France A. Córdova
Astrophysicist and higher-education leader
France Córdova, a Stanford alumna and former National Science Foundation director, addresses the Class of 2020 at their delayed 2022 ceremony, reflecting on how the pandemic reshaped their college years and praising their resilience. She recounts her own winding path from English major and wanderer to astrophysicist, explaining how her humanities education informed her scientific career. She encourages graduates to remain open to unexpected paths, embrace their unique backgrounds, and pursue their passions while recognizing that real life develops within them through varied experiences.
“I admire your resilience.”
Key moments
- 01 Acknowledging the disrupted college experience of the pandemic-era Class of 2020
- 02 Sharing her own delayed graduation and post-college years of travel and varied jobs
- 03 Describing her discovery of science and decision to become a physicist
- 04 Connecting humanities study with scientific inquiry and advocating diversity and inclusion in science
- 05 Advising graduates to vector into the unknown and bring their whole selves to their work
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France A. Cordova at Stanford, 2020
A commencement address about resilience, unexpected paths, science, humanities, and bringing your whole self.
Speech arc
- 01Disrupted class
Opening move
- 02Delayed ceremony
Speech beat
- 03Travel years
Speech beat
- 04English major
Speech beat
- 05Astrophysics
Speech beat
- 06Humanities plus science
Speech beat
- 07Inclusion
Speech beat
- 08Unknown vector
Final charge
Context: A class interrupted
Córdova honors a class whose college experience was reshaped by pandemic disruption and delayed celebration.
Disruption
The class carries a different kind of endurance.
Return
The delayed ceremony becomes a ritual of persistence.
Resilience
Lost normalcy becomes part of the story of strength.
Córdova honors a class whose college experience was reshaped by pandemic disruption and delayed celebration.
Path: The indirect route
Her own delayed graduation, travel, and varied jobs become evidence that life can gather coherence slowly.
Travel
Movement and odd jobs become education.
Delay
A non-linear path is still a path.
Discovery
Experience can reveal a deeper vocation.
Her own delayed graduation, travel, and varied jobs become evidence that life can gather coherence slowly.
Integration: Humanities inside science
The speech links English, curiosity, and astrophysics to argue that broad education strengthens scientific imagination.
English
Language and interpretation shape inquiry.
Science
Physics opens a cosmic scale of questioning.
Whole self
Background and breadth belong inside the work.
The speech links English, curiosity, and astrophysics to argue that broad education strengthens scientific imagination.
• Key takeaways •
Resilience can be delayed
Connects to resilience.
Indirect paths teach
Connects to science.
Humanities sharpen science
Connects to humanities.
Diversity expands inquiry
Connects to inclusion.
Bring the whole self
Connects to self-discovery.
Closing charge
Graduates are urged to bring their full identities, pursue passion, and enter uncertain futures with courage.
Vector into the unknown
Inclusion
Science and society need many kinds of minds.
Passion
Follow questions that keep unfolding.
Vector
Move into uncertainty with direction, not certainty.
Graduates are urged to bring their full identities, pursue passion, and enter uncertain futures with courage.
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Transcript
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