Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander Set to Deliver Commencement Address to New England College’s 2026 Graduating Class

Goodlander, who represents New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District, will address graduates and receive an honorary doctorate degree from the College.

Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) has been named the Commencement speaker for New England College’s 2026 graduation ceremony on May 2. In addition, the New England College Board of Trustees has authorized the awarding of the Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa to Goodlander in recognition of her achievements and service to the Granite State.

A native of Nashua, New Hampshire, Goodlander credits the Granite State for instilling the values of community, citizenship, service, and active participation in America’s democratic process. She began her career as a foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain in the United States Senate and went on to serve as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve for over a decade. After law school, she clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer on the United States Supreme Court and taught constitutional law at the University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth College. She then served as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice and as a senior advisor at the White House. Goodlander was elected to represent New Hampshire’s Second District in November 2024.

“We are honored to welcome Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander to New England College as we celebrate the Class of 2026,” said Dr. Wayne F. Lesperance, Jr., President of New England College. “As a proud New Hampshire native and dedicated public servant, Congresswoman Goodlander embodies the values of civic responsibility, leadership, and service that we strive to cultivate in our students. Her distinguished career offers a powerful example of leadership in action, and I am confident her message will resonate deeply with our graduates as they prepare to make their own meaningful contributions to their communities and our democracy.”

New England College will celebrate its 79th graduating class on Saturday, May 2, at 10:00 a.m. on the Simon Green in Henniker, N.H.

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