Commencement
Save-the-Date for 2026 Commencement!
May 18, 2026 | 5 p.m.
Northrop Auditorium
Keynote Speaker
We are excited to welcome Dr. Debra Houry as our keynote speaker. Dr. Debra Houry is a nationally recognized physician and public health leader with nearly three decades of experience guiding health care and public health strategy across federal government, health systems, and academia. A board-certified emergency physician, she brings the perspective of frontline care together with proven experience leading complex organizations, shaping national policy, and driving results at scale.
Read Full Bio
Dr. Houry is a senior advisor to governors, states, and regional organizations on health policy and access, data modernization, preparedness, and incorporating technology into health systems. Dr. Houry is an adjunct Professor at Emory School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health as well as a senior fellow in the Yale School of Public Health. Previously, Dr. Houry served as Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she oversaw nine national centers and the Office of Science with a combined budget of more than $6 billion. She also served as Acting Principal Deputy Director, the agency’s most senior leader after the CDC Director, where she co-led the Moving Forward initiative—restructuring CDC’s 12,000 staff and $8 billion budget to strengthen preparedness, data, and laboratory systems.
In her prior role as Director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Dr. Houry guided dramatic growth in resources and impact, advancing national strategies on opioid use, suicide prevention, and mental health. Earlier in her career, she was the Vice Chair for Research in Emergency Medicine at Emory University, where she built the department into the top NIH-funded emergency medicine program in the country.
Dr. Houry has served on multiple boards, including as President of both the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research, and on the boards of the Emory University Alumni Association, the Georgia State University School of Public Health, and FutureVerse.
An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, Dr. Houry has been recognized with numerous honors including the American Medical Association Award for Outstanding Government Service, Atlanta Business Chronicle Public Healthcare Hero Award, and American Public Health Association Jay Drotman Award.
She received her BS from Emory University, her MD and MPH. from Tulane University, and completed her emergency medicine residency at Denver Health Medical Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between graduation and commencement?
Graduation is the completion of all degree requirements as recorded on your official transcript from the University. Commencement is the event that celebrates this accomplishment. Commencement is not required for graduation and participating in the event does not imply that you have officially graduated.
Learn more about graduation requirements.
How do I order my cap and gown?
Commencement regalia for students can be purchased through the University of Minnesota Bookstores either in-person or online.
Gear up with GradFest to get regalia at a discounted price on Wednesday, March 25 and Thursday, March 26.
- Purchase your Bachelor’s Cap and Gown
- BA students order a salmon (pink) tassel.
- Purchase your Master’s Cap and Gown
- MPH students order a salmon (pink) hood and a salmon (pink) tassel
- MHA students order a salmon (pink) hood and a black tassel
- MS Students order a yellow hood and a black tassel
- Purchase your Doctorate Cap and Gown
- PhD students order a dark blue hood and a black tassel
- Stoles are optional additions to graduation regalia used to symbolize achievement, school pride, membership, greek affiliations, clubs, military service, and more.
Cords:
- Cords are optional additions to graduation regalia typically awarded to members of honor societies or for various academic and non-academic achievements.
Who needs tickets for commencement?
All guests, regardless of age, will need a complementary ticket for entry. Tickets are not needed for graduates or faculty participating in the processional.
How do I order tickets for my family/guests?
Each student is able to reserve up to seven tickets for their guests when they register for SPH Commencement. Initial ticket orders must be complete by April 16. There will be an opportunity to reserve additional tickets beginning on April 27. Additional reservations are first-come, first-serve and will close on May 17 or once building capacity is reached.
Please follow the SPH Commencement Ticket Reservation Instructions to navigate Northrop’s ticketing system to reserve your tickets.
What if my guests are traveling internationally?
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) provides guidance on how to invite your family/guests to SPH Commencement. While ISSS does not provide templates, students are welcome to contact them directly or visit during advising hours with any specific questions.
SPH does not provide invitation letters for family visitor visa applications. Students are responsible for writing their own letter of invitation. You may use the email you received regarding SPH Commencement for details about the ceremony.
Can I wait until the day of the ceremony to decide if I want to participate?
No, you must register in advance. Student registration will close April 16 and onsite registration will not be available.
How are honors and distinction awarded? (undergraduate students only)
Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude) and graduation with “distinction” and “high distinction” are designations eligible only to undergraduate students at the time of bachelor’s degree completion. Contact sph-ugrad@umn.edu for additional details. These designations are not available upon completion of master’s and doctoral level degrees.
What access to technology will I have after graduation?
After you graduate, your access to University applications like Google Workspace, Zoom, and Microsoft 365 will change. Learn what to expect and how to prepare on the Leaving the University self-help guide. To verify whether your account is categorized as a Health Care Component. Navigate to https://my-account.umn.edu/self-service. Directly below Email, there is a field labeled BAA. If you have a Health Care Component account, that field will have BAA in that field. If you have an account that is not a Health Care Component, you will have non-BAA in that field.
How long is the ceremony?
The ceremony will be approximately 2 hours.
Are there any restrictions on what my guests can bring into the arena, such as balloons, bags or strollers?
All guests will have to follow the Northrop bag policy and go through security checkpoints when they arrive at Northrop. No helium balloons, confetti, air horns or signs are allowed.
How should guests enter Northrop?
Public entry will only be allowed through the Ground East entrance near Church Street. The Ground East entrance of Northrop and the security screening process will open 90 minutes prior to the scheduled ceremony start time for all commencement guests. Access to Northrop will close at 5:30 p.m. No re-entry will be allowed.
Is there a place to store my personal items during the ceremony?
No, you will need to keep your personal items with you at all times.
How do I receive my actual diploma?
Answers to questions about your diploma and when you will receive it can be found on One Stop Student Services Diploma website.
Will a professional photographer be at the event?
SPH works with GradImages to facilitate professional portraits of graduates. Following the ceremony you will receive an email from GradImages with a link to an online photo album. You are not required to purchase any photos.
A note from GradImages: Register for your graduation ceremony photos and get 20% off. Receive a coupon for 20% off your purchase of $50 or more when you register before graduation day. Visit this website for details.
If my family cannot attend commencement, can they watch it online?
Yes, the event will be livestreamed online.
