For Junior Nyong’o ’17, MFA, coming to Stetson for his undergraduate degree was far from the original plan. 

In fact, he had been accepted to three of his top choices for a three-year specialized degree in the United Kingdom when his mother pointed out that going down the path meant he would have to put many of his interests aside in favor of one specialty.

Thus, he was redirected to set his sights on liberal arts colleges in the United States, ultimately landing at Stetson. 

During his keynote speech at Convocation on Wednesday, Aug. 19, Nyong’o talked about studying astronomy, game theory and Russian as a Hatter, encouraging Hatters to explore their various interests during their time at Stetson as well.

“College was actually one of the few times in life when trying new things and pursuing different interests felt not only possible but encouraged,” he said. “I’m here to tell you that these next few years are your chance to take big swings. Trust your curiosity, pursue your interests. Take the class that has nothing to do with your major, simply because it sounds fascinating.”

Nyong’o also talked about how such “redirections” and “perceived failures” to follow the original plan can be blessings in disguise — just as his rejection from graduate acting programs at the end of his time at Stetson ultimately led to his first professional acting role as Hamlet at the Orlando Shakes Theater.

He asked, “I’ve often wondered: Would that have happened if I’d received exactly what I thought I wanted in the first place?”

Closing out his keynote, Nyong’o quoted the Shakespearean character better known for his soliloquy that begins with, “To be, or not to be.”

“If it be now, ‘tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come — the readiness is all,” Nyong’o recited, emphasizing the importance of approaching unexpected opportunities with an open mind.

Nyong’o was one of many speakers who shared their wisdom and encouragement at Convocation, which formally ushered in the 2026-2027 academic year. The ceremony kicked off with a procession of faculty donning academic regalia entering the Insight Credit Union Arena at Edmunds Center, where Stetson community members including students, staff and faculty packed the audience. 

Addressing the Class of 2030, the newest Hatters to join Stetson’s DeLand campus, President Christopher Roellke, PhD, said, “Your years at Stetson will unfold alongside our Forward Together strategic plan, a vision designed to guide Stetson toward the year 2030 and beyond. Together, we are writing the next chapter in the story of this remarkable institution.”

He continued, “You are entering college during a time of rapid change. Technology is evolving at breathtaking speed and is reshaping how we work and learn. Communities around the world face complex social, economic and environmental challenges. Yet, while the world will continue to change, the qualities that matter most remain remarkably constant. 

“Curiosity matters. Character matters. Kindness matters. Integrity matters. The ability to work collaboratively with others, solve problems creatively and lead with purpose matters. Those qualities are at the heart of a Stetson education.”

Another stirring address came from Randall Croom, PhD, associate professor of Management and the 2026 recipient of the William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching, who also earned the distinction of being named Advisor of the Year by the School of Business.

Urging audience members to raise their hands as high as they can, he noted how, when asked to raise them a bit higher, the crowd could lift their hands up another inch or two.

“Even when we think we’re giving our best, we don’t always know what our best really is,” he explained, adding, “Sometimes, it takes stretching ourselves to our limits, to less comfortable places, to find out what we can really do.”

Highlighting the transformational power of work, which can turn “cowardice into courage, ignorance into intelligence [and] fury into forgiveness,” he went on, “So, keep working. The work you’re here to do with and for others is too important, too valuable, for you to give up. The world needs you; the future needs you; your community needs you; Stetson needs you; I need you … So let’s get to work.”

–Siyon Kim