Rep. Ayanna Pressley To Deliver UMass Boston Commencement Address

BOSTON — Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley will deliver the commencement address at the University of Massachusetts's undergraduate commencement Friday in front of thousands.

At the ceremony, Pressley will also receive the University Chancellor's Medal for Exemplary Leadership and Service, according to her office.

UMass Boston will award degrees to more than 4,000 graduates this year. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the university’s first graduating class.

Pressley was the first black woman elected to the Boston City Council, and the first black woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts.

She ran and bested incumbent Mike Capuano in the primary election and run unopposed in the November 2018 general election. Pressley was sworn in on Jan. 3, to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 7th congressional district, representing much of Boston, Cambridge and Chelsea, Everett and Milton.

On May 28, Pressley gave a keynote address at Harvard’s Black Graduation ceremony.

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Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).