Justin Best, a rower and graduate of Drexel’s class of 2019 and recent Olympic gold-medalist, has been announced as the university-wide commencement ceremony speaker.
In the 2024 Olympic Games, Best won a gold medal in the men’s coxless four, a four-man boat race. The last time the United States won gold in this event was in 1960. Best has been rowing since he attended Unionville High School in Kennett Square, PA, and competed in the US Junior National Team. As a member of Drexel’s team, he contributed to rowing victories such as four team titles at the Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill River and the Henley Royal Regatta in England.
Before joining Team USA in the Olympics, Best was selected to the U23 National Team in 2018 and 2019, winning the men’s eight world championship in 2018 and setting a world-record time of 5:22.48 for 2,000 meters.
However, rowing was not Best’s sole venture at Drexel. He graduated early from the LeBow College of Business and the College of Engineering and, in 2020, worked as a business analyst at the software company Splunk. He presently works as an analyst at the San Francisco investment bank Union Square Advisors.
According to interim president Denis O’Brien, “Justin credits his education and experiences at Drexel with giving him the ability to understand both the technology behind his clients’ work and the financial strategies that drive their growth.”
Best has shared that he is “extremely excited and honored” to be the keynote speaker at Drexel’s 2025 university-wide commencement.