Ceremony Schedule
Welcome as we celebrate our graduates at PNW's Spring 2026 commencement! Find everything you need to know during the ceremony, from the order of exercises to a full listing of degree candidates.
Order of Exercises
+ Audience seated * Audience standing
+ Prelude Processional
Processional
“Pomp and Circumstance, OP. 39, No. 1,” Sir Edward Elgar
Academic Procession
(Interval for seating)
* National Anthem
“The Star-Spangled Banner,” Francis Scott Key, performed by Matthew Wells, Chief Engagement Officer
A professional photographer will take pictures of each graduate. These portraits will be available for purchase through a unique web link provided at a later date. The university requests that members of the audience respect the family members and guests of all graduates, as well as public health and safety.
Photos or videos may be taken from your seat only; please refrain from standing during the conferring of degrees. All aisles, walkways and the area adjacent to the stage will be kept clear for the orderly procession of graduates who are being honored today.
Please respect proper decorum throughout PNW’s Commencement ceremony by following these guidelines:
- Silence. Please silence all electronic devices and refrain from any disruptive behavior to allow everyone to appreciate this celebratory and memorable occasion.
- Attention. Please direct your attention to the stage and speakers throughout the ceremony.
- Applause. Please refrain from applause when individual names are announced to allow all graduates to be recognized for their accomplishments.
- Photography Etiquette. Please capture memories through photography only discreetly and without obstructing others’ view.
- Remain Seated. To ensure everyone’s enjoyment, please remain seated for the duration, except when directed otherwise. Please also minimize any unnecessary movement and conversation and, again, refrain from obstructing the view of others.
+ Opening
Jessica Ivy, Ph.D., Thomas Ray Crowel Endowed Professor of STEM Education and Faculty Senate Vice-Chair
Greetings and Comments
Kenneth C. Holford, Ph.D., Chancellor of Purdue University Northwest
Guest Speaker
Alejandra Y. Castillo, J.D., Chancellor Senior Fellow for Economic Development at Purdue University Northwest
Spanning over two decades of public service and non-profit work, Alejandra Y. Castillo has served in three Presidential administrations—Biden, Obama and Clinton. Her career has also included a drive to shatter glass ceilings and provide inspiration to multiple generations of diverse leaders.
Most recently Castillo was a Fall 2024 Institute of Politics Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government where she focused on the intersection of place-based economic development, U.S. competitiveness and national security.
Previously, Castillo was nominated by President Biden and sworn in as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development on August 13, 2021, becoming the first woman of color to hold this position. Castillo led the Economic Development Administration (EDA) between August 2021-2024 through an unprecedented moment of growth and opportunity.
The EDA is the only federal agency focused exclusively on economic development, and she guided EDA’s implementation of over $6.8 billion dollars in federal funding, powering EDA and its mission to make transformational placed-based investments to support inclusive and equitable economic growth across America.
Castillo is an active member in various civic and professional organizations, including the Hispanic National Bar Association, the American Constitution Society, as well as the Council on Foreign Relations. Castillo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook; a Master of Arts degree in Public Policy from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin; and a Juris Doctor degree from American University, Washington College of Law.
Castillo is a native of Queens, N.Y., the daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, and a huge baseball fan.
