The Class of 2023 represents the largest graduating class in Proctor’s 175 years as 120 students walked across the stage at commencement on May 27. Members of the Class of 2023 have left an indelible impact on Proctor during their four years on campus. From winning New England championships on the football field, to being recognized as nationally elite skiers, to traveling the globe on Proctor’s off-campus programs, to engaging deeply in their academic courses, to creating remarkable art in Proctor’s studios, this group of students has pursued their passions alongside each other and Proctor’s faculty.

Proctor was honored to have Her Excellency Sarah Cleto Rial speak at its 175th Commencement.  Rial is a 2014 Rotary Peace Fellow, a women human rights and humanitarian advocate, and recipient of the 2010 Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights, and a native of South Sudan who has headed unprecedented grassroots peacebuilding initiatives. Sarah was born in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, but lived in the Boston area for 24 years. She is passionate about programs that promote equal access to services and seek to change the lives of vulnerable populations for the better. Sarah is currently the Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, Republic of South Sudan. She was previously the Program Coordinator at The Rippel Foundation – ReThink Health working on projects that focus on building a better system for health and well-being nationwide in the United States. Prior to that she served as program director for the women-led nonprofit My Sister’s Keeper, senior executive assistant at Management Sciences for Health, and several other jobs. 

Sarah is founder of Global Partnership for Peace in South Sudan (GaPPSS), which engages South Sudanese communities across the globe in working collectively for peace and social justice. Sarah holds a MA in Political Science – Professional Development from American University in Cairo, Egypt; a Graduate Certificate on Women in Politics and Public Policy from University of Massachusetts, USA; and a BSc. Degree in Statistics and Demography from Juba University, Sudan. She has received numerous awards for her work as a community organizer, activist, and advocate, including a Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Leadership, Community Service, and was honored as one of the Unsung Heroines of the State of Massachusetts, USA. It was an honor to have Sarah share her leadership story with the Proctor community. Read more about Proctor’s 2023 Commencement exercises at proctoracademy.org/explore-proctor/the-buzz.