Baker, the most accomplished men’s basketball player in the history of the University of Hartford, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the latter of two ceremonies held on Sunday at downtown Hartford’s PeoplesBank Arena.
Baker, currently an assistant coach with the National Basketball Association’s Milwaukee Bucks, was honored for his achievements on and off the court.
In his time at UHart from 1989 to 1993, Baker garnered All-America honors two seasons in a row. He scored a single-season school-record 792 points over 28 games during the 1992–93 season, a mark that still stands. Drafted from UHart by the Bucks in 1993, Baker played for six teams in his 13-year NBA career and was a four-time All-Star. He was also a member of the gold-medal-winning 2000 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team.
In recognition of Baker’s enduring legacy, the University of Hartford will name its new outdoor athletics and recreation complex, scheduled to open in the fall, in his honor.
Vin Baker, Milwaukee Bucks Assistant Coach“I’ve checked a lot of boxes and was blessed and fortunate to have played 13 years in the NBA, but this is the most special day that I’ve had.”
UHart's Class of 2026
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1,814 grads
948 undergraduates and 866 graduate students
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Top Majors
psychology, architectural design and technology, nursing, illustration, and health sciences, Master of Business Administration, Doctor of Physical Therapy, MS in Prosthetics & Orthotics, MEd in Special Education, and MS in Business Analytics
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52% from CT
12% are from elsewhere in New England; 30% are from other U.S. states; and 6% are international students.
Trust the Path Ahead
At the afternoon undergraduate ceremony, speaker Kathy Behrens ’85, president for social responsibility and player programs for the National Basketball Association, proudly called out her longtime friendship with Baker as well as their shared connection to the University.
“For those who know Vin, it is his resilience and faith that make him so exceptional,” Behrens said. “Vin, congratulations. Everyone says it because it’s true: ‘Great player, even better person.’ It may say ‘honorary’ on your doctoral degree, but you have certainly earned it. I am so proud of you and grateful to call you a friend.”
Behrens encouraged the undergraduates to be patient with the twists and turns of life—and to enjoy the small moments along the way. “I imagine some of you have started on your own career path and you have a clear vision of what is ahead for you,” she said. “Others have taken tentative first steps, but you don’t know exactly where you want them to lead. That is OK. You won’t always know what comes next. There is no straight path. So venture forth with confidence that you will find your way.”
Graduates also heard from classmate Royston Lester ’26, who delivered the traditional student charge. “Yes, it’s Sunday, but there are no classes tomorrow. Today, a new schedule begins,” Lester, who is president of the Student Government Association, said. “A mountain once stood between you and everything you hoped for. It’s time to make that mountain move.”
Kathy Behrens’ 85, president for social responsibility and player programs for the National Basketball Association“I imagine some of you have started on your own career path and you have a clear vision of what is ahead for you. Others have taken tentative first steps, but you don’t know exactly where you want them to lead. That is OK. You won’t always know what comes next. There is no straight path. So venture forth with confidence that you will find your way.”
Stand at Your Podium
At the morning graduate ceremony recognizing master’s and doctoral degree recipients, Sabrina Trocchi MPA ‘96, president and chief executive officer of Wheeler Health, addressed graduates. “Today is a finish line—and a starting line,” Trocchi emphasized. “You earned this moment through late nights, hard questions, and the decision to keep going even when no one was clapping.
“You arrived with possibility, and today you leave with purpose,” she continued. You are stepping into professions that do more than build careers—they touch lives, strengthen communities, and help shape the future we will all share. I’m asking you to stand at your podium and make a difference that will be felt after you are gone.”
Trocchi explained that this means “speaking up in a meeting when someone is being reduced to a label, asking one more question instead of making an assumption, or setting a boundary that protects your integrity and your team. Name what you will stand for now, so you can recognize it when the moment comes."
The morning ceremony also included a welcome from United States Senator Richard Blumenthal, who has represented Connecticut since 2011. In 2012, Blumenthal received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UHart and served as that year's Commencement speaker.
Choosing Joy: President Ward's Message to the Graduates
Presiding over his second Commencement as UHart president, Lawrence P. Ward offered this advice to graduates: "I have never known anyone who lived a truly successful life, or fulfilling life, who did not also make space for joy in their life. You can and will achieve remarkable things—but without joy, even the greatest success can feel incomplete. Joy can be surprisingly elusive. We tell ourselves, 'I’ll make time for it later. After I reach this next milestone. After I get a little further ahead.' But later has a way of never arriving. Choosing joy in life is not foolishly believing that life is always easy. Rather, it is knowing that joy cometh in the morning—and there will always be hope when things get hard."