Commencement Ceremony 2025

Keynote Speaker Announcement: Manish Chandra, MBA ’95

This year’s Commencement speaker is Manish Chandra, the founder and CEO of Poshmark, where he also serves on the company’s board of directors. As CEO, Chandra is responsible for guiding the vision, strategy, and growth of the company.

Chandra applied more than 20 years of experience building and scaling companies to create Poshmark, a social marketplace that combines the human connection of physical shopping with the scale, reach, ease, and selection benefits of ecommerce.

Prior to founding Poshmark in 2011, Chandra co-founded and served as CEO of Kaboodle, an online shopping website. Kaboodle was acquired by Hearst Communications in August 2007. Before Kaboodle, Chandra held executive positions at Versant, Versata (IPO 2000, acquired by Trilogy), and Sybase (IPO 1991, acquired by SAP).

In addition to his MBA from Haas, Chandra holds an MS in computer science from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.

There are four items that you need for Commencement: a cap, gown, MBA hood* and tassel. They are available for purchase or rental as a package called the Master Gown Package. Select or indicate “Business Administration as your Program/Major during check out.

* Please note: “Drab” or light brown is the standard hood color for the MBA degree. Samples will be available in the EWMBA Program Office if you want to see the items.

There are two ways to purchase these items:

• Online: You can order your Master Gown Package from two stores close to campus and have the items shipped to you, or you can pick them up in the store:
  • The (official) Cal Student Store. Be sure to also add a Master Hood in the MBA “drab” color, found on their website in the My Grad section
  • The Student Store (Fall Rush)
  • Please note: You will need to provide your height, degree and department in the special instruction field on the review and order page.
  • If you would like to RENT your regalia, please use the link to the Rental Gown here. Please note that if you are renting your regalia, hoods are still sold separately
  • Rental Gowns are DUE FOR RETURN to the CAL Student Store on Friday, May 30, 2025
• In-person: You can purchase and pick up your regalia in one visit to the Graduation Department of Cal Student Store (2495 Bancroft Way in the Student Union) or The Student Store (2470 Bancroft between Telegraph and Dana) . We recommend that you visit the store during off-peak hours, such as early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid long lines. Please allow at least 1/2 hour to order and pick-up your regalia. Check the websites for updated hours.

Please be careful with your tassel to ensure that you don’t lose it.  They do not hook onto the cap very well, so we recommend waiting until you arrive at the Greek to put on your tassel.  We will have tape available at the check-in table to help with this as well.

EWMBA Students can Request a Visa Support Letter for commencement.

FTMBA Students should inquire with their Program Office.

If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) to fully participate in this event, please contact Kate Tobias by April 30th. We kindly ask for at least 7 days notice before the event to allow 7-10 days for processing your request. Your timely communication is appreciated to ensure we can provide the necessary accommodations

Each year, the Program Office receives a limited supply of graduation gowns, caps, and hoods that have been donated by the previous year’s graduates for use by the current graduating class. This donated regalia is divided up evenly between the Full Time & EW Program Offices, where they are distributed to those who fill out the Hand-Me-Gown Interest Form via a lottery. To learn more about  the Hand-Me-Gown Program for 2025 review below.

Hand-Me-Gown 2025 Lottery Deadline
Please fill out the Hand-Me-Gown Class of 2025 Interest Form by Thursday, April 10, at 11:59 PM PDT if you are interested in participating in the Hand-Me-Gown lottery program. 

Lottery Winner Instructions
Students will be notified of their results via email on Wednesday, April 16. The regalia pick-up window is from Wednesday, April 16 to Wednesday, May 14. Regalia must be picked up in the Program Office during our normal business hours. Students who were selected may also designate a friend or classmate to pick up their regalia for them. Regalia will NOT be available for pickup at WE Lead.

Please note that the regalia will be given to lottery winners “as-is”— it will not be laundered or sanitized.

The link to the Digital Program for Commencement 2025 is now available.

The commencement ceremony will be live-streamed and online translation will be available for those attending. The  Commencement live-stream will be broadcast via YouTube. The ceremony will also be recorded and available to watch a few days later using the same link.

Accessible seating cannot be reserved, but anyone who needs ADA seating will get it. Please follow the directions in the question above to find accessible parking and seating. Greek Theater staff will assist you and your guests to the appropriate seat day of. Please call the box office at 323-606-8106 for further information.

If needed, patrons may be dropped off at the North entrance while their family member parks. A wheelchair is available in the Greek Theatre for medical emergencies only and are not guaranteed to be available to transport guests with special needs to their seats. We highly recommend that guests who are not able to walk long distances and/or on inclines bring a wheelchair with them.

Please note that although the Greek Theatre is a wheelchair-accessible venue, it is large and steep and we recommend that guests needing extra assistance have an escort.

Due to space constraints, Cal Performances can only guarantee seating for one companion for each guest in the ADA seating area.

Other family members may sit in general seating.

A link for captioning will be shared closer to the date for any persons attending who need captioning.

