From the Silver Screen to the Bender Arena Stage: Sean Astin to Address the Class of 2024
Some people know him as Mikey Walsh from the 鈥80s classic听The Goonies, Samwise Gamgee from the听Lord of the Rings听trilogy, Bob Newby from Netflix鈥檚听Stranger Things,听or the inspiring walk-on in听Rudy.听But we know him as a fellow Eagle.
Award-winning actor and mental health advocate Sean Astin, SPA/MPAP 鈥24, will deliver the address at 麻豆视频作品鈥檚 148th commencement, December 15, in Bender Arena. About 1,475 members of the Class of 2024 are eligible to collect their diplomas across two ceremonies.听
鈥淚 have always had a passion for public administration and policy. Completing my degree at 麻豆视频作品 this year is the realization of a lifelong dream. At this moment in the history of our country, nothing is more important than affirming the value of the skill, talent, and dedication of our civil servants,鈥 Astin said.听
鈥淪tarting during COVID, the 麻豆视频作品 online program was an incredible guide. From the curriculum to my cohort, my academic journey was rigorous and fulfilling. I am thrilled at the opportunity to be delivering this year鈥檚 commencement address.听I believe that my mission听is to听offer praise and appreciation for everyone鈥檚 accomplishments and to share some thoughts on our path forward.鈥
Astin鈥檚 Hollywood career spans more than four decades. After making his debut at age nine in a 1981 television film alongside his mother, Patty Duke, he has appeared in more than 60 movies, including听50 First Dates听and听Click.听He has a recurring role on the ABC sitcom听The Conners听and is currently playing Santa Claus in the Broadway musical听Elf,听based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell.听
Astin鈥檚 off-screen career is just as robust. He serves on the national and Los Angeles-based boards of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) union, which represents about 160,000 media professionals. He was a member of the committee that oversaw the historic 118-day strike in 2023鈥攐ne of the longest labor outages in Hollywood history, which resulted in $1 billion in gains for SAG-AFTRA and new protections around AI technology.
The native Angeleno also served under six cabinet secretaries in two presidential administrations as a civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army. Astin was appointed to serve as a nonpartisan on the President鈥檚 Council on Service and Civic Participation.听
Astin has three daughters with his wife, Christine, and is a passionate mental health advocate, continuing the work of his late mother. Duke, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1982, was one of the first celebrities to call attention to mental health issues.听听
鈥淭hrough his longtime career as an actor, his civic engagement, and his work as a mental health advocate, Sean Astin exemplifies what it means to be a lifelong learner and community-builder, which are both important parts of what we do and who we are at 麻豆视频作品,鈥 said 麻豆视频作品president Jon Alger. 鈥淎nd, as an Eagle himself, Sean will inspire our graduates with his journey and his continued quest to build change in our world.鈥
Astin鈥攚ho will be awarded a doctor of humane letters during the ceremony鈥攚ill be joined on stage by other members of AU鈥檚 Class of 2024鈥攆our student speakers.听
Biotechnology graduate student Oreoluwa Erinfolami, CAS/MS 鈥24, and Ethan Cesar, SOC-SPA/BA 鈥24鈥攁 double major in political science and public relations and strategic communication鈥攚ill deliver remarks during the 9 a.m. ceremony for graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Communication, School of Public Affairs, and Washington College of Law.听
Elizabeth Peyton Upchurch, SOE/MEd 鈥24, a graduate student in education policy and leadership, and Mina Lili Kassim, SIS/BA 鈥24, will speak at the 1:30 p.m. ceremony for graduates of the Kogod School of Business, School of International Service, School of Education, and Professional Studies.听
All ceremonies will be livestreamed听here.