May 20, 2026
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT
May 20, 2026
Professional and Graduate Schools Ceremony 10:30 a.m.
Undergraduate Schools Ceremony 5:00 p.m.
May 20, 2026 10:30 a.m.
Order of Academic Procession
The Academic Procession will be led by the Honorary Head Marshal.
FIRST DIVISION
Faculties of the University
Officers of Research
SECOND DIVISION
Officers of the Libraries
Administrative Officers of the University
Officers Emeriti
University Senate
Senior Administration
Deans of the Schools and Colleges of the University
THIRD DIVISION
Honorary Hood Marshals
Candidate for the University Medal for Excellence
Candidates for Honorary Degrees
Candidates for the Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching
Candidate for the Faculty Mentoring Award
Candidate for the Faculty Service Award
Alumni Medalists
Trustees of Teachers College
Trustees and Trustees Emeriti of the University
Dais Party
Mace Bearer
Acting President of the University
DISTINGUISHED ROLES
HONORARY HEAD MARSHAL
David Pozen
Charles Keller Beekman Professor of Law
HONORARY HOOD MARSHALS
Stanley Borowiec of the Fiftieth Anniversary Class
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, 1976, 1977
Mozelle Thompson of the Fiftieth Anniversary Class
Columbia College, 1976
School of International Relations and Public Affairs, 1979
Columbia Law School, 1981
MACE BEARER
Michel Sadelain
Herbert and Florence Irving Professor of Medicine; Director, Columbia Initiative in Cell Engineering and Therapy (CICET)
Order of Exercises
PROCESSIONAL
The audience is requested to remain seated during the Academic Procession.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
“The Star-Spangled Banner”
Music by John Stafford Smith (1750–1836)
Words by Francis Scott Key (1779–1843)
Vocal performance by Jinhyun Park
School of International and Public Affairs, 2026
OPENING WORDS
Amy E. Hungerford
Executive Vice President of Arts and Sciences
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
INVOCATION
Rev. Dr. Ian Rottenberg
Dean of Religious Life
COMMENCEMENT REMARKS
Claire Shipman
Acting President of the University
FACULTY SPEAKER
Paulette Bernd
Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Teaching
AWARDING OF THE UNIVERSITY MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE
Michael Novak
Artistic Director, Paul Taylor Dance Company
CONFERRING OF HONORARY DEGREES
Doctor of Humane Letters
Amanda Peet
Actor, Writer, and Producer
Doctor of Laws
Michael L. Lomax
President and CEO, United Negro College Fund
George Stephanopoulos
Journalist
Doctor of Letters
Harriet Zuckerman
Professor Emerita of Sociology, Columbia University
Doctor of Music
Jon Batiste
Singer, Songwriter, and Composer
FACULTY MENTORING AWARD
George Deodatis
Vice Dean for Research; Santiago and Robertina Calatrava Family
Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics; Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
FACULTY SERVICE AWARD
Elora Mukherjee
Jerome L. Greene Clinical Professor of Law
Columbia Law School
PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING TEACHING
Faculty
Paulette Bernd
Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Adam Elmachtoub
Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations
Research
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
Sunil Gulati
Michael K. Dakolias Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Economics
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Rebecca Kobrin
Russell and Bettina Knapp Associate Professor of American Jewish
History; Co-Director Emerita, Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Jutta Schmiers-Heller
Senior Lecturer in German in the Department of Germanic
Languages
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Graduate Student Instructors
Alice Clapié
Department of English and Comparative Literature
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Claudia Espinoza-Heredia
Department of Psychology
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Joseph T. Lee
Department of Physics
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
ALUMNI MEDALISTS
Shawn Edwards
1990 B.S. The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
1995 M.S. The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
Amy Entelis
1979 M.S. Columbia Journalism School
Neil Freeman
1985 M.D. Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Lindsay Leard-Coolidge
1987 M.Phil. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
1992 Ph.D. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Rumaasha-Ngabo Wa Maasha
1994 B.S. The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
Michelle S. Mirsky
1977 D.D.S. College of Dental Medicine
Thomas R. Reardon
2008 B.A. School of General Studies
2013 M.Phil. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
2016 Ph.D. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Jonathan D. Schiller
