‘Wicked' star to speak at Southern Connecticut State University commencement
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) — A 'Wicked' star is set to speak at this year's Southern Connecticut State University commencement, the school announced Thursday.
Actress and disability advocate Marissa Bode plays Nessarose in Universal's 'Wicked' series, alongside Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jonathan Bailey. She was the first wheelchair user to portray the character, marking a milestone in disability representation in Hollywood.
UConn celebrates commencement at Storrs campus
Bode has been acting since she was 8 years old and trained at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She also serves as an ambassador for a nonprofit that empowers young women from diverse backgrounds, called Saving Our Daughters.
She's set to give the commencement speak at the university's undergraduate ceremony in the Total Mortgage Arena on May 22.
Former U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will speak at the graduate ceremony later in the day.
Before his appointment to the Biden administration, Cardona was the commissioner of education in Connecticut and a former classroom teacher in Meriden.
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