Latoyia Edwards selected as commencement speaker

Courtesy of NBC10Boston

By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief By Dylan Pichnarcik News Editor Local news anchor Latoyia Edwards will deliver the keynote address at the 2025 undergraduate commencement ceremony May 24. Edwards is a broadcast journalist known for moderating political debates, anchoring live news events, conducting exclusive interviews, and hosting many charity events annually. In 2023, she was named one of Boston Magazine's Most Influential Bostonians, according to the University’s press release. “I am honored that Ms. Edwards has agreed to be Framingham State University’s 2025 commencement speaker. She has been a trusted and celebrated voice in New England for more than two decades, and her commitment to community engagement deeply echoes our mission to empower students to lead within our communities, empowered by their learning and growth,” said Framingham State University President Nancy Niemi. “I look forward to sharing the commencement stage with Ms. Edwards as we celebrate our students’ success!” Edwards said, “I’ve been thinking about this speech ever since I got the confirmation that I could do it and I can’t wait to talk to the students at FSU. I think FSU students are uniquely perched and ready to do big things in the world. I love how they are talented and are so smart and down to earth, and I think those are perfect combinations for people to take over the next level of innovation and industry.” Edwards said she recently enjoyed visiting campus to hear Ndaba Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, speak on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. She said she and her family were “riveted by what FSU offers to students. Even just that event alone tells me everything about Framingham State, from the president's speech welcoming the students, to the student ambassadors who emceed it, to the awards of changemakers on campus,” she said. Edwards said, “This is what a college campus is about. “It is about exchanging ideas, being in a welcoming environment and being on the cutting edge of learning. So that is a telltale sign of awesome learning, and that's why I'm super excited to be speaking to your learning community,” Edwards said. Edwards said she is a morning anchor and reporter for NBC10 Boston and NECN. She previously worked as a weekday anchor for WWLP-22 in Springfield. Edwards grew up in Dorchester and is a graduate of Boston public schools, including Boston Latin Academy. She earned her degree in broadcast journalism, graduating magna cum laude from Emerson College. She began her career as a news writer for WBZ 1030 AM radio, followed by a reporting role at Fox affiliate WICZ-TV 40 in Binghamton, New York. Edwards said although her job sometimes seems glamorous, “The last thing I worry about is the glamor part of it. … It's the truth-telling. It's the fact-checking, especially in an age where anybody can get on social media and be considered a journalist.” She said journalists can be sued for “not telling the truth and holding that standard when it's easy to just be one-sided.” She added she always tries to be “down the middle, and bringing that to my speech is going to be important to me as well.” Edwards added that community is something she cares deeply about. “Community is one of the driving forces of why I am in this position,” she said. She added, “I feel it's a personal mission to answer the call as much as I can, to give back as much as I can, because that connection, number one, to my viewers in a special way, in a more intimate way, is always great.” The FSU Commencement Speaker Search Committee was chaired by Dan Magazu, executive director of the Office of Marketing & Communications. Magazu said Edwards spoke at Framingham State during a professional development event a few years ago, and “everyone was floored by what a good speaker she was. So she'd been on our radar.” He said the speech was on “how to be your authentic self.” Magazu added the committee “felt like she would say yes, and we felt she'd be a really inspiring speaker for the students to hear from. So we're very excited about that.” Peter Chisholm, director of government relations, who has served on the commencement search committee for approximately 10 years, said he is very confident Edwards will be an excellent speaker. “She's well known in the region … and I think she is very well spoken,” he said. Deb Cleveland, who serves as the alumni representative on the committee, said she is looking forward to hearing what Edwards has to say at graduation. Although Cleveland was not familiar with Edwards at first, “I was very impressed with her background, and the students that were on the committee seemed to be very interested. I think that's the most important thing.” She added Edwards was the committee's first choice. Senior Isabella Raeside, who was the student representative on the committee, said she cannot wait to hear what Edwards has to say at her graduation. Raeside said Edwards has a good “awareness of community and community building, which I liked, because I feel like at Framingham State, we really tried to prioritize community here because we do have a smaller campus. “She also has good global awareness,” Raeside said. Senior Gwendolyn Schutt said, “I think Latoyia is a great choice for our commencement speaker. Not only is she a woman of color in a time where the world is trying to regress, but she is also an active community member.” Schutt added, “Edwards also has a history in the media, which I feel as though means she is going to put a lot of thought into the words that she chooses to speak. Also, being local gives a community vibe to the people graduating.” Senior Kaylee Beck said, “I am excited to hear what she has to say. I did not know who she is but after looking her up, she seems very knowledgeable and I am excited to see what insight she will provide for the class of 2025. I hope her speech at graduation reflects the transition that is about to happen in all of our lives and how no matter what, everyone has their own path they are following and it all happens for a reason!” Senior Colleen Fitzgerald said, “I hope she reflects on the hard work it takes to get a degree and the trials and tribulations many students have to deal with in order to get to the day of commencement.” Senior Sofia Wilson said, “I feel good about Latoyia Edwards being the commencement speaker. I know that sometimes, based on things I’ve seen, commencement speakers are sometimes a hit or miss. I did not have strong opinions about who should deliver the speech, but I did care greatly about the person being of good and sound moral character.” Wilson added, “I hope her speech reflects the resilience of this graduating class. There are so many things happening at home and around the world that can make daily life stressful, but as a class, we pushed through and have made it to graduation, and we have done so by accessing our own strengths and sharing them with one another. “Everyone in this class is so different and unique, but as a whole, we form a beautiful landscape of important experiences. I hope she shares words of inspiration and strength, of resilience, especially in the current U.S. political environment.” Senior Jeremy McDonald, student trustee, said, “I’m extremely excited to hear Latoyia Edwards speak. I am excited to learn from such an accomplished member of our community. Latoyia Edwards’ journalism has made our community more informed and educated on key matters. I’m excited to hear about her journey and how she achieved her many successes!” Senior Evelyn Campbell, SGA president, said, “I’m beyond excited to hear Latoyia Edwards speak! Her dedication to community engagement is truly inspiring, and I deeply resonate with many of the values she stands for. As a communications major, I find her journey in broadcast journalism incredibly motivating, and I can’t wait to learn more about her experiences.”