1969 B.A. Columbia College
1973 J.D. Columbia Law School
Andrew J. Sohn
2004 B.A. Columbia College
Ying H. Yen
1995 B.A. Columbia College
ALUMNI WELCOME
Lanny Breuer
Chair of the Columbia Alumni Association
1980 B.A. Columbia College
1984 M.I.A. School of International and Public Affairs
1995 J.D. Columbia Law School
CONFERRING OF DEGREES IN COURSE
Presented by Angela V. Olinto
Provost of the University
Professor of Astronomy and of Physics
Shih-Fu Chang
Dean of The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
MASTER OF SCIENCE
DOCTOR OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE
Troy J. Eggers
Dean of the School of Professional Studies
MASTER OF SCIENCE
MASTER OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Sarah Cole
Dean of the School of the Arts
MASTER OF ARTS
MASTER OF FINE ARTS
Keren Yarhi-Milo
Dean of the School of International and Public Affairs
MASTER OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Melissa Begg
Dean of the School of Social Work
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Dennis Mitchell
Dean of the College of Dental Medicine
MASTER OF SCIENCE
DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY
Costis Maglaras
Dean of Columbia Business School
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Jelani Cobb
Dean of Columbia Journalism School
MASTER OF ARTS
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Andrés Jaque
Dean of the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Thomas R. Bailey
President of Teachers College
MASTER OF ARTS
MASTER OF EDUCATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
Alexis Abramson
Dean of Columbia Climate School
MASTER OF ARTS
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Daniel Abebe
Dean of Columbia Law School
JURIS DOCTOR
MASTER OF LAWS
DOCTOR OF THE SCIENCE OF LAW
Katrina Armstrong
Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences
Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
MASTER OF SCIENCE
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE
DOCTOR OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
Lorraine Frazier
Dean of the School of Nursing
MASTER OF SCIENCE
DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE
Jonathan
Mermin
Dean of the Mailman School of
Public Health
MASTER OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH
MASTER OF SCIENCE
DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Carlos J. Alonso
Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
MASTER OF ARTS
MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY
DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
RECESSIONAL
Until the Academic Procession has returned to Low Memorial Library, guests of the University and the graduates are requested to remain in their places.
A special thank you to our student performance groups for their preceremony entertainment: the Columbia Clefhangers, the Columbia Metrotones, and the Barnard-Columbia Chamber Singers.
On Commencement night, from sunset to 2:00 a.m., the Empire State Building will shine in Columbia blue to honor our graduates. Look up at the skyline and celebrate the Class of 2026 with all of New York City.
For more information about University Commencement, visit commencement.columbia.edu.
University
Commencement: Undergraduate Schools Ceremony
May 20, 2026 5:00 p.m.
Order of Academic Procession
The Academic Procession will be led by the Honorary Head Marshal.
FIRST DIVISION
Faculties of the University
Officers of Research
SECOND DIVISION
Officers of the Libraries
Administrative Officers of the University
Officers Emeriti
University Senate
NROTC Leaders
Senior Administration
Deans of the Schools and Colleges of the University
THIRD DIVISION
Honorary Hood Marshals
Candidate for the University Medal for Excellence
Candidate for Honorary Degrees
Candidates for the Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching
Candidate for the Faculty Mentoring Award
Candidate for the Faculty Service Award
Alumni Medalists
Trustees of Barnard College
Trustees and Trustees Emeriti of the University
Dais Party
Mace Bearer
Acting President of the University
DISTINGUISHED ROLES
HONORARY HEAD MARSHAL
Adam Kosto
James R. Barker Professor of Contemporary Civilization
HONORARY HOOD MARSHALS
Sandra Gurijala of the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Class
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, 2001
Vijay Mohan of the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Class Columbia College, 2001
MACE BEARER
Kristina Guild Douglass
Associate Professor of Climate
Order of Exercises
PROCESSIONAL
The audience is requested to remain seated during the Academic Procession.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
“The Star-Spangled Banner”
Music by John Stafford Smith (1750–1836)
Words by Francis Scott Key (1779–1843)
Vocal performance by Sarafina Belafonte
Columbia College, 2026
OPENING WORDS
