Roxbury Community College (RCC) will honor the Class of 2025 at the 49th Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2025. Dr. Thea James, a visionary leader in the field of public
health who has dedicated her career to addressing the health equity gap, is the 2025
Commencement Keynote Speaker.
“Dr. Thea James is excellence personified,” said Dr. Jonathan K. Jefferson, President
of Roxbury Community College. “I know Dr. James will inspire our students, giving
them an extra push to continue pursuing their personal, professional, and academic
goals. I am thrilled that RCC’s 2025 speaker is a role model and leader who shares
my commitment to demolishing the health equity gap in Boston.”
Thea James, MD, MPH, MBA, is Vice President of Mission, Associate Chief Medical Officer
and Co-Executive Director of the Health Equity Accelerator at Boston Medical Center.
She is Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of the Violence Intervention Advocacy
Program at BMC. Dr. James is a founding member of the Health Alliance for Violence
Intervention (the HAVI). In 2011 she was appointed to Attorney General Eric Holder’s
National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence.
As vice president of mission, Dr. James partners with caregivers throughout BMC and
coordinates BMC’s relationships and strategic alliances with a wide range of local,
state, and national organizations and partners across sectors, to meet the full spectrum
of essentials that enables patients and communities to thrive. The intentionality
is to foster a strategic ecosystem of growth, innovation, transformation, community
collaboration, and effective models of care that are rooted in equity, clinical excellence
and economic justice.
“The Class of 2025 has the potential to lead transformational work in our city and
beyond,” said Dr. Thea James. “I look forward to encouraging RCC’s graduates to continue
their excellent work, and to never stop in their pursuit of change and greatness,
even when they are discouraged from doing so.”
A graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, James trained in Emergency
Medicine at Boston City Hospital, where she was a chief resident.
James will celebrate the accomplishments of RCC’s Class of 2025 with RCC faculty,
staff, the College’s 2025 award winners, college supporters, and RCC alumni. The Class
of 2025 exemplifies the resilience that has defined RCC since it was founded in 1973.
The College will host its commencement ceremony at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic
Center at 1350 Tremont Street in Roxbury.
