The Class of 2025 included master’s degree recipients from 19 countries, nine U.S. states and 41 cities or towns across Maine. 

When Emmanuella Wiafe lost her aunt to breast cancer, it ignited in her a need to understand the disease and “do something.”

“That pain turned to passion and purpose, what I personally call ‘PPA’ — ‘Pain turned into Passion and Ambition,’” said Wiafe, the student speaker at Northeastern University’s Portland campus commencement on Friday. 

The Portland campus Class of 2025 included 215 master’s degree recipients who came to study at Northeastern from 19 countries, nine U.S. states and 41 cities or towns across Maine. 

Wiafe came to Northeastern with a strong foundation in clinical diagnostics, quickly engaged in cutting-edge breast cancer research, launched the BioPILOT Lab with faculty, and participated in real-world collaborations with biotech startups across Maine. 

Wiafe, who earned a master’s degree in biotechnology, said she found a welcoming and empowering community at the Portland campus that helped her grow. 

“Beyond the titles and projects, what will always be a part of me is the sense of belonging and support,” she said. “I’ve learned that success isn’t just measured by what we achieve, but by the people who walk with us, challenge us and believe in us along the way.”

She reminded her classmates that the Portland campus shaped them and prepared them to step forward to lead, to build and to transform the lives of other people.

Wiafe will continue working as a research associate at MaineHealth, advancing work in oncology, cardiology and infectious disease, while preparing for a future Ph.D. in cancer biology and drug development.

L.L.Bean CEO Steve Smith, also speaking at Northeastern’s Portland campus, encouraged graduates to keep seeking meaningful experiences and develop new skills throughout their lives. 

Smith, the fourth president and CEO of the iconic Maine-based company, used a backpacking analogy to share lessons from his own career journey and emphasize the value of regular reflection for career development.

“May your packs be full, your paths be purposeful and your impact be lasting,” said Smith, who previously held leadership positions at Walmart International, Hannaford and J. Walter Thompson.

Early in his career, Smith said he regularly evaluated the skills and experiences he wanted to gain to make himself better prepared and more resilient. He sought out transferable skills such as project management or public speaking as well as expert-level knowledge in merchandising and general management.

“As I’ve paused, emptied the pack and looked at the contents, I’ve also asked myself where do I want to go next,” Smith said. “And more deeply, I have looked for places where I find joy and motivation — and made sure that I am moving in that direction.”   

He deliberately declined some promotions and moved laterally, pursuing roles in merchandising, supply chain and operations, to gain a holistic view of the business and leadership. This, he said, helped him develop qualities like resilience, fortitude, humility, empathy and transparency.

“I used my pack to be sure I was building a diverse, interesting set of skills and experiences that I would be able to use as my career progressed into bigger and more complex roles,” Smith said. 

When he found himself in a job that didn’t align with his values, reflection helped him pinpoint the moments that had felt most fulfilling — ultimately leading him to L.L.Bean.

“That reflection led me to my current role that I have at L.L.Bean, where I could join great people in service of a very clear purpose and build the strategy and the culture to achieve our potential — all in line with my values,” Smith said.

As a founding partner of Northeastern’s Roux Institute in 2019, L.L.Bean has supported the university’s Portland campus from the beginning, Smith said, “back when it was still an ambitious idea to reshape Maine’s future.”