Jason Gay, a 1992 University of Wisconsin-Madison alum and acclaimed sports and culture columnist for the Wall Street Journal, will return to his alma mater to deliver the keynote address at the Spring 2025 commencement ceremony.
The event, honoring bachelor’s, law and master’s degree recipients, is scheduled for May 10 at Camp Randall Stadium.
“Badgers don’t come more passionate than Jason Gay, and we’re equally proud of him,” Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said in a press release. “He’s taken his UW–Madison degree and become one of the most celebrated columnists and writers in the country. We’re thrilled that he’ll be returning to campus to celebrate our 2025 graduates and to share the wisdom he’s picked up along his career path.”
Gay, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, has built a distinguished career in journalism, contributing to publications such as GQ, Rolling Stone, the New York Observer and the Boston Phoenix.
He is the author of the 2015 bestseller “Little Victories,” a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor, and the recent essay collection “I Wouldn’t Do That If I Were Me.” His accolades include being named Sports Columnist of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists in 2010, 2016 and 2019, and by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists in 2024.
Alaina Walsh is the city news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She formally served as the associates news editor and has covered breaking news on city crimes, a variety of state and campus issues, the 2024 presidential election and the UW-Madison budget. You can follow her on twitter at @alaina_wal4347
