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Who’s speaking to the Class of 2026?

Artists, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and a Nobel laureate, among others, will share words of wisdom during Northwestern graduation ceremonies
June 3, 2026 | By Stephen J. Lewis
northwestern graduation speakers
This year’s list of distinguished Northwestern speakers includes (clockwise from upper left) Emil Kang, Julie Pace, Jamie Sahara, Josh Meyers and Sarah Jessica Parker, who will receive an honorary degree and deliver the address to students during Commencement on June 14 at the United Center in Chicago.

Graduation season at Northwestern is a whirlwind of activity. For the Class of 2026, that means the upcoming Graduation Weekend will be packed with several events, receptions, ceremonies and more.

Actor, producer and entrepreneur Sarah Jessica Parker will address the Class of 2026 at Northwestern’s 168th Commencement on Sunday, June 14, at the United Center in Chicago. Commencement begins at 10:30 a.m.

Many of the University’s schools and programs will host convocations and keynote speakers in the days before and after Commencement.

On Friday, June 12, The Graduate School (TGS) will host its annual Ph.D. and M.F.A. hooding ceremony. The ceremony recognizes graduates of programs in partnership with the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, the Kellogg School of Management, the School of Communication, the Feinberg School of Medicine and TGS interdisciplinary programs. Provost Kathleen Hagerty and Kelly Mayo, dean and associate provost for graduate education, are scheduled to address graduates during the ceremony, which begins at 2 p.m. in Ryan Fieldhouse.

Actor, comedian and podcaster Josh Meyers will highlight convocation for the School of Communication on Saturday, June 13, at 9 a.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Emil J. Kang, arts consultant and violinist, will present the keynote address at the Bienen School of Music convocation ceremony on Saturday, June 13, at noon in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.

Nobel laureate Joel Mokyr, distinguished professor of both history and economics and the Robert H. Strotz Professor of Arts and Sciences, will deliver the address at Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences convocation. That ceremony takes place on Saturday, June 13, at 3 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

The Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences welcomes 2025 Nobel laureate Joel Mokyr as convocation speaker on June 13 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Photo by Shane Collins

The School of Professional Studies will hold its annual convocation ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, at Ryan Fieldhouse. Kristian Hammond, the Bill and Cathy Osborn Professor of Computer Science at Northwestern and co-founder of Artificial Intelligence company Narrative Science, will deliver the keynote address.

Ann Drake ’84, president and founder of Lincoln Road Enterprises, a women-focused operational philanthropic organization, will address graduates of the Kellogg School of Management on Sunday, June 14. The program takes place at Welsh-Ryan Arena and begins at 3 p.m.

The Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications hosts Julie Pace ’04 as its convocation speaker. The senior vice president and executive editor of The Associated Press will speak to 2026 graduates and their families on Monday, June 15, at 9:30 a.m. at Ryan Fieldhouse.

Antonio Daniels ’93, MBA ’15, chief information officer at Comcast Business, will speak at the McCormick School of Engineering undergraduate convocation. Aaron W. Saak Ph.D. ’00, MS ’97 will speak at the McCormick Ph.D. hooding and master’s degree recognition ceremony. Both events are on Monday, June 15, at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Entrepreneur Jamie Sahara ’02 delivers the 2026 convocation address for the School of Education and Social Policy. Sahara, cofounder and CEO of Applied Underwriters, will address graduates on Monday, June 15, at 2:30 p.m. in Ryan Fieldhouse.

Northwestern’s graduation season began in May with three other schools holding graduation ceremonies.

On May 4, Northwestern Qatar celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2026. Dr. Majed Mohammed Al-Ansari, advisor to the Prime Minister and official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, addressed the graduates, telling them, “Speed will get you seen. Integrity will make you matter.”

On May 15, the Chicago Theater hosted graduates from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law for its annual convocation. Ernest Greer ’91 delivered his address to more than 500 graduates from 34 countries around the world. He told graduates it’s important to end up somewhere that “gives you room to become.”

The Feinberg School of Medicine honored its MD Class of 2026 at Chicago’s Navy Pier on May 18. Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz from Duke University School of Medicine delivered the commencement address and reminded students of the importance of following their true calling as they embark on their professional careers in medicine.

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