Celebrating community, resilience and the Class of Fall 2025

Commencement keynote speaker Sadaf Lodhi is an internationally recognized OB-GYN and podcaster. As Lodhi spoke to UM-Dearborn’s 749 graduates on Saturday, she let them know that her journey began just like theirs: with a drive to campus.

But there was one problem: Lodhi, a 1996 CASL graduate, was a driven student who hated driving. But, as time went on, she found people who helped her travel back and forth to campus, including now-retired Office of Institutional Research Director Roma Heaney. Lodhi, who was a student employee in Heaney’s office, looks back on those car rides fondly — and recognizes a level of care that’s uniquely UM-Dearborn.

“Community is everything. I found mine here at the University of Michigan-Dearborn,” said Lodhi, sharing Heaney’s name, among others at the university who helped her during that time. “Those relationships shaped who I became. They gave me permission to be who I was. Find people who see you, who make you feel like you belong, who challenge you to think differently.”

Read Lodhi’s Class of Fall 2025 keynote address here, where she discusses her career path and podcast.

Surrounded by family, friends, alums and supportive staff and faculty, 749 Dearborn Wolverines were recognized during two 90-minute commencement ceremonies in the Fieldhouse on Saturday. The morning ceremony recognized graduates of the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters and the College of Business. The afternoon ceremony celebrated graduates of the College of Education, Health and Human Services and the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Cheers erupted as each student walked across the stage. CASL graduate student Mariesha Harrington saw her three children and mother stand in their seats and clap as her name was called. CECS undergraduate Fatima Soueidan smiled as her family, including her younger brothers, celebrated her electrical engineering degree. COB’s Jansen Sangala, a returning adult learner, heard a loud applause as his name was called for his bachelor’s degree in finance. And CEHHS graduate Ifasekemi Hammonds — who gave birth to two of her three children while earning her health and human services degree — not only walked on stage for earning her diploma, she also gave the Class of Fall 2025 student speech.

Hammonds, speaking to her classmates from the podium, spoke about resilience. She said continuing to show up and gain a degree through quarantines, political change and responsibilities like family care and full-time jobs shows the determination the Class of Fall 2025 had to reach this moment in their lives. And, after graduation, Hammonds hopes that determination — along with collaboration and a genuine concern for others — continues to guide her and her fellow alums.

“I see something beautiful — a living, breathing melting pot. Not the cliché that we learned in elementary school that simmers quietly and separates, but one that blends and enriches — where every culture, every background, every discipline brings its own flavor and empowers the greater good,” Hammonds said. “Let’s rise as the voices of our communities as innovators, advocates and bridge builders — literally and figuratively. Let’s turn what we’ve learned into what the world needs.”

U-M Regent Carl Meyers congratulated the graduates on behalf of university leadership and let them know he understands the value of a UM-Dearborn degree.

“Today you leave UM-Dearborn as the leaders and best, equipped to contribute to, and yes, even transform your respective fields, communities and society. I know first-hand of the UM-Dearborn experience as I graduated from this great university in 1979 — in fact, it’s almost 46 years to the day where I was sitting right over there,” said COB alum Meyers, pointing into the crowd. “I hope you remember the lessons Michigan has instilled in you, including searching for the potential in every opportunity and working to overcome roadblocks that may rise along the way. Always remember that we are all extremely proud of you.”

Before certifying the degrees, Chancellor Gabriella Scarlatta — also a professor of French studies — spoke to the graduating students and their families, quoting from Voltaire’s “Candide” by saying it is important to “cultivate your own garden.” Scarlatta emphasized that this does not mean focusing only on oneself — quite the opposite.

“We are a community. A community that includes people from down the street, across the country and around the globe. Some of us speak another language, some of us have accents,” Scarlatta said. “But all of us come together, bringing our individual backgrounds and cultures to create a learning, teaching and research experience that produces citizens of the world, ready to take on what’s next.”

Then, students in the Class of Fall 2025 — who ranged from ages 18 to 61 — turned their tassels from the right to the left, marking their official transition to alumni.

Earlier, Lodhi told new graduates she understands the uncertainty that comes with life transitions and encouraged them to take risks. After working as an OB-GYN for years, she decided to start her podcast.

“I remember saying to my sister . . . ‘You know what I really want to do? Sexual health.’ I almost whispered it — like I was afraid of hearing it out loud myself,” Lodhi said. “And it's the same way in a lot of communities, not just Muslim ones. Our communities don't talk about sex. There's so much shame and taboo around it.” Lodhi’s sister encouraged her to go for it.

To pursue this dream, Lodhi took a course in sexual counseling, became a fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health and got certified in coaching. “The Muslim Sex Podcast” — a name that at one point she could not fathom — debuted in November 2021 and now ranks in the top 5% of podcasts globally in terms of listenership with more than 110,000 downloads in 50 countries.

“Give yourself permission to go down a path that scares you. If you’re worried it’s a bad idea, find out if it really is. Maybe it’s just you being scared. If that’s what’s holding you back, go for it,” she said. “See what happens. See where it takes you. Watch it open a door you didn't even know existed.”

Miss the ceremonies? Watch the Commencement highlight video, view the ceremony recordings on YouTube and see the photo collection.

Story by Sarah Tuxbury, Photos by Matthew Stephens and Michigan Photography