Commencement 2026 Message to Graduates: Be Leaders in Community

The Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota hosted its 2026 commencement ceremony on May 16 at Ted Mann Concert Hall, celebrating 140 master’s graduates and two doctoral candidates alongside faculty, staff, family, and friends. Speakers highlighted the urgent need for leadership in tackling global issues such as climate change, poverty, and political polarization, framing the graduates’ education as essential preparation for these challenges. Dean Nisha Botchwey addressed the graduates, noting their ability to build trust and lead with courage despite a period of uncertainty. She emphasized that public leadership extends beyond formal roles, requiring daily engagement in communities. ‘Your time at the Humphrey School has unfolded during a moment that has often felt uncertain,’ Botchwey said, praising the graduates’ commitment to values-driven leadership amid complexity. Keynote speaker Michael Rodriguez, chancellor of the University of Minnesota Morris and a Humphrey School alumnus (MA ’95), reflected on his own journey as a first-generation college student and fifth-generation Minnesotan. He stressed that leadership is not individual but rooted in community, sharing an anecdote from 2020 when a colleague reminded him of his significance as the university’s highest-ranking Latino during the pandemic. This moment reinforced his understanding that leadership serves others and builds on the work of those who came before. Rodriguez urged graduates to recognize their responsibility to future generations, framing public service as an inherited duty. ‘No generation begins from scratch,’ he noted, calling on them to contribute to unfinished institutional and societal work. Both speakers underscored the school’s mission to equip graduates with the skills to navigate challenges while fostering inclusive, values-based leadership. The ceremony closed with a call for graduates to apply their training to real-world problems, reinforcing the idea that their roles as leaders extend beyond academic achievement to active community engagement. Faculty and attendees celebrated the graduates’ accomplishments while reinforcing the school’s commitment to preparing them for impactful public service.