“The world that we live in needs leaders; we have enough followers,” said alumnus and keynote speaker Joseph Lobe ’03, vice president and deputy general counsel for the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, at Eastern Connecticut State University’s Graduate School Commencement on May 11. The event was held in the Concert Hall of the Fine Arts Instructional Center on Eastern’s Willimantic campus.

“Leadership is demonstrated by what we do every single day,” continued Lobe. “Be a leader in your own way. Lead by example. Lead by treating each other with respect and kindness. Lead by doing the right thing. Lead by admitting when you are wrong. Lead by asking questions, instead of being fed answers.”

Lobe provided the graduates with several principles to guide them: “Be the person that always follows up. You don’t get something if you don’t ask for it. In life, you will be your best advocate.” The best coaches and mentors are “those that tell you what is hardest for you to hear.” Finally, he noted that while it is good to have goals and ambitions, “allow yourself to breath before being caught up in what happens next.”

Lobe harkened back 21 years to when he gave the senior class address at the 2003 commencement, “less than 24 months removed from 9/11. Many of the graduating students were sitting in a class at Eastern that day” on Sept, 11, 2001. “I felt everyone in the audience needed a little bit of reassurance.”

He listed several major issues confronting America and the world in 2003, including political divisiveness, an unpopular war, economic uncertainty and more. “As we stand here in 2024, does any of this sound familiar?”

Acknowledging that the global community continues to face serious issues and problems across the world, Lobe declared, “We forget to focus on the progress made in our everyday lives. Today is a wonderful example of that positive progress. I encourage everyone in this room when you leave here today and you find yourself reading or listening to news of issues that seem insurmountable. The next time the world seems too heavy for anyone to carry, I encourage you to picture what you see right now at this moment.”

Lobe has worked for Mohegan for 16 years; he holds a B.S. in accounting from Eastern and a J.D. from Western New England University School of Law.

Among the 70 candidates at the commencement exercises were six in accounting; 12 in early childhood education; two in educational studies; 18 in elementary education; six in educational technology; four in management; three in organizational management; 14 in secondary education; and four in special education.

Eastern’s President Elsa Núñez, who is retiring at the end of May, gave the graduates her own personal charge. “Use your Eastern education to do good in society. Embrace the differences you find in others in your workplace and in your community. Stand against hate. Lift each other higher.”

“As liberally educated students, regardless of your degree field, your critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills are sorely needed in the workplace.” She said the graduates possessed “unbreakable resolve, commitment and self-discipline. You have the ability to balance your role as a graduate student with other roles you have — as spouse, partner, parent, employee. By delving deeper you have risen higher.”

Núñez also applauded the graduates’ family and friends for their “words of encouragement, time and energy” and also thanked the faculty, who she said was “one of Eastern’s greatest strengths.”

Ben Parent M’24 gave the graduate student address. Calling himself an “atypical” student, Parent described his journey as a 54-year-old father enrolled in the organizational management program. A cancer survivor, Parent ended up with a 4.0 GPA. He framed his comments around the words of The Beatles, perhaps the greatest musical act of all time. Parent quoted John Lennon, who said, “Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans.” Parent’s own plans were altered and extended when he started his degree in fall 2019 only to have COVID disrupt the international community in March 2020.

George Harrison wrote in one of his songs, “Think for yourself because I won’t be there for you.” Parent said Eastern graduates were ready to think for themselves, having the ability to reason critically and solve problems as the products of Connecticut’s only public liberal arts university. Urging all in attendance to be kind, Parent then quoted Paul McCartney, who sang, “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” Parent finished his remarks by quoting Ringo Starr, who sang, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” In his own words, Parent reminded the audience that “we are all members of a larger family, community and society.”

Joining the graduates and the speakers were other members of the platform party, including Provost William Salka; Grand Marshal William Lugo; LaMar Coleman, vice president for equity and diversity; James Howarth, vice president for finance and administration; John Bazin, chief human resources officer; Benjamin Pauley, interim associate provost; Niti Pandey, dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies/Graduate Division; Emily Todd, dean of The School of Arts and Sciences; and Mary Horan, regional director of spiritual care, Hartford HealthCare.

Eighteen members of the graduate division faculty were also in attendance.