Fall 2023 College Convocation Address

As prepared

Welcome to the University of Chicago!

Whether you are a member of the Class of 2027, an incoming transfer student, or the family member or loved one of any of our newest community members: we’re thrilled you’re here. 

When I was an undergraduate at this great university, I could scarcely have imagined I would one day have the great privilege of serving as its president. I am grateful to have been given this opportunity, and I must tell you that I feel the energy and possibility of the University being in your journey in a way that is deeply meaningful. 

As undergraduates, you are at an exciting inflection point in your lives. Some of you have arrived here with a keen interest in a particular area or set of areas where you would like to devote your time and energy. Others may be looking to uncover those areas during your time here. In either case, this university, the surrounding community, and the City of Chicago have a great deal to offer you in helping you on the path toward understanding yourself, your view of the world, your interests, and your ambitions. 

In my experience, each class, talk, extracurricular endeavor, and casual conversation holds the potential to be that defining moment where we gain a fresh insight into the world around us.


During my own time on campus, I learned so much from all my fellow students at Doc Films, which is a wonderful film society here. The many experiences I had there set me on a path to deconstructing films and photos, including those of Henri Cartier-Bresson, one of the greatest photographers of all time. 

He was part of a community of photographers that brought to their craft a new way of thinking of how an image is framed and captured—and how sharing that moment might illuminate something distinct about ourselves and the world around us. With their lens, they worked to improve their ability to “see” and to question. Cartier-Bresson was particularly known for looking for unusual circumstances all over. He somehow always managed to capture the exact image that made that moment special. His philosophy of the “decisive moment” holds profound implications not only for the world of art but also for how we approach and understand the journey of learning and self-discovery.

To Cartier-Bresson: “photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms which gave that event its proper expression.” This “decisive moment,” as he called it, is that fleeting instant when everything aligns—the light, the subject, the scene. Yet that moment arose from all the disciplined thinking and practice that preceded it. 

This isn’t so different from how you might arrive at a “moment” of discovery during your learning journey here. Much like the patient and determined photographer, we take in a vast expanse of information each day. 

We grapple with uncertainties, and inevitably we form a viewpoint of our own. This is a wonderful moment to achieve, but it does not represent the highest summit of understanding. In fact, it may well be the moment of greatest vulnerability. This is where this University has the most to offer you. 

You see: We are a community of curious minds who are committed to challenging what many simply take for granted. We value the influence of ideas, constantly pursuing breakthroughs that not only reshape our understanding of the world but also serve the greater good of humanity.

Question your own idea, push hard against it, put it to the test to see if it is true. You have the most to learn by listening with curiosity to others who have a very different point of view than your own. You have the most to give by sharing your views openly. There's wisdom to be gleaned from every corner, from every voice. When you speak, do so with openness and respect, knowing that your unique perspective also enriches the discourse. In this way, you will truly engage this community and benefit from all it has to offer. 

As you embark on this next chapter, engage in debates, challenge your beliefs, and most importantly, stay curious. Each moment here holds the promise of a new revelation, not just for you, but for those around you as well.

I encourage you to look at the world all the time with the intent of seeing it to make sense, to fiercely look at the situations where things don't, and to be aware of how to connect to others who are on a similar journey. You will have many opportunities to do that here. 

Then, on occasion, in an elusive moment, everything may well align, and a distinct thing makes itself apparent. My deepest hope is that the light shines on the exact piece of knowledge you will seek, the scene of your understanding becomes clear, and you fashion your own “decisive moment.”

I experienced my own “decisive moment” during my time at the College one afternoon in Harper library, when I read about a method to understand how atoms could move to form a tiny wire. That moment sparked a lifelong passion for me. So much of my life’s work has revolved around trying to unlock the potential of what understanding the smallest particles in the deepest way possible can offer us.  Turns out quite a bit.  

Cartier-Bresson's philosophy is a reminder that while the journey is essential, it's those fleeting moments of clarity that give meaning to our endeavors. The moments when the dots connect, when an idea forms—when knowledge crystallizes—are our personal decisive moments. And just as no two photographs can capture the same instant in time, no two people experience the joy of understanding in the same way. 

Yes: there will be many decisive moments of clarity for you during your time at the University. But I urge you to always commit to the painstaking work of finding the way to what is true. Take the moments presented to you and interrogate them. Fortunately, you have a wonderful community here to partner with you.

In the years ahead, I urge you to fully embrace everything this community, the University, and the City of Chicago present. Delve into novel and demanding concepts—be it in the classroom, lab, studio, or the wider community outside the campus, and through discussions with peers. There are endless chances to both learn and give back; dive into them wholeheartedly.

So once more: welcome to the University of Chicago! May your time here be filled with wonderful discoveries and boundless success.