Victor Davis Hanson will be the commencement speaker for the class of 2025. The provost’s office announced the selection of the historian and political commentator in an email on Feb. 6.
“I am deeply honored to have been invited to present the 2025 Hillsdale College graduation address,” Hanson said in an email to The Collegian. “It marks the high point in a 24-year relationship as a visiting professor with the college, one which has enriched my own life immensely and forged some of the closest friendships with Hillsdale faculty and students of my life.”
As the Wayne and Marcia Buske Distinguished Fellow in History at Hillsdale College, Hanson teaches courses in military history and classical culture each fall semester.
“Victor is one of the most cited classical scholars, a superb teacher here for many years, a commentator on public affairs of profound influence,” College President Larry Arnn said in an email to The Collegian. “He brings depth to everything he thinks and says. He is also a fine man who works hard, keeps his word, and serves others.”
Popularly known as “VDH,” Hanson is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, a public policy think tank on the campus of Stanford University, and is a professor of classics emeritus at California State University, Fresno.
“Hillsdale College has a long tradition of inviting speakers who are not only accomplished in their fields but also deeply committed to the principles of liberty, the Western tradition, and the pursuit of truth. Victor Davis Hanson embodies these ideals,” Provost Christopher VanOrman said.
Hanson is the author of many books, including “The Case for Trump” and “The Second World Wars.” His latest book, published last year, is “The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation.”
“His insights into history, culture, and politics offer invaluable perspectives for our graduating students as they embark on their own journeys,” VanOrman said. “We believe his address will be both intellectually stimulating and inspiring, challenging our graduates to think critically and engage thoughtfully with the world around them.”
Senior Class President Gavin Listro said the class officers’ process to select Hanson as speaker was lengthy, but he said he is happy with the outcome.
“He is a really great pick, and I am excited to hear what he has to share with our class,” Listro said. “He knows Hillsdale well and he knows some of us who have had a chance to take a class with him, so I expect that he will not disappoint in terms of speaking to the uniqueness of the Hillsdale experience.”
Hanson’s journalism appears in The Wall Street Journal, the Claremont Review of Books, The New Criterion, and The Daily Telegraph. He also contributes video commentaries to the Daily Signal.
“He’s lived a lot of life and done a lot of great work in his time so there’s a lot of wisdom there that everyone attending can walk away with a little bit of,” Listro said.
Hanson’s extensive experience in the realm of education, Arnn said, will benefit commencement attendees and graduates.
“We come to college to grow in intellect and character into fine people,” Arnn said. “We need examples to emulate. Victor provides an example that shines.”
