Wheaton News

This year’s honorees are writer and educator Jabari Asim and Georgia Wall Gogel ’71, an attorney and advocate for education and children’s welfare—each of whom has made significant contributions to fostering greater understanding of the human condition and uplifting disadvantaged members of society.

“Jabari Asim and Georgia Wall Gogel have used their talents and influence to expand opportunity for some of the most vulnerable members of society and deepen our understanding of the human experience,” said President Michaele Whelan. “We are proud to celebrate their extraordinary contributions as we celebrate the Class of 2026.”

Jabari Asim is a writer, cultural critic and educator whose work explores race, history and American culture. A former columnist and editor at The Washington Post, he has written extensively on literature, politics and the African American experience. He previously served as editor-in-chief of The Crisis, the magazine founded by W. E. B. Du Bois in 1910. A Guggenheim Fellow and winner of a Pushcart Prize, he is the author of 14 books for children and 8 books for adults, including Yonder (New York Times Notable Book, ALA Black Caucus Honor Book); The N Word (Hurston-Wright Legacy Award finalist), We Can’t Breathe (PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay finalist); and Preaching to the Chickens (New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award, ALA Notable Children’s Book, Golden Kite Award). In addition to his writing, Asim serves as Distinguished Professor of Multidisciplinary Letters at Emerson College where he is also the Elma Lewis Distinguished Fellow in Social Justice.

Georgia Wall Gogel ’71 is an accomplished attorney and dedicated advocate for educational equity and child welfare. A graduate of Wheaton, where she earned a degree in government with Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude honors, she began her professional career as a partner in two New York City law firms specializing in complex real estate transactions. Following her legal career, Gogel transitioned into the nonprofit sector, working to ensure equity access to education and all of the resources necessary to build strong programs that all young people need to grow and to thrive. She has served for more than 30 years as a trustee—including 19 years as chair—of Graham Windham, the nation’s oldest child welfare agency, founded in 1806 by Eliza Hamilton. Together with her husband, Don Gogel, she has become a transformative benefactor for her alma mater, recently providing a $5 million gift to establish nursing scholarships and experiential learning resources at Wheaton, ensuring that future generations of nursing students have the support necessary to address global healthcare challenges.

Commencement, which starts at 9:30 a.m., will celebrate the Class of 2026 with family, friends, alumni, staff, faculty and trustees. The ceremony will take place outside on the Dimple. (In the event of extreme weather conditions, check the Wheaton website for updates.)

Also, Reunion will take place from Friday, May 15, through Sunday, May 17. Events include a Reunion picnic, tours, exhibitions, class dinners, receptions and a Saturday evening dance. Registration is open through Monday, April 24, 2026.