Commencement

We commemorate CCA’s 118th Commencement on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Sydney Goldstein Theater
275 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Witness the commencement class of 2025 cross the stage during two ceremonies:

• Master’s Degree Candidates’ Ceremony: 11 am
• Bachelor’s Degree Candidates’ Ceremony: 3 pm

After years of creative and academic dedication, these students are ready to take steps forward on to new challenges and into their professional practices. Our programming celebrates their momentous scholarly achievements with events and festivities.

Honorary doctorates and professors emerit

CCA is proud to award an honorary doctorate degree to inspirational artists, designers, and thinkers each year at its Commencement Ceremony.

This year, CCA is thrilled to announce Rob Epstein (Professor Emeritus), Chris Johnson (Professor Emeritus), and Lava Thomas (BFA Ceramics 1999) as the Honorary Doctorate recipients at the 118th Commencement Ceremonies.

“This year, we are proud to honor three extraordinary artists who exemplify both creative excellence and deep commitment to our CCA community,” said President David C. Howse. “Rob and Chris are beloved educators and influential artists who have shaped our college through their teaching and practice. Lava, a celebrated alum, continues to inspire the next generation with her groundbreaking work. Each of them creates art that resonates far beyond our campus—recognized and celebrated nationally and internationally. We look forward to the insight, inspiration, and encouragement they’ll share with our graduating students as they step into the next chapter of their creative lives.”

The following tenured faculty members were awarded a professor emerit designation in 2025:

• Kristian Simsarian, Interaction Design
• Andrew Lyndon, Animation

The Bachelor’s Degree Candidates' Ceremony features the conferring of CCA’s Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts on Rob Epstein and Chris Johnson.

Undergraduate student speaker Sinai Marrero (BFA Animation 2025) celebrates the chimera, CCA’s mascot, and its representation of the college.

“A chimera is a mixture of many animals fused together to form one. And call me cliche, but it is truly the best representation of us as a school. We are a mixture of people, experiences, disciplines, and backgrounds. It doesn’t matter if you are an illustrator, graphic designer, writer, textile artist, photographer, or animator—we were all brought together by our love of our art. I think it's part of what makes this school so special.”

The Master’s Degree Candidates' Ceremony features the conferring of CCA’s Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts on Lava Thomas (BFA Ceramics 1999), who will also deliver the Distinguished Alumni Address.

Graduate student speaker Vanshika Bhagat (MDes Interaction Design 2025) captured the spirit of this moment with powerful clarity and heart. In a celebration of courage, creativity, and conviction, she reminded us that the spark of change lies within each of us:

“The most powerful movements in history didn’t start with grand declarations. They began with one person deciding to care. One voice refusing to stay silent. One step forward when it would have been easier to stand still. You have that power. The power to shape conversations, to stand up for what’s right, to create beauty and meaning in the lives of others.”

Join our end-of-year celebratory events and exhibitions, where you can see students’ intellectual curiosity and inspiration on view, as well as a snapshot of CCA’s dynamic learning-through-making educational model.