Amy E. Hungerford
Executive Vice President of Arts and Sciences
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
INVOCATION
Rev. Dr. Ian Rottenberg
Dean of Religious Life and Director of the Earl Hall Center
COMMENCEMENT REMARKS
Claire Shipman
Acting President of the University
FACULTY SPEAKER
Sunil Gulati
Presidential Awardee for Outstanding Teaching
AWARDING OF THE UNIVERSITY MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE
Michael Novak
Artistic Director, Paul Taylor Dance Company
CONFERRING OF HONORARY DEGREES
Doctor of Humane Letters
Amanda Peet
Actor, Writer, and Producer
Doctor of Laws
Michael L. Lomax
President and CEO, United Negro College Fund
George Stephanopoulos
Journalist
Doctor of Letters
Harriet Zuckerman
Professor Emerita of Sociology, Columbia University
Doctor of Music
Jon Batiste
Singer, Songwriter, and Composer
FACULTY MENTORING AWARD
George Deodatis
Vice Dean for Research; Santiago and Robertina Calatrava Family Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics; Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
FACULTY SERVICE AWARD
Elora Mukherjee
Jerome L. Greene Clinical Professor of Law
Columbia Law School
PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING TEACHING Faculty
Paulette Bernd
Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Adam Elmachtoub
Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations
Research
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
Sunil Gulati
Michael K. Dakolias Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Economics
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Rebecca Kobrin
Russell and Bettina Knapp Associate Professor of American Jewish
History; Co-Director Emerita, Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Jutta Schmiers-Heller
Senior Lecturer in German in the Department of Germanic
Languages
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Graduate Student Instructors
Alice Clapié
Department of English and Comparative Literature
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Claudia Espinoza-Heredia
Department of Psychology
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Joseph T. Lee
Department of Physics
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
ALUMNI MEDALISTS
Shawn Edwards
1990 B.S. The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
1995 M.S. The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
Amy Entelis
1979 M.S. Columbia Journalism School
Neil Freeman
1985 M.D. Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Lindsay Leard-Coolidge
1987 M.Phil. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
1992 Ph.D. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Rumaasha-Ngabo Wa Maasha
1994 B.S. The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
Michelle S. Mirsky
1977 D.D.S. College of Dental Medicine
Thomas R. Reardon
2008 B.A. School of General Studies
2013 M.Phil. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
2016 Ph.D. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Jonathan D. Schiller
1969 B.A. Columbia College
1973 J.D. Columbia Law School
Andrew J. Sohn
2004 B.A. Columbia College
Ying H. Yen
1995 B.A. Columbia College
ALUMNI WELCOME
Lanny Breuer
Chair of the Columbia Alumni Association
1980 B.A. Columbia College
1984 M.I.A. School of International and Public Affairs
1995 J.D. Columbia Law School
CONFERRING OF DEGREES IN COURSE
Presented by Angela V. Olinto
Provost of the University
Professor of Astronomy and of Physics
Josef Sorett
Dean of Columbia College
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Shih-Fu Chang
Dean of The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Laura Ann Rosenbury
President of Barnard College
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Lisa Rosen-Metsch
Dean of the School of General Studies
BACHELOR OF ARTS
ALMA MATER: “STAND, COLUMBIA!”
Music by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
Words by Gilbert Oakley Ward (1880–1944), Columbia College, 1902
Vocal performance by the Barnard-Columbia Chamber Singers
Mother, stayed on rock eternal, Crowned and set upon a height,
Glorified by Light supernal—
In thy radiance we see light,
Torch, thy children’s lamps to kindle, Beacon-star to cheer and guide,
Stand, Columbia! Alma Mater—
Through the storms of Time abide!
RECESSIONAL
Until the Academic Procession has returned to Low Memorial Library, guests of the University and the graduates are requested to remain in their places.
A special thank you to our student performance groups for their pre-ceremony entertainment: the Columbia Clefhangers and the Columbia Metrotones.
On Commencement night, from sunset to 2:00 a.m., the Empire State Building will shine in Columbia blue to honor our graduates. Look up at the skyline and celebrate the Class of 2026 with all of New York City.
For more information about University Commencement, visit commencement.columbia.edu.
