A New Clock Begins

Graduates at the2026 Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony. (Photo by Chris Kitchen)

Graduates at the2026 Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony. (Photo by Chris Kitchen)

Tim Reynolds '12, DPT '14, keynote speaker, assistant professor of exercise science and athletic training, and TikTok star. (Photo by Chris Kitchen)

With 187 graduate degrees conferred Saturday compared with roughly 1,000 undergraduate degrees expected Sunday, the Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony offered a more intimate scale, though not a quieter one. Cheers regularly erupted across Glazer Arena as graduates crossed the stage.

For Reynolds-an IC alumnus, clinician, educator, and social media creator known to his students and millions of others online for his anatomy and physiology quiz TikToks-the ceremony became an opportunity to reflect on the uncertainty that often shapes both professional and personal lives.

He told graduates that while 4,382 days had passed since he earned his doctoral degree from Ithaca College, the more meaningful number for the gathered students was somewhere between 1,727 and 2,076-roughly how long it had been since their first day of college.

Over those roughly 2,000 days, Reynolds said, graduates had built friendships, joined organizations, attended Cortaca Jug games and AppleFest, performed, studied, and gradually arrived at a moment that once felt far away but now suddenly seemed close.

"And while we may not know what the future holds," he told graduates, "trust in the process, and more importantly, trust in yourselves."

President La Jerne Terry Cornish addresses the graduates and the audience. (Photo by Chris Kitchen)

That message echoed themes raised earlier in the ceremony by Ithaca College President La Jerne Terry Cornish, who framed the ceremony around dialogue, curiosity, and the courage to confront uncertainty directly.

"This academic year, our campus theme has been dialogue; a reminder that learning begins not simply by speaking, but by listening," Cornish said. "Dialogue challenges us to remain curious, to engage across differences, and to seek understanding even when it is difficult."

Cornish told graduates that the world would need the skills they developed during their time at Ithaca College: the ability to think critically, communicate thoughtfully, and engage meaningfully with others. She also urged graduates to continue seeking perspectives different from their own and to "ask thoughtful questions."

"Uncertainty is not something to fear," Cornish said. "Many of the most meaningful moments in life begin with uncertainty; with a step taken before the path is fully visible."

President Cornish (left) and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Melanie Stein (center) congratulate graduates. (Photo by Chris Kitchen)

As part of a tradition dating back to Ithaca College's centennial year in 1992, graduates also received medallions inscribed with a quotation selected by the president. This year's quote came from iconic writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin: "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."

The response inside the arena was immediate, with applause interrupting the ceremony as graduates and families reacted to Baldwin's words.

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Melanie Stein reflected on the unique rewards of graduate education, describing advanced study as both professionally transformative and personally fulfilling.

"As much as I loved exploring as an undergraduate, I found the focus of graduate study extraordinarily fulfilling," Stein said. "Everything I learned in my graduate studies prepared me directly for the next step in my professional journey."

Near the end of his address, Reynolds returned to the idea of time and what graduates would do with it next.

"Today, we start a new clock," Reynolds told graduates. "One that may be filled with uncertainty, but also with incredible opportunity."