Former NFL Linebacker and Advocate for People with Disabilities Shaquem Griffin to Speak at Commencement

Shaquem Griffin, who made history as the NFL’s first one-handed player and who now seeks to inspire others to overcome adversity, will deliver the commencement address to Pitzer College’s Class of 2025 at this spring’s Commencement ceremony. 

“Shaquem Griffin shows that becoming a history maker requires more than a dream—it requires persistence and resilience,” said Pitzer President Strom C. Thacker in an email message to the Pitzer community. “He has unrelentingly lived out his belief that nothing worth having comes without fighting for it. Pitzer College resonates with Shaquem’s mission of social advocacy, and we are honored to invite him to campus this spring to share his message of inclusion and building bridges.”

As a child Griffin experienced a rare condition called amniotic band syndrome, and his left hand had to be amputated. His family supported him and encouraged him to face every challenge with determination. In college, he was selected as first-team All-American Athletic Conference linebacker, AAC Defensive Player of the Year, National Champion and Peach Bowl MVP. 

During his NFL career, Griffin was a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks from 2018 to 2020 and played for the Miami Dolphins during the 2021 season before retiring from the NFL in 2022. His story has been told in an Emmy award-winning NFL short film and in the biography Inseparable: How Family and Sacrifice Forged a Path to the NFL.

“Nobody was ever going to tell me that I didn’t belong on a football field,” Griffin has said of the challenges he faced. “And nobody was ever going to tell me that I couldn’t be great.”

It is part of Pitzer tradition for the graduating class to select their commencement speaker. Graduating seniors also choose their class speaker, student marshals, and honored guest. This spring’s Commencement will be held on May 17, 2025.

“I’ve dedicated my life to help others to take up the mantle of building a better world,” said Griffin. “Pitzer College produces graduates who are committed to social change and inclusion despite the challenges that arise. Now, more than ever, we need people like them with the courage to embrace and overcome obstacles and envision a brighter future for everyone.”

Learn more about Shaquem Griffin

Learn more about Commencement 2025 at Pitzer College