Washington University announced on Wednesday morning, March 29, that Sterling K. Brown will speak at the 2023 commencement ceremony.

Brown, a St. Louis native who has received three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a spot in Time Magazine’s 2018 “100 Most Influential People,” will deliver his speech in-person on Francis Olympic Field. 

The commencement ceremony will be fully in-person with alternative climate-controlled locations available for attendees to hear from Brown and other speakers. 

The speaker announcement was revealed in a video from the official Washington University instagram account, which included a skit that led students through trivia about the speaker to uncover who it was. 

The video noted that Brown once said that he “is still this kid from St. Louis, Missouri who nobody really knows.”

Also in the video was a message from Brown, who expressed excitement about speaking to graduates in his hometown. 

“I cannot wait to come home on May 15 and celebrate with you guys on Francis Olympic Field everything you’ve accomplished at WashU and beyond,” Brown said. “Get some toasted ravioli ready for your boy. We’re gonna have a good time.”