Graduate School Commencement Order of Ceremony

Spring 2026

Celebrate the achievement of students who have earned a master’s or doctoral degree at Colorado State University!

Saturday, May 16, 2026 | Moby Arena

Doors open: 12:30 p.m. | Ceremony: 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Student Processional Lineup

Students must line up starting at 12:30 p.m. in the Moby Arena South Concourse. Signs will be posted listing each college and Special Academic Units (SAU). Please arrive on time with your name card after proceeding through security and line up behind the sign for your college/SAU.

Order of Ceremony

  • Processional: Big Thompson Brass
  • National Anthem: Emma Lee
  • Welcome: Dr. Colleen Webb, Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School
  • Land Acknowledgement
  • The Doctorate Degrees
    • Presentation of the Candidates: Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School Colleen Webb
    • Hooding of the Degree Recipients: Major Professors
  • The Master’s Degrees
    • Presentation of the Candidates: Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School Colleen Webb
  • Concluding Remarks
  • Alma Mater: Emma Lee, Big Thompson Brass
  • Recessional: Big Thompson Brass

Graduate names are announced by Dr. Chad Hoseth and Dr. Kyle Oldham.

ASL interpretation provided by Jenny Miller and Jeffrey Bigger.

Faculty Marshals include:

Dr. Anita Pena, Professor in the Department of Economics 
Dr. Marti Amberg, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology 
Dr. Lauren Harrison, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geosciences
Dr. Vincent Paglioni, Assistant Professor in the Department of Systems Engineering 
Dr. Caitlin Wells, Assistant Professor of Conservation Genetics in the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology 
Dr. Kristina Quynn, Director of CSU Writes in the Office of Vice President of Research
Ali Raza, Assistant Director for Involvement, Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement (SLiCE)
Dr. Carolina Banuelos, Program Manager for the School of Materials Science and Engineering 

Members of the Platform

Dr. Lise Youngblade, Provost and Executive Vice President 

Dr. Colleen Webb, Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs and Dean, Graduate School  

Dr. Blanche Hughes, Vice President for Student Affairs 

Dr. Kevin MacLennan, Vice President for Enrollment and Access  

Dr. Cass Moseley, Vice President of Research  

Dr. Eric Ray, Vice President of Human Resources  

Dr. Andrew Norton, Chair of Faculty Council 

Dr. Karen Estlund, Dean, CSU Libraries  

Dr. Carolyn Lawrence-Dill, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences 

Dr. Allen Robinson, Dean, Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering  

Dr. Kjerstin Thorson, Dean, College of Liberal Arts

Dr. Sue VandeWoude, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences  

Dr. Rich Conant, Interim Dean, Warner College of Natural Resources  

Dr. Matt Hickey, Interim Dean, College of Health and Human Sciences  

Dr. Santiago di Pietro, Associate Dean, College of Natural Sciences  

Dr. Sara Anne Tompkins, Associate Dean for Student Services, Graduate School  

Dr. Jozsef Vigh, Associate Dean for Program Services, Graduate School  

Dr. Ruth Hufbauer, Director, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology  

Dr. Tracy Nelson, Director, School of Public Health