New Eagles Welcomed to the Nest during Opening Convocation
Class of 2028 photo by Jeff Watts.
Led by a trio of bagpipers and cheered on by the campus community, 1,740 members of American University’s Class of 2028 screamed, danced, and beamed as they streamed into Bender Arena on August 23 for Opening Convocation.
Once inside, the first-year Eagles—who represent 48 states, DC, and Puerto Rico and 48 nations—learned they won’t be alone on their journey.
“I feel a special connection with all of you, our newest Eagles, because we’re new together,” said President Jon Alger, who joined the university on July 1. “Not only is this my first convocation as your AU president, but it’s also my first time standing here in Bender Arena amidst a sea of shining, excited faces. . . . As we all try to get settled in this new place, we are new Eagles together.”
During his remarks, Alger also announced the Civic Life—a new university-wide initiative that will focus on civic engagement and civil discourse education. As new students find their communities, Alger said the initiative will encourage active participation in civic life “not just with one another, but with and across viewpoints, perspectives, and lived experiences.”
“Civic engagement and civil discourse have been passions of mine throughout my career, and I’m excited to see what we can build together here at AU,” Alger said. “More details on this initiative will be forthcoming, but I wanted all of you—our newest Eagles—to be engaged from the beginning. Our nation and our world need these skills, and we need you.”
AU Alumni Association president Latanya Sothern, SOC-CAS/BA ’92, an educator in Prince George’s County, Maryland, called the Class of 2028—all of whom received a special AU enamel pin—“the resilient ones” because they endured significant learning disruptions during the pandemic. Sothern said that students’ perseverance will serve them well at AU.
“You’re riding high now, and you’re still in the honeymoon phase at your future alma mater. But guess what? The honeymoon will end,” Sothern said. “It will be hard, ugly, and messy at times, but anything worth having is worth fighting for. This degree is worth the fight.”
AU Student Government president Arusa Islam, SPA/BA ’25, told students it’s OK if their journey to graduation looks different than it does for their classmates. Islam came to AU as a biology major on the pre-med track, but after some soul-searching she found her home in political science. She now plans to go to law school.
“The truth is everyone’s path to success is different. Looking back now, I wouldn’t change a single decision I’ve made because every choice led me to all of you,” Islam said. “When something in life doesn’t feel right and you have a gut instinct to try something else, see it not as a challenge or a setback but [as] an opportunity.”
School of Public Affairs professor Todd Eisenstadt, the 2024 AU Scholar-Teacher of the Year, told students about his time studying abroad in Colombia, when he covered the aftermath of the Nevado del Ruiz eruption, a volcanic disaster that killed 24,000 people in 1985.
The experience shaped Eisenstadt’s career. He encouraged AU students to look for their own opportunities and to be unafraid to pursue them.
“This is the best time in your life to take risks. You are at a moment of maximum energy and potential and minimum responsibility; the world is wide open,” Eisenstadt said. “The pandemic is over, and we need to recover the joy of agency by taking chances again. Join student groups outside your comfort zone, engage in new conversations with friends from different perspectives, take a class on a subject you know a little about, study abroad in a new place.”