LONDON — Scott Wildman, executive principal and dean of Northeastern University in London, had some words of wisdom for the hundreds of freshmen at convocation.
“My advice to you is to step outside of your comfort zone,” he told those at the ceremony on Wednesday at Indigo at The O2, a venue in the U.K. capital.
“Growth as a person happens when we push beyond what is familiar. That might mean taking a class in a subject you’ve never studied before, applying for a role that you think will stretch you or diving into a project that scares you a little bit.”
It was, Wildman assured them, entirely natural to feel a whole host of emotions, from excitement to apprehension, at starting a “new chapter” in their lives in what would be for some students a new city and a new country.
But he assured the latest members of the Husky pack that they would be given support every step of the way. The faculty in London are “not just brilliant scholars but mentors who care about your growth as individuals,” the dean said. They will seek to challenge, guide and celebrate students, continued Wildman, during an educational journey that would offer experiential learning and the opportunity for real-world work experience through Northeastern’s co-op program.
09/04/25 – LONDON, UK – Scenes during the London Convocation held at the London Indigo at the O2 on Sept. 4, 2025. Photo by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
09/04/25 – LONDON, UK – Scenes during the London Convocation held at the London Indigo at the O2 on Sept. 4, 2025. Photo by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
09/04/25 – LONDON, UK – Scenes during the London Convocation held at the London Indigo at the O2 on Sept. 4, 2025. Photo by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
09/04/25 – LONDON, UK – Scenes during the London Convocation held at the London Indigo at the O2 on Sept. 4, 2025. Photo by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
09/04/25 – LONDON, UK – Scenes during the London Convocation held at the London Indigo at the O2 on Sept. 4, 2025. Photo by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
‘I love the energy’ — students left the vibrant convocation ceremony excited for their first year of studies. Photos by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
“You’ll gain not only professional skills but, importantly, also the ability to navigate different cultures, work styles and problem-solving approaches,” Wildman said about the co-op program. “And here in London — one of the most diverse, connected global cities in the world — your opportunities to do that are extraordinary.”
During the ceremony, current students told the first-year students about the types of entrepreneurial experiences that had been open to them since joining Northeastern.
Vyom Agarwal, an economics major, said he was about to embark on his third co-op — a placement in industry that counts toward a student’s degree — in as many years thanks to support from Northeastern’s careers staff.
“As Northeastern’s European hub, the London campus has so many experiential learning opportunities available across different fields and co-ops are just one of them,” explained Agarwal, who undertook his first co-op with a firm based at Northeastern’s London startup hub.
09/04/25 – LONDON, UK – Scenes during the London Convocation held at the London Indigo at the O2 on Sept. 4, 2025. Photo by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
09/04/25 – LONDON, UK – Scenes during the London Convocation held at the London Indigo at the O2 on Sept. 4, 2025. Photo by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
09/04/25 – LONDON, UK – Scenes during the London Convocation held at the London Indigo at the O2 on Sept. 4, 2025. Photo by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
09/04/25 – LONDON, UK – Scenes during the London Convocation held at the London Indigo at the O2 on Sept. 4, 2025. Photo by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
09/04/25 – LONDON, UK – Scenes during the London Convocation held at the London Indigo at the O2 on Sept. 4, 2025. Photo by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
Convocation at Indigo at The O2 included a Bollywood dance group, inspirational speakers and testimonies from student co-op experiences. Photos by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
“The way the co-op is designed is multi-faceted. It not only gives you a kick-start to your career but is weaved within your classes — it gives you that extra edge and exactly what you need for your professional journey.”
Northeastern may have its roots in the U.S. but its vast network of graduates has spread far and wide, Ali Ahued Herrera, a graduate from the Class of 2022, said from the podium. Spanning six continents and consisting of more than 350,000 graduates, Herrera said her career as a senior consultant at EY, a British professional services firm, would not have been possible “without the Northeastern community.”
“Here in London, the Northeastern network is everywhere,” Herrera told attendees.
“It’s in The Gherkin and Canary Wharf, in Downing Street and the Square Mile, and it’s in startups and small businesses. There are thousands of alumni living and working around Europe — they’ve done co-ops in the city, launched companies and built careers here.
Paws got in on the action at London’s Convocation ceremony. Photo by Carmen Valino for Northeastern University
“And here’s some great news. You don’t have to wait to tap into this network. You’re already a part of it, starting today.”
After her address, Herrera then joined Diana Bozhilova, associate dean of global impact and sustainability, and freshman Brynn Emery, representing the 1,100 first-year students starting in London, in the tradition of lighting the ceremonial torch on stage.
Seren Mills, president of the Student Union, echoed Wildman’s words, encouraging her peers to use the next few months to try new things and push personal boundaries.
“Take chances and opportunities that might scare you a little,” she said. “Because the person next to you might become a core partner or a lifelong friend, the society you’re hesitant to join might become a passion that you never knew you had.”
When she started her degree in London, Mills said she was “nervous, strong, homesick and a little uncertain.” But fast forward two years and she has become “someone who found not just education but a community, a purpose and a global network that continues to open doors for me that I could have never imagined possible.”
“Your Northeastern story is just beginning — make it extraordinary,” she urged her fellow students.
Before the latest Northeastern recruits headed off for more Welcome Week social activities, they joined in a hearty rendition of the university song, “Alma Mater” and enjoyed a dance masterclass from The Bollywood Co.
Dillon Hong, a business and economics student from Oakland, said convocation had set him up for the start of his first academic year.
“I love the energy,” he said afterward. “I’m very excited for the opportunities and I think this is going to be a very good place for me to pursue my endeavors.”
For business and finance student Ayon Sakharden, it was the reassurance offered that most struck him from the ceremony.
“I thought it was interesting how they suggested finding comfort in the uncomfortability of
this whole new scenario,” said the San Francisco native. “I had been feeling a little uncomfortable but when I heard that it was going to be a good experience and that it takes being uncomfortable to grow, I really thought that was good.”
Charlotte Memmel, a psychology student from Philadelphia, said the event had given her the impetus to get involved.
“My big takeaway was just to put yourself out there and enjoy it,” she said.
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