Student Address
Introduction of Degrees
Jessica Ivy, Ph.D., Thomas Ray Crowel Endowed Professor of STEM Education and Faculty Senate Vice-Chair
Presentation and Conferral of Doctoral Degrees
- Richard Sévère, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
- Marianne Schallmo, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Undergraduate Nursing
- Mohammad Zahraee, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the College of Technology
- Malcolm S. DeKryger, Board of Trustees of Purdue University
Doctoral Hooding and Conferral
- Richard Sévère, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
- Marianne Schallmo, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Undergraduate Nursing
- Mohammad Zahraee, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the College of Technology
- Kenneth C. Holford, Ph.D., Chancellor of Purdue University Northwest
Recognition of Master’s and Undergraduate Honors
- Marie T. Mora, Ph.D., Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
- Jonathan Swarts, Ph.D., Dean of University College and the Honors College
Presentation of Candidates for Master’s and Baccalaureate Degrees
- Kwangsoo Park, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the College of Business
- José Sánchez, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Engineering and Sciences
- Richard Sévère, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
- Marianne Schallmo, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Undergraduate Nursing
- Mohammad Zahraee, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the College of Technology
- Jonathan Swarts, Ph.D., Dean of University College and the Honors College
Conferral of Master’s and Baccalaureate Degrees
- Malcolm S. DeKryger, Board of Trustees of Purdue University
Distribution of Diplomas
- Kenneth C. Holford, Ph.D., Chancellor of Purdue University Northwest
Order of Awarding of Degrees
Graduates will be presented by academic college. Within each college, candidates will cross the stage in alphabetical order, with master’s degree candidates recognized prior to baccalaureate degree candidates. Names will be announced as each candidate crosses the stage.
- College of Business
- College of Engineering and Sciences
- College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
- College of Nursing
- College of Technology
- University College
Singing of the Purdue University Northwest Alma Mater
“In the Heart of the Calumet”
Matthew Wells, Chief Engagement Officer
In the heart of the Calumet region
Near Lake Michigan’s dune-covered shores
Is our treasured and dear alma mater
Whose praise we sing once more:
Black and gold our colors,
Mighty is our roar,
The Pride of our Purdue Northwest
Our hearts will e’er adore.
Recessional
Please remain seated until the recessional concludes.
Honors for Baccalaureate and Associate Degree Candidates
Those of the baccalaureate and associate degree candidates who have achieved outstanding scholastic records are recognized by having their degrees awarded with honors. The appropriate recognition is recorded on the individual’s diploma as a permanent testimonial of achievement.
All degree candidates qualifying for graduation “with highest distinction” and “with distinction” were notified prior to the processional, but are not noted in this program. Those who qualify can be identified in the academic procession by the honor cords they are wearing.
The appropriate recognition is recorded on the individual’s diploma as a permanent testimonial of achievement. The selection is based on the graduation index for the candidate’s entire program of study at Purdue University Northwest, which must be comprised of at least 65 hours of earned credit included in the computation of the graduation index for the baccalaureate degree or 35 hours of earned credit included in the computation of the graduation index for the associate degree.
Minimum indexes for graduation with honors are determined each year. The ten percent of the baccalaureate candidates in each college who have the highest indexes, and in no case less than 3.3 out of 4.0, receive their degrees with honors. The ten percent of all associate degree candidates who have the highest indexes, and in no case less than 3.3, irrespective of their college, receive their degrees with honors.
Of those candidates who thus qualify, the three-tenths of the baccalaureate and the three-tenths of the associate degree candidates having the highest indexes receive their degrees “with highest distinction,” irrespective of the college from which they graduate.
The remaining candidates who qualify for graduation with honors receive their degrees “with distinction.”
Students who will be completing the requirements for two or more degree programs simultaneously may be eligible to be a candidate for more than one degree according to the following criteria:
- If the degree programs are in different colleges, two (or more) degrees may be awarded upon special request approved by the deans of the schools concerned and filed with the registrar at the beginning of the semester or session in which the degrees are to be awarded.
- If the degree programs are in the same college and lead to different degrees, the appropriate degrees shall be awarded. (If the degree programs are in the same college and lead to the same degree, only one degree shall be awarded. The academic record shall reflect multiple fields of study, as appropriate.)
Purdue University Northwest Degree Listing
- Doctorate of Nursing Practice
- Doctorate of Psychology
- Doctorate of Technology
- Master of Accountancy
- Master of Arts
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Science
- Master of Science in Education
- Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Master of Science in Engineering
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Master of Social Work
- Post-Masters Certificate
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Liberal Studies
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting
- Bachelor of Science in Business
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
- Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Certificate