Award-Winning Actress Jennifer Coolidge to Deliver Commencement Address at Emerson College

Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress Jennifer Coolidge has been selected to deliver the commencement address for her alma mater, Emerson College, in May. The college made this announcement on Monday, March 31.

Coolidge will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during Emerson's 145th Commencement, which begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 11, at Agganis Arena in Boston.

“Emerson College is deeply honored to welcome the incredibly talented and always funny Jennifer Coolidge back to her alma mater as our commencement keynote speaker,” Emerson College President Jay Bernhardt said in a statement to media sources such as Boston 25 News. “Jennifer embodies Emersonian creativity and originality through and through. We are thrilled that our graduating students will hear Jennifer's story.”

Coolidge, 63, is best known for her roles in films such as “American Pie,” “Best In Show,” “Legally Blonde,” and “Promising Young Woman.” She has also appeared in the series “The Watcher.” Coolidge will also star opposite Jack Black and Jason Momoa in Warner Bros' Minecraft, directed by Jared Hess, which premieres in April. The film is based on the bestselling video game of the same name.

Coolidge has also received high praise for portraying Tanya McQuoid in HBO's “The White Lotus.” Her role garnered her multiple award nominations and wins, such as a Critics Choice Award, Golden Globe, Gotham Award, Primetime Emmy Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award.

Approximately 1,000 undergraduate students will receive degrees during Emerson's ceremony, which will be streamed live at emerson.edu/live. 

The School of the Arts and School of Communication will hold its graduate ceremony on Saturday, May 10, at the Shubert Theatre starting at 2 p.m.