Woman in purple doctoral academic robes and matching purple heels walking confidently down an indoor corridor, smiling at the camera.
@sarahjessicaparker
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Dr. Carrie Bradshaw: Sarah Jessica Parker Just Picked Up an Honorary Doctor of Arts from Northwestern and Gave the Commencement Speech to the Class of 2026

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Northwestern gave Sarah Jessica Parker an honorary Doctor of Arts on June 14, 2026, and put her in front of the Class of 2026 to deliver the commencement address.

She opened by joking that the graduates had probably meant to invite “some other three-named person,” like Mary Louise Parker or Camilla Parker Bowles, before turning the speech into a series of “what ifs” for the class. She urged them to bring their “big, gorgeous, different, unconventional, crazy, surprising, kind, innovative, and unfamiliar ideas and selves” into the world.

Woman in purple doctoral robes and black tam cap walking confidently down an indoor corridor in matching purple heels.
Sarah Jessica Parker strides through an arena corridor in Northwestern’s purple doctoral robes and matching satin heels ahead of the university’s June 14 commencement ceremony. Photo via @sarahjessicaparker.

She closed on a charge to the class: “To be bold, to be generous, to let curiosity be your guide, to believe in a what if world of love, justice, and companion until it’s not a what if anymore.” She finished by reading Ada Limón’s poem “Instructions on Not Giving Up.”

Back view of a woman in a purple doctoral gown with black velvet sleeve stripes and a black tam cap walking down a corridor.
A rear view captures Parker walking away down the backstage hallway, the three black velvet chevrons on each sleeve of her purple gown on full display. Photo via @sarahjessicaparker.

Parker marked the day on Instagram with a short carousel captioned “Step 2. Dressed and ready,” plus a purple heart, a nod to the regalia worn for honorary doctorates in the arts.

Woman in purple doctoral robes and black tam cap sitting on a leather couch backstage, adjusting a purple satin high heel.
Seated in a backstage room, Parker adjusts one of her purple satin pointed-toe heels, the lace hem of her dress peeking out beneath the doctoral gown. Photo via @sarahjessicaparker.

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Woman in purple doctoral academic robes and matching purple heels walking confidently down an indoor corridor, smiling at the camera.
@sarahjessicaparker
Woman in purple doctoral robes and black tam cap walking confidently down an indoor corridor in matching purple heels.
Sarah Jessica Parker strides through an arena corridor in Northwestern's purple doctoral robes and matching satin heels ahead of the university's June 14 commencement ceremony. Photo via @sarahjessicaparker.
Back view of a woman in a purple doctoral gown with black velvet sleeve stripes and a black tam cap walking down a corridor.
A rear view captures Parker walking away down the backstage hallway, the three black velvet chevrons on each sleeve of her purple gown on full display. Photo via @sarahjessicaparker.
Woman in purple doctoral robes and black tam cap sitting on a leather couch backstage, adjusting a purple satin high heel.
Seated in a backstage room, Parker adjusts one of her purple satin pointed-toe heels, the lace hem of her dress peeking out beneath the doctoral gown. Photo via @sarahjessicaparker.

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About the author

Nadia Santiago

Nadia Santiago is a writer who lives between the clouds and the coastline, and writes about all the things your heart knows but your mouth can never quite say.