Conan O'Brien Urges Harvard Graduates: Your Degree Is Not Your Defining Feature

At Harvard University on May 28th, Conan O’Brien delivered an irreverent and heartfelt commencement speech to graduates, packed with jokes mocking his alma mater (including specific references to certain dorm rooms and dining hall atrocities). He also made time to touch on the current political climate, though, and mock his own ego: “The titles of my shows have been Late Night with Conan O’Brien , The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien , Conan (where’d I think of that one?), Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend , and Conan O’Brien Must Go . I fought like hell to have today’s ceremony named Conan O’Brien Presents The Harvard Commencement Starring Conan O’Brien.”

Speaking to the legacy of past Harvard graduates, O’Brien observed that “No university in our nation has produced more Nobel laureates or white-collar criminals. So whether you choose good or evil, know that you are among the very best.” He also joked about suing Harvard for past woes — just like the current Presidential administration, which last year attempted to bar the university from admitting foreign students . O’Brien commented on the unsuccessful effort by saying:

“The current administration feels Harvard admits too many foreign students, and who knows, they may have a point. After all, what has any foreigner ever added to our American culture? With the possible exception of music, literature, art, cuisine, fashion, architecture, dance, scientific breakthroughs… Seriously, if foreigners hadn’t gummed up the works, right now we’d all be listening to delightful Calvinist reggae, eating savory Church of England ziti, and dancing the forbidden and sexually charged Lutheran lambada.”

Advertisement

O’Brien also reflected on how, when he made his debut as a late-night host, all that the media knew about him at that time was that he was a Harvard grad. “That association may have been fine if I were a burgeoning philosopher or physicist, but for a comedian, that was a death knell. People thought the name of my show would be Late Night with He Thinks He’s Better Than You , which I would have gone with, but it didn’t fit on the shirt.”

Related Video

He then went on to recount how the experiences he’s had over the years, especially thanks to his various travelogue shows , have given him a broader perspective, taught him humility, and given him a career no longer defined by where he went to college. (Oh, speaking of his travelogue shows, it sounds like the next season of Conan O’Brien Must Go will include stops in Amsterdam, Japan, and Ghana.)

“I honestly believe that community, spontaneity, and a real commitment to humility has helped me build a rich life that means much more to me than any diploma. And believe me, I’m not saying the goal is to renounce accomplishments, but rather to metabolize them. If you carry your victories lightly, other qualities – kindness, originality, courage, humor, and humanity – have room to emerge…

Advertisement

“I understand that I am preaching modesty and connection at a time when this is not in style. We are living through a period of extreme narcissism. Our current leadership in Washington believes that empathy is a weakness and that our nation stands supreme and alone. Add to that, everyone here today has a phone in their pocket that is algorithmically programmed to celebrate you and you alone by making you the protein-maxing hero of your own special journey.

“Much has been written about how isolated and siloed we’ve become, but for me, the antidote is quite simple. By de-emphasizing what makes us special — in your case, a prized degree — we can really find one another, not as an exercise in virtue, but as a path towards greater laughter, love, and real growth.”

The host’s ultimate hope for graduates was that they live lives that mean “Harvard becomes the least important thing people know about you.” Watch the full speech below, and for more, here are O’Brien’s best jokes from his stint hosting the 2026 Academy Awards .

Advertisement

Load More

_Originally reported by [Consequence](https://consequence.net/2026/05/conan-obrien-harvard-commencement-speech/)._