Zoe Watts ’26 named 2026 student Commencement speaker

Zoe Watts ’26 has been selected as the student speaker for Connecticut College’s 108th Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17.

Watts is a government major, finance and Africana studies double minor and Posse Scholar from Chicago, Illinois. At Conn, she is captain of the Women’s Volleyball team, a Senior Admissions Fellow, a member of the Black Student Union and an Office of Academic Support Student Ambassador. She also serves on the Government/International Relations Student Advisory Board, as secretary of the Athletes of Color Coalition and was a First-Year Seminar student adviser.

As a junior, Watts studied abroad at City St. George’s University of London in England, an experience that she says pushed her to think through a global lens and engage deeply with the complexities of international politics and global dynamics. This past summer, she completed a wealth management internship at Northern Trust as a member of the Investments Practice team. She has since accepted a post-graduation position with Northern Trust as a credit analyst.

In the future, Watts plans to attend law school to fulfill her lifelong goal of becoming an attorney. She is particularly interested in pursuing criminal justice to advocate for underrepresented communities and the wrongly convicted, or sports and entertainment law, which would combine her passions for athletics and legal advocacy.

Watts said being selected as the student Commencement speaker is an honor. “I am humbled to have the opportunity to share one last moment on Tempel Green with my whole class. It feels like a full-circle moment from our first days here, standing on Tempel Green with our First-Year Seminar groups. I am excited to represent a group of people who have grown in different ways, but all alongside each other. Being able to reflect on that journey and capture even a small piece of it in words means a great deal to me,” she said.

“I have truly enjoyed my experience at Conn for many reasons, but what has made my time most impactful here is the people, from the students to the professors, deans, administrators and coaches who have both challenged and supported me. Each person I have crossed paths with in my four years has left a lasting impression on me.”