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Economist Raj Chetty emphasizes transformative role of education at Wesleyan’s commencement
“Opportunity matters. And education is one of the keys that opens the doors of opportunity,” he remarked.
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Raj Shetty receives honorary doctorate from Wesleyan / Image - Wesleyan University
Indian-American economist Raj Chetty emphasized the critical role of education in fostering social mobility during his address at Wesleyan University’s 192nd Commencement.
“Education is the surest pathway to a better life” Chetty, the William A. Ackman Professor of Public Economics at Harvard University and director of Opportunity Insights told the graduating class of 2024 by sharing his family’s journey from India to the United States. He received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees during the ceremony on May.26
He recounted how his parents, despite their humble beginnings in South India, benefitted from educational opportunities that profoundly changed their lives and subsequently his own. "Had the college in my mom’s hometown opened a year later or had my father not received the scholarship to UW–Madison, I am certain I would not have the opportunities I have had, let alone be receiving this degree today," he shared.
Chetty’s speech resonated with the themes of his groundbreaking work at Opportunity Insights, where his team uses big data to devise strategies that enhance opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. His extensive research focuses on opportunity disparity and its impact on social mobility.
"When a child moves to a neighborhood with better schools or gets a chance to attend a high-quality college, we see their lives transformed relative to other comparable kids who didn’t get the same chances," Chetty remarked. "Opportunity matters. And education is one of the keys that opens the doors of opportunity."
"Our research shows that such efforts to expand access to opportunity—when implemented on scale across colleges and other institutions in America—can make the American Dream of upward mobility more of a reality for everyone," he explained.
During his speech, Chetty highlighted Wesleyan’s leadership in expanding access to higher education, a cause central to his work. He praised Wesleyan for its commitment to inclusivity, noting its efforts to admit more students from low- and middle-income families and eliminate legacy preferences. "I am especially honored to receive this degree from an institution that is setting an example for society to follow," he said.
Chetty urged graduates to use their education to promote equality and opportunity. "My challenge to all of you is to build on this example and make the world a better, fairer place by using your education to inspire and spread opportunity to those around you," he encouraged. "Your success will be all of our success…. And I wish you the very best of luck."
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