During Commencements, parking is very limited at UC Berkeley. Public parking will be available at attendant-controlled lots. PARKING IS CREDIT CARD ONLY– NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED. Visa, MC, Discover, and AmEx all okay. MOBILE PAYMENT (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.) WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Drivers must purchase a permit from the attendant to be displayed on the dashboard. The following lots will be available:

• Foothill Lot
• Lower Hearst Structure
• non-UC Lot (Stadium Garage)
• $11 flat rate. Debit or credit card only. No cash. (Foothill Lot, Upper Hearst Structure, Lower Hearst Structure)

Stadium Garage = $17 for 2 hours or longer

Parking for Department Graduations is only available on a first-come, first-serve basis the day of the ceremony. Graduating students and their guests may use the free Bear Transit campus shuttles to travel from the lot to the Hearst Greek Theatre.

DISABLED PARKING

All designated Disabled spaces and non-reserved spaces will be available at the above lots & rates to disabled patrons with certified handicapped placards or license plates on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no designated parking lot or special rates for Disabled Placard holders. Patrons needing assistance may be dropped off at the North Gate while their family member parks. There will be a few folding chairs for people to sit in while they wait to get seated by the ushers.

The following items are allowed at the Greek Theater:

• Small umbrellas for sun or rain

• Water bottles

Please note that security will be checking bags at the entrance to the Greek Theatre. Guests can bring small or medium sized bags, but please note that the following items are not allowed in the Greek Theatre:

• Large bags or backpacks
• Glass bottles or aluminum cans
• Alcoholic beverages
• Tobacco products
• Animals (except for documented service animals)
• Lawn furniture (low-backed stadium seats are permitted)
• Noisemakers/Airhorns/Musical Instruments
• Umbrellas (small umbrellas for sun/rain protection are permitted)
• Balloons (may be tied up and left at entrance)
• Tripods for cameras
• Coolers/Ice Chests
• Signs/Banners/Flags
• Rolls of toilet paper
• Confetti/Glitter
• Streamers
• Pets
• Strollers (designated stroller parking is available)
• Any item that can be perceived as a weapon

Strollers

Please note that strollers are not allowed in the Greek Theatre, but there will be stroller parking at the entrance to the theatre.

The ceremony will be followed by a reception from 4:00-5:30 PM in the Haas Courtyard. Your guests are welcome to attend as well.

No tickets will be needed to attend the reception, though we will ask that you indicate the number of guests that will be expected to join you at the reception to help us with planning for the event.

Tickets will be required for entry for all guests attending the ceremony (including children and infants). Graduates in caps and gowns will not require a ticket. Tickets MUST be requested in advance.

The deadline has past to request tickets.

All guests attending the Commencement Ceremony at the Greek Theater will be required to have a ticket (including children and infants). Tickets are free of charge, and will be available for pick up in the beginning of May in the EWMBA Program Office during business hours. If you are attending WE Lead, you may also pick up your tickets at the event on Sunday, May 18.

The Commencement ceremony will be held in the Hearst Greek Theatre. Tickets are required but seating for the ceremony is general admission. Please remember to tell your guests that the Greek Theatre is an outdoor amphitheater and to plan appropriately.

All graduates and guests entering the Greek Theatre will be required to walk through metal detectors. Please ensure that guests arrive early enough to allow for this security step. While the stadium has numerous metal detectors at the entrance, and the security staff will ensure the process is as speedy as possible, guests should allocate additional time to enter the theater. The Processional will start promptly at 2PM.

Graduates need to arrive at 1PM at the South end (entrance closer to Haas/Memorial Stadium) and head to the backstage area dressed in your cap and gown. All graduates are required to go through metal detectors before they go backstage. In order to expedite this process please bring as little as possible with you and have your pockets empty. Only graduates in regalia will be admitted backstage. Proceed to the EWMBA table and pick up a name card. You will write your name on this card as you want it to be announced when you walk across the stage. This card also serves as a record for the photographer, and you’ll list your name and email on the back.

IMPORTANT: All students will be required to walk through a metal detector prior to entering the Greek Theatre. Starting at 1PM, students will be asked to line up and begin making their way through the metal detectors. Just like entering through other metal detectors, you will need to remove everything from your pockets. To help ensure the procession moves efficiently, please make sure to limit what you have in your pockets. Any purse or bag will also be searched so please plan accordingly.

Restrooms are located at both ends of the amphitheater. A wheelchair-accessible restroom is located inside the North entrance.

Event Program:

Promptly at 2PM, Pomp and Circumstance will begin and the MBA graduates will march out into the seating areas. Each degree program will recognize several award winners and each will have a student speaker. Evening & Weekend MBA graduates will walk across the stage, have their name read, receive a scroll, shake hands with Dean Jenny Chatman and have their picture taken before proceeding back to the seating area. We ask that all students stay for the entire ceremony. Full Time MBA Students will be acknowledged first, followed by the Evening & Weekend MBA Students.

• Welcome & Commencement Address
• Full Time MBA Student Awards & Student Speaker
• Full Time MBA Conferring of Degrees
• Evening & Weekend MBA Student Awards & Student Speaker
• Evening & Weekend MBA Conferring of Degrees
• Closing Message

A note about guests on stage

For security reasons, only graduates are allowed to sit in the bowl of the Greek Theatre. No guests will be allowed to enter the graduate area or to cross the stage, including children.

We know your friends and family will be cheering you on at the Greek! We recommend taking photos before and after the ceremony outside of the Greek Theatre and at the reception in the Haas Courtyard immediately following Commencement.

Thanks for your cooperation as we are expecting over 4000 people to attend the event.

Please view the Commencement email archive to view previous emails about Commencement.