Sandra Oh receives honorary doctorate, gives speech at Dartmouth College

Emmy-nominated actress Sandra Oh, widely recognized for her standout performances in shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Killing Eve," recently added a new title to her impressive resume. She was presented with an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College during their Class of 2025 Commencement ceremony on Sunday, June 15.

Oh wasn't just there to accept an honor; she also delivered the commencement address. She capped off her inspiring speech with a truly unforgettable moment, encouraging the assembled graduates, faculty, and family members to "always make the time to dance it out!" This prompted a spontaneous, collective dance session to David Guetta's hit track "Titanium."

This brief, energetic dance was a playful nod to her iconic character, Dr. Cristina Yang, from "Grey's Anatomy," who often used dancing as a way to cope and connect.

During her address, Oh shared profound insights with the graduating class. She touched upon themes of personal evolution, the importance of kindness in challenging times, embracing silence, navigating discomfort, and even shared some reflections stemming from her portrayal of Dr. Yang.

Highlighting the value of challenge, she stated, "Nothing has taught me more than being with discomfort. It can be our greatest learning opportunity. And it is also inevitable."

On this significant day, Dartmouth College celebrated the achievements of 2,178 degree recipients. In addition to Sandra Oh, the college also bestowed honorary doctorates upon six other distinguished individuals across various fields.

The list of honorands included Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin, "Game of Thrones" co-creator David Benioff, former US surgeon general Antonia Novello, Senior Counselor to the United States Secretary of the Interior Lynn Trujillo, Olympic rower Judy Geer, and Baptist minister William Greason.

Known for portraying highly educated characters on screen, Oh humorously contrasted her fictional roles with her real-life path, mentioning she pursued acting instead of university. She quipped that accepting this honorary doctorate felt like a significant achievement, particularly fulfilling a long-held dream for her parents.

One of the most impactful points she made resonated deeply, focusing on the scarcity of genuine kindness in the current global climate.

"It’s certainly not reflected in many of our world leaders, who claim power through fear and oppression and cruelty. A lot of us are scared and angry about what’s going on in the world," she observed.

She elaborated on her definition of kindness, clarifying, "In times like these, kindness might seem naive or pointless. But when I say kindness, I’m not talking about ‘being nice.’ I’m talking about being able to hold your own heartbreak, so we can go on living — go on resisting, go on building, go on healing."

Oh also shared a personal anecdote, revealing that her former boss and the mastermind behind "Grey’s Anatomy," showrunner Shonda Rhimes, a Dartmouth alumna herself, had actually recommended her for the commencement speaking engagement.

Following the ceremony, Oh celebrated her new academic honor with a touch of her signature wit. She posted a photo of herself in her doctoral regalia on social media, accompanied by the caption: "A Dr. for real reals!! (Okay, honorary)."