UNC Charlotte to confer more than 5,780 degrees during five spring ceremonies
UNC Charlotte will hold May commencement ceremonies for 2026 graduates Thursday, May 7, through Saturday, May 9, in Dale F. Halton Arena in the Barnhardt Student Activity Center.
During five ceremonies, the University will confer more than 5,780 degrees and certificates at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate levels. Graduates represent 32 countries, 40 states, 88 North Carolina counties and range in age from 16 to 73. The graduating class also features six sets of twins.
Jude Bianouni, the youngest graduate, will receive a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and Deborah Parrish, the most seasoned graduate, will receive a bachelor’s degree in political science.
A special Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, including conferral of degrees for all programs, will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 7. Jennifer M. L. Adelhardt, business administration, will give the student address; Kaitlin E. Klotz, philosophy and biology, will serve as bell ringer; and Chance Lewis, the Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor of Urban Education, will serve as University marshal.
Friday’s 10 a.m. ceremony is for undergraduates in the College of Arts + Architecture, College of Computing and Informatics and College of Health and Human Services. Kennedy L. Carpenter, nursing, will give the student address; Chase K. Minor, social work, will serve as bell ringer; and Nadia Najjar, teaching associate professor of software and information systems, will serve as university marshal.
Friday’s 3 p.m. ceremony is for undergraduates in the William States Lee College of Engineering and the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences. Foster D. Duckworth, history and Japanese, will give the student address; Kierra M. Andrews, political science, business administration and management, will serve as bell ringer; and Susana Cisneros, senior lecturer of Spanish, will serve as university marshal. In addition, Cisneros will be honored with the Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Saturday’s 10 a.m. ceremony is for undergraduates in the Belk College of Business, Cato College of Education and the Klein College of Science. Abby Grace Bare, elementary education, will give the student address; Patrick K. Bonna, business administration and finance, will serve as bell ringer; and Luke Reinke, associate professor of reading and elementary education, will serve as university marshal.
Emily Hoyle, senior class president will serve as the tassel turner for all three of the undergraduate ceremonies. Hoyle is completing a bachelor’s degree in political science and communication studies from the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences.
The Graduate School Ceremony for master’s and graduate certificates for all programs will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday. Christina Olmstead, social work, will give the student address; Shailesh Kumar, computer science, will serve as bell ringer; and Gene Lai, the James J. Harris Endowed Chair in Risk Management and Insurance, will serve as University marshal.