Tuck Investiture 2025: Celebrating the Newest Members of the World’s Best Alumni Network

Despite gray skies, the mood on the lawn of Tuck Hall was celebratory as the community convened to honor the remarkable class of 2025—a fitting close to a year that marks 125 years of developing wise, decisive leaders who better the world through business.

Dean Matthew J. Slaughter opened the ceremony by reminding graduates of their place in a powerful legacy. “Class of 2025, here we are,” he said. “You now join the strongest alumni network of any business school in the world—the world’s first graduate school of management and the world’s best alumni network.” Slaughter described the Tuck network as “not only of professionals, but of people deeply invested in one another’s growth and success. This is not incidental. It is the result of 125 years of shaping leaders who lead with curiosity and conviction—and who understand that impact is magnified through trust and collaboration.”

Keynote speaker Catie Griggs D’03, T’09, president of business operations for the Baltimore Orioles, returned to Hanover having made Major League Baseball history twice: first with the Seattle Mariners, and now as the first woman in franchise history to hold her current role with the Orioles. Griggs offered graduates hard-won advice rooted in her own career journey across sports, consulting, and strategy: prioritize relationships, stay open to unexpected opportunities, build resilience, lead authentically, and always pay it forward.

“The Tuck network is real. It’s not just a list of contacts, but a living, breathing community that’s helped me at every stage of my career,” said Griggs, who held more than 150 informational interviews while at Tuck before breaking into the business of sports. “Lead with curiosity, kindness, and a willingness to say yes. Prepare yourself, stay open, and when opportunity comes, be ready to meet it. That is where luck lives.”

David Grain T'89, founder and CEO of Grain Management, was honored with the Tuck Distinguished Achievement Medal, an award that celebrates a member of the Tuck community for their remarkable career and contributions to business and society. In a moving speech, Grain described his career not as a linear success story but as a “walk of faith” defined by obstacles, detours, and moments of serendipity. “Tuck was far more than a world-class education in business,” he said. “Tuck knew me. Tuck challenged me. My classmates and professors inspired me. Tuck changed me and prepared me for that ever-shifting landscape.”

Grain, who noted that he was the only African American man in his class when he arrived at Tuck in 1987, credited the school with helping him grow not just as a thinker, but as a leader shaped by purpose. “At its purest, business is not just about numbers or markets or strategy—it’s about people. It’s about leadership grounded in wisdom and purpose,” he said. “And that makes you different. That makes you special.”

Class speaker Will Burroughs T’25, a Navy JAG Corps officer, brought both humor and heart to the ceremony. Reflecting on his Tuck MBA experience, Burroughs encouraged classmates to invest their time generously and wisely. “Our time at Tuck has come to an end, but our impact as a class is only beginning,” he said. “Whenever you need it, I hope someone is there to give you their time—and when the opportunity arises, I hope you offer yours in return.”

The ceremony also included remarks from Class President Alison Nordell T’25, the presentation of Tuck Scholars and academic awards, and the conferring of hoods by Associate Dean Sally Jaeger and Tuck Board Chair Michael Ward T’92. Following tradition, Professor Scott Neslin read a letter from Edward Tuck, and a reception in the Irving Institute’s Atrium welcomed graduates and their families.

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Investiture 2025 Livestream

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