Johnson and Wales postpones in-person commencement

The university will hold a virtual ceremony Saturday

May 18, 2020 4:14 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I.– Johnson and Wales University has postponed its in-person commencement ceremony, according to a statement the university issued Monday afternoon.

A virtual salute to 2020 graduates will be held on Saturday, a university spokesperson said.

The school had sought to hold an in-person commencement at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence on August 22.

With limits on gatherings expected to continue through the summer, Marie Bernardo-Sousa, president of the Providence campus, said it was exploring ways to celebrate the class of 2020 next year.

“Regretfully, 2020 has become a year when many of the traditional face-to-face events that we enjoy annually have been cancelled or rescheduled due to public health restrictions,” Bernardo-Sousa said in the statement. “We are exploring how we will come together in 2021 to recognize and honor our 2020 graduates and will share our plan in the coming months.”