Graduation

In addition to the Spring 2026 Commencement on Thursday, May 14, graduates may also choose to attend their college’s degree celebration. Here’s a look at the keynote speakers for each event.

From a nearly decade-long gap between high school and college, to his passion in a niche field of kinesiology, senior Ryan Hutchinson is proving that the road less traveled is sometimes the better one.

Senior Khaled Alkurd is speeding up instead of slowing down as he approaches graduation.

When Saniya Darediya, this year's student commencement speaker, stepped onto George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus for Orientation four years ago, she was fresh off the plane from Gujarat, India. She chose George Mason sight-unseen—and then carved out a place for herself.

When doctoral student Rooshna Mohsin arrived at George Mason University from New Jersey, she came with a clear purpose: to deepen her research in environmental and reproductive health and work alongside faculty whose scholarship aligned with her own ambitions.

Student Nursing Association President, peer advocate, community activist, future labor and delivery nurse, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate Mimi Benjelloun sets the standard for student and nursing excellence, embodying the spirit of George Mason Nurses. She describes what made the School of Nursing the perfect fit and offers advice for future nursing students.

Set to graduate with her MSW, Wida Saber is applying her education to nonprofit leadership and clinical practice.

As she prepares to graduate from George Mason, first-generation student Evelyn Carcamo supports immigrant and refugee survivors while working toward a career in clinical social work.

Irma Garcia always had a goal of earning a college degree. Now, at age 72, she will graduate with a bachelor's degree in public administration degree from the Schar School.

George Mason graduate student Jose Meneses has built a remarkable early career in conservation science through hands‑on research with the Smithsonian and global fieldwork. His work—spanning salamander peptides, elephant viruses, and zombie crabs—has shaped his path toward a future in disease ecology.