LIKE A LION
Actress returns to Regis for chat, commencement
Diane Guerrero is returning to her old student stomping grounds. The award-winning actress will be stepping into the spotlight at Regis College, where she once studied, both to engage in a frank conversation tonight and serve as the Weston school’s 2018 commencement speaker tomorrow.
“This degree is a total game changer and a very special honor,” Guerrero said in a statement. “Regis contributed to who I am today and I’m excited to share more about my experiences at Regis and beyond with the class of 2018.”
The Boston-raised actress — who’s best known for her roles on “Superior Donuts,” “Orange Is the New Black” and “Jane the Virgin” — is slated to sit down with Kelley Tuthill, WCVB-TV alum and current VP of marketing and communications at Regis, to chat about her life since leaving the Lions campus. The conversation, which will take place at 6 p.m. at the school’s Fine Arts Center, will also allow her to share words of wisdom on how to put that higher education to good use.
As an encore, Guerrero will be at the center of Regis’ commencement at the Seaport’s Blue Hills Bank Pavilion tomorrow morning, when she’ll be giving a speech to the graduating class and will receive an honorary doctorate of laws in recognition of her advocacy for immigration reform. Her memoir, “In the Country We Love: My Family Divided,” outlines her childhood in Boston, where she continued to live alone after her parents were deported to Colombia when she was 14. A follow-up book, titled “My Family Divided: One Girl’s Journey of Home, Loss and Hope,” is expected to be published next month.
During the ceremony, which will be kicking off at 10 a.m., the university will also honor local VIP Jack Connors. The Boston businessman and philanthropist will be receiving an honorary doctorate of laws degree as well for his charitable contributions to our city’s community, including his Camp Harborview program, and for people throughout the world.