Photo credit: Nava Mau
Dear Scripps College Community Members,
I am delighted to announce that filmmaker, actor, advocate, and cultural worker Nava Mau will deliver the keynote address at the College’s 95th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Hailing from Mexico City and San Antonio, Texas, Mau rose to prominence following her appearance in the Golden Globe and Emmy-winning Netflix series Baby Reindeer (2024). She wrote, produced, directed, and starred in Waking Hour (Outfest 2019) and All the Words but the One (Iris Prize 2024) and was a series regular on the HBO Max series Generation (2021). She has advocated for immigrant and LGBTQ survivors, with eight years of experience in healing justice, and was recognized by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, PFLAG National, and the Critics Choice Association for her work. Holding a BA in linguistics and cognitive science, Mau is a proud alum of Pomona College, where she developed the Leadership and Engagement in Gender and Sexuality (LEGS) program at the Draper Center for Community Partnerships.
My warmest thanks to our Class of 2025 student representatives for their thoughtful involvement in selecting a commencement speaker, especially Scripps senior class co-presidents Belén Yudess ’25 and Abbie Oh Arroyo ’25 who helped lead the process. Both noted that Mau’s antiviolence and healing justice work made her an inspiring choice for this year’s speaker.
Arroyo shared she was pleased that the selection of Nava Mau aligned with the Class of 2025’s speaker preferences. “Hearing that Mau is a Pomona alumna made it even more special,” she said. “Her dedication reminds me of the leaders we find at The Claremont Colleges, and I think many of us will resonate with the familiarity of her impact.”
Yudess also commended Mau’s bravery and use of storytelling to uplift immigrant and queer/trans people, adding that she “hoped [Mau’s] message and work will inspire our peers to continue to advocate for themselves and their communities as they enter into the world.”
I will miss celebrating Scripps’ meaningful commencement traditions this year, as I will be attending my daughter’s graduation the same weekend. I regret not being able to share this special moment with you. For more information on the event, please visit the Scripps College 2025 Commencement website.
Sincerely,
Amy Marcus-Newhall
President