A Note from the Chair: Commencement 2025

On May 9, the Department of Computer Science hosted a commencement ceremony for families and graduates of the class of 2025. Chair and Arthur S. Pearse Distinguished Professor of Computer Science Jian Pei offered his congratulations as he ushered the class into the future.

The following is a lightly edited transcript of Pei's speech.

Dear graduates, families and friends.

What a day this is — full of joy, pride and perhaps just a touch of disbelief. To all our graduating students: congratulations! You did it. You’ve crossed the finish line of one remarkable journey and are now standing at the starting line of another.

Let’s be honest: computer science is not easy. You’ve wrestled with code that wouldn’t compile, algorithms that refused to run in less than exponential time, and group projects that tested not just your logic, but your patience. Yet here you are — not just surviving, but thriving. You’ve mastered systems, solved problems, debugged endlessly, and somehow, still remembered to sleep. Sometimes.

But beyond the coursework and the exams, something deeper has taken root. Your education at Duke wasn’t just about learning to code, design algorithms, analyze data and build AI models. It was about learning to understand the world — and your role in shaping it. You’ve grown into thinkers, builders and connectors. And that, I believe, is the real heart of computer science.

Computer science is about people, about connecting us more meaningfully, making systems more fair and solving problems that matter — problems that affect lives, communities, and futures. As you leave Duke, I hope your understanding of computing and AI always stays rooted in humanity. Let your skills serve not just progress, but purpose. Use what you’ve learned to lift others up, to bring people together, and to remind the world that behind every algorithm, there’s a person — and every person deserves dignity, voice, and care.

Use what you’ve learned to lift others up, to bring people together, and to remind the world that behind every algorithm, there’s a person — and every person deserves dignity, voice, and care.

You may wonder what the future holds. Will AI take over? Will new technology reshape our jobs, our cities, even our identities? Yes — and no. The world is changing fast, full of uncertainty, and you will see change that astonishes and challenges you. So don’t just react to the future — go out and shape it. Keep creating novelty. Keep building value. And when things feel uncertain, be the one who brings clarity and direction. That’s what computer science can do at its best: not just solve problems, but imagine new possibilities. Not just optimize the present, but invent the future.

And never forget the people around you. The friendships you’ve made here, the mentors who guided you, the classmates who laughed with you at 3 a.m. trying to make project chaos work — these are not just part of your past. They’re part of your foundation. Moreover, don’t forget us. Your Duke Computer Science family is always here — cheering for you, believing in you, and eager to hear from you. Share your successes, yes — but also your doubts, your pivots, your discoveries. Share your laughter and your tears. We want to celebrate with you, support you, and keep growing with you. You are part of a lifelong community now. A community that believes in the power of computing to do good, to connect people, and to help us all become better human beings. Wherever life takes you, you’ll always have a home here.

To all the families and friends here today: thank you. You cheered them on, lifted them up, reminded them to eat. Your support made this day possible, even if they didn’t always say thank you in real-time. Today, consider it said — loud and clear.

To our graduates: stay bold. Stay grounded. And keep building things that matter. You’ve got this — and we’ve got your back.

Congratulations, Class of 2025. Go boldly, go thoughtfully, and go with heart.

Go Duke. Go Blue Devils!