IHP regalia, should request an exemption from the IHP specifications by emailing commencement [at] mghihp.edu.
Honor cords for the School of Nursing Sigma/Upsilon Lambda Chapter can be obtained by contacting //cdonati [at] mghihp.edu (Carla Donati) in the School of Nursing.
Note, the Institute will review and make a decision on all such requests in order to ensure the formal nature of Commencement. Requests must be submitted by April 1 in any given calendar year to be considered for the May ceremony.
Important note: Caps, Gowns, and Hoods (If applicable) are yours to keep after the Commencement Ceremonies.
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Adjust the gown so that is sits comfortably on your shoulders. It should fall below your knee, but not so low that it is a tripping hazard.
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Put the hood on over your head with the velvet side up and the small tapered end in front. Be sure to drape your hood around your neck with the largest portion of the hood hanging down your back.
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Let your colors show! Turn the IHP colors out on your hood and roll the velvet edge out to show the teal and silver inside colors. When you're done, the end of the hood will look somewhat like a fin.
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For four-sided mortarboards (caps), place the cap on your head so the point is lined up with the middle of your forehead. Adjust the mortarboard so that it's parallel to the ground. Don't wear it to the side or back. You may need some bobby pins or clips to keep it securely on your head.
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For soft tams (Doctoral Students), place the tam on your head with the adjustment tab in the back. Do not wear it to the side or back. You may need bobby pins or clips to keep it securely on your head.
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Fasten your tassel to the button on the top of your mortarboard or tam. Put the tassel on the left side to show that your degree has been conferred.
For faculty who will be hooding students at Commencement, this video provides a great view of how hooding should be done.
Authentic IHP Doctoral Regalia - Ordering Process
The MGH Institute offers an option for PhD and other Doctoral Faculty and Students to purchase authentic IHP Doctoral Regalia to own. Authentic IHP Doctoral Regalia is a great option for those IHP faculty or Alumni who received a Doctoral degree from the IHP and may require regalia for future academic events.
Authentic IHP regalia can be ordered directly through Balfour, University Cap and Gown by downloading the order form.
Contact our representative at Balfour with any questions: steve.erickson [at] balfour-rep.com (steve[dot]erickson[at]balfour-rep[dot]com). You can also call 603-491-4944.