Torrey Maldonado, a critically acclaimed author of fiction for young people and a public school teacher for 25 years, will deliver Vassar College’s Commencement address at the College’s 161st graduation ceremony on May 25, President Elizabeth Bradley announced.

A 1996 Vassar graduate, Maldonado teaches in the same school he attended in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. His novels for young people have won numerous awards, including National Public Radio and Washington Post “Best Book of the Year” citations. His latest book, Hands, was awarded the Global Read Aloud prize for Junior High Schools/Middle schools and has won “Best Book of the Year” awards on several literary platforms. Kirkus Reviews describes it as “a short story with a lasting punch.”

Maldonado said he plans to urge Vassar’s graduates to become involved in their communities, both local and global. “I ask myself, ‘How am I using my hands, to build or to knock down, to cultivate or destroy?’,” he said. “When I got to Vassar, one thing that sparked for me was that here was a place where every voice mattered, and in these turbulent times, I will tell the students that each one of us is an important piece of the puzzle with a vision of where humanity can be.”

President Bradley said she and others in the Vassar community were looking forward to hearing his address. “Throughout his career, both as an educator and an award-winning author, Torrey has embodied the values of a liberal arts education,” she said. “His message in the classroom and in his novels speaks to the choices we make that can make the world a better place.”

About Vassar College

Vassar College—based in Poughkeepsie, New York—is a coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college where perspectives cross, ideas intersect, and passion burns bright. Originally founded to provide women an education equal to that once available only to men, Vassar was the first all-women’s college in the nation to become coeducational when it opened its doors to men in 1969. Vassar fosters an intellectual openness and independence in students, who meet each other as equals, and are encouraged to absorb diverse thought and impassioned dialogue that give them the insight and confidence they will need in a complex world where they will make important contributions. Consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country, Vassar is renowned for pioneering achievements in education, for its long history of curricular innovation, and for the beauty of its campus.

Vassar College strives to make its events, performances, and facilities accessible to all. Individuals with disabilities requiring special accommodations must contact the Office of Campus Activities at least 48 hours in advance of an event, Mondays–Fridays, at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available. Detailed information about accessibility to specific campus facilities can be found on the Accessibility and Educational Opportunity website.

The Vassar campus is located at 124 Raymond Avenue in Poughkeepsie, NY.