Commencement 2023
What Is Commencement?
Commencement is the annual ceremony at which we celebrate completion of your degree. While the commencement ceremony is not required for actual degree conferral, you are invited to celebrate your accomplishments with Humphrey School faculty, staff, fellow students, friends, and family who have enthusiastically supported your hard work and efforts.
Humphrey School Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, May 13, 2023, 4–6 p.m.
Ted Mann Concert Hall
University of Minnesota West Bank
Reception to follow
Graduates will receive registration information and other event details via email.
Keynote Speaker
We are pleased to announce that Chanda Smith Baker, chief impact officer and senior vice president of the Minneapolis Foundation, will deliver the commencement address. She is recognized for her strategic leadership, demonstrated success in turning underperforming organizations around, and broad social impact. Her expertise in cultural and organizational transformation, talent management, and fluency in diversity, equity, and inclusion has had a positive impact in the Twin Cities and beyond for over 25 years. She is a co-founder and chair of the Black Collective Foundation, launched in 2020 in response to the murder of George Floyd and subsequent uprising.
Live video stream
For family and friends unable to attend the ceremony in person, the event will be live streamed on the Humphrey School’s YouTube channel. The livestream link will be provided on this page in advance of the ceremony.
Eligibility
If your degree was, or will be, awarded September 2022 through August 2023, you are eligible and encouraged to participate in the May 2023 commencement ceremony.
Dress
Graduates are required to wear caps and gowns for the ceremony (unless you are in international ceremonial dress). Regalia is available for rental or purchase at the University Bookstores, and at GradFest.
GradFest
Wednesday, March 22 and Thursday, March 23, 2023
10 a.m.–5 p.m. each day
Coffman Memorial Union, Great Hall
Everything graduates need—all in one place
Gradfest website
End-of-Year Awards
The End-of-Year Awards and brunch will take place on the morning of the commencement ceremony, May 13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Student award recipients will be notified of their award closer to the end of the year. The awards brunch will be held in the Humphrey Forum and guests are welcome to attend.
Please check back for further updates.
Contact Career and Student Success at [email protected] if you have questions.
Commencement 2022
The Humphrey School was pleased to celebrate the accomplishments of its graduates at an in-person commencement ceremony on May 14, 2022. Due to pandemic restrictions, the School held virtual ceremonies the previous two years, and some graduates from 2020 and 2021 returned to participate.