Photo: Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz (Courtesy of Office of Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz)

Mitchell College marks its 78th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 14, with Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz delivering the keynote address to the Class of 2022. The ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. on the Mitchell College Green.

Sworn in on January 9, 2019, Susan Bysiewicz is serving her first term as Connecticut’s 109th lieutenant governor. Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz formerly served as Connecticut’s secretary of state from 1999 to 2011. As a state representative in the Connecticut General Assembly, she represented the towns of Middletown, Middlefield, and Durham from 1993 to 1999. A graduate of Middletown High School, Yale University and Duke Law School, she is the author of “Ella: A Biography of Ella Grasso,” Connecticut’s 83rd Governor. Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz and her husband David Donaldson reside in Middletown.​

Dr. Tracy Y. Espy, Mitchell College president, said, “We are honored that Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz will deliver the keynote address to our graduating class. Her values of hard work, education and persistence, her wisdom gleaned from years of tireless work on behalf of Connecticut residents, her recognition of the value of programs that help neurodivergent communities thrive, and her commitment to growing jobs and investing in the future will inspire our graduates.”

In addition to announcing the graduating class of 2022, the ceremony will include recognition of students who received honors, awards and scholarships at Mitchell College for the 2021–2022 Academic Year.