Acclaimed author Walter Mosley gave the address at the 2022 Commencement held on June 5. Mosley received an honorary doctorate of literature. Dr. Joy Buolamwini, whose research discoveries have identified real-world examples of racial and gender bias in technological systems, and Barbara Stewart, who most recently served as chief executive officer of AmeriCorps, also received honorary doctorates.

Nearly 260 graduates representing 32 states and 22 countries received degrees in 49 majors. Tony Etz, chair of the Knox College Board of Trustees, commented in his speech that their four years at Knox mirrored his time as Board chair. “You’re the first class where, as a trustee, I’ve known you from your first year to now, as graduates.”

Knox College President C. Andrew McGadney told graduates that their “willingness to step forward each day, despite what you see and hear around you, is exactly what's needed for communities to thrive and prosper.”

Sarah Wallenfelsz, a biology and computer science major from Galesburg, was selected by her classmates as Senior Class speaker. Class of ’22 president Shuchita Poddar, a creative writing major from Gurgaon, India, closed the ceremony by observing that “in India, when we depart home for the day, we say something that translates to the feeling of ‘I’ll be back soon.’ So this isn’t our goodbye. It’s our hope to see each other. Class of ’22, I’ll see you soon.”