Speech by Mr. John Kean Jr., Trustee of Kean University

Good afternoon! My name is John Kean Jr. I have the honor of serving on the Wenzhou-Kean University Board and the Kean University Board in the USA. 

Class of 2025, it is an honor to be here with you today to celebrate your accomplishments and your commencement. 

Each time I visit our WKU campus, I am reminded of how far this university has come. New buildings continue to rise, new programs are being added, and our highly experienced faculty — drawn from around the world — remain deeply committed to delivering a truly world class education, preparing our graduates to be successful wherever they choose to go, whether that pursuit is here in China, or anywhere in the world. 

Four years ago, you made a tremendous decision to pursue an American-style education here in China. Since that time, you have adapted and persevered in the face of global, academic, and personal challenges. You have collaborated, researched, and discovered. You have excelled in your classes, secured publications, built friendships that will last a lifetime, and enjoyed all that an American-style college experience has to offer. You came to us as individuals and during your time here you became the heart of WKU, setting an example for those who came after you. You have proven to be some of the best, the brightest, and the most resilient students anywhere in the world. This unique educational journey makes you special and sets you apart. 

Education’s greatest value lies not just in what we learn, but in how we use it to uplift others and improve the world we share. 

In my years in public service and policy work, I have witnessed firsthand how rapidly our world transforms. 

For example, we are all familiar with Artificial Intelligence and how chatbots affect our everyday lives. Who remembers what life was like before Siri? 

I believe the next five years may be the most consequential years for the development of AI and you will all, in one way or another, play a role in how it is ultimately used. Today, AI is already able to analyze data, connect patterns, and draw conclusions, essentially mimicking human thought processes. During the next two years we will begin seeing AI performing intellectual tasks that a human being can. This will lead to AI beginning to surpass human intelligence in all aspects. Once this happens AI may evolve rapidly beyond human control and understanding, potentially leading to significant transformative changes. 

What does all of this mean?On the positive side, we are entering a new era of medical research where cures for things like cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s are all possible. Revolutionary developments in engineering, robotics and space travel will all accelerate. You will all participate in determining our role in this fast-changing environment, establishing guidelines for how these new capabilities should be used and most importantly how they should not be used. 

Your generation faces unprecedented complexity. But with complexity comes opportunity. It demands innovative thinking that transcends cultural boundaries. That is what makes your W-K-U education so powerful. You have not just studied facts and theories across disciplines — you have lived at the intersection of Eastern insight and Western inquiry. 

And from that experience, you have gained something rare: Strong core values and the ability to approach global challenges through multiple cultural lenses at once. This perspective is more than valuable — it is essential. In a world often divided by misunderstanding, the most enduring solutions emerge when diverse viewpoints converge. 

As I look out at you, I am so confident in your future. Your intellectual curiosity, your commitment to ethical leadership, and your determination to make a difference, combined with your cross-cultural fluency, position you uniquely to affect change and protect humanity. Class of 2025, do not just pursue successful careers — help build a more connected world. 

Today, you graduate from a truly unique university — one rooted in two nations, with its eyes fixed on the world. You will no doubt benefit from that duality, and so will those you encounter through your thoughtful work and bold leadership. 

You join a growing network of alumni who have gone on to make their mark globally — in graduate studies, professional careers, and entrepreneurial ventures. Remember where you came from and the ways WKU prepared you for your journey. Honor those who helped you get to where you are and be sure to support those coming after you. 

We are proud of them — and we are proud of you. 

On behalf of the Wenzhou-Kean University Board of Directors, the Kean University USA Board of Trustees and the entire Kean Family, I offer our warmest congratulations and very best wishes. Thank you — and congratulations, Class of 2025.