Ayanna Pressley Named 2025 SPH Convocation Speaker.
Ayanna Pressley Named 2025 SPH Convocation Speaker
The US Representative for Massachusetts’ 7th district and former Boston City Council member has fought for equitable policies that uplift the voices of the communities she represents.
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, US Representative for the 7th district of Massachusetts and the first woman of color to represent the commonwealth in Congress, will deliver the 2025 Boston University School of Public Health Convocation Address on Saturday, May 17.
A legislator, activist, and survivor, Pressley has championed justice and healing for immigrants, workers, seniors, incarcerated individuals, sexual violence survivors, and more, throughout her career. With a firm belief that “the people closest to the pain must always be closest to the power,” the congresswoman has been a steadfast advocate for progressive policies that address numerous public health issues, including reproductive and LGBTQIA+ rights, climate change, gun violence, affordable housing, and health inequities and disparities.
Prior to her historic congressional win in 2018, Pressley served on the Boston City Council for eight years. As the first woman of color on the council in its 100-year history, she created the Committee on Healthy Women, Families, and Communities, which aims to stabilize families and communities, reduce violence and trauma, combat poverty, and empower women and girls. She also previously served as an aide to US Representative Joseph Kennedy II and former Senator John Kerry.
Pressley will be joining a familiar community when she steps on stage at the Convocation ceremony, as she has interacted with both the School of Public Health and the broader BU community on numerous occasions over the years, beginning with her time as a student in the College of General Studies from 1992 to 1994.
In 2023, Pressley joined former Dean Sandro Galea for an interview as part of SPH’s Public Health Conversation series, during which she discussed her career in public service and the importance of taking a holistic approach to advance the health of our communities. In 2019, Pressley participated in a youth gun violence summit cohosted by The Activist Lab at SPH, Stop Handgun Violence, and March for Our Lives. She spoke to high school students from the region about gun violence solutions and trauma coping strategies.
Pressley currently serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, where she has sponsored or cosponsored nearly 1,800 bills. In 2020, she became a leading voice for the seven million Americans living with alopecia, after revealing her own experience with the autoimmune disease that causes sudden hair loss and disproportionately affects children and Black women.
The SPH Convocation will begin at 9:30 am on May 17 at the BU Track & Tennis Center. Those unable to attend in person can watch a live broadcast (with CART transcription), starting at 9:30 am ET via livestream here. CART (Speech to Text) is also available via personal phone/tablet during the ceremony at the following link: go.bu.edu/ttc.