More than 5,280 University of Iowa students will participate in spring 2019 commencement ceremonies, which begin Thursday, May 9, with the College of Pharmacy and end on Friday, June 7, with the College of Dentistry. Other ceremonies will take place May 9–11 and May 17.
Read about outstanding students who will be receiving degrees and learn more about the spring 2019 graduating class here.
Can’t make it to the ceremony? The University of Iowa live-streams all ceremonies.
Everyone is encouraged to use the hashtag #UIGrad19 to join the celebration on social media.
Two ceremonies will be held for College of Liberal Arts and Sciences undergraduates, accommodating more family members and guests. All commencement ceremonies will be streamed live on the web via the Iowa Now website.
Dates, times, locations, and additional information for each ceremony are listed below, including live streaming video details. More commencement information can be found on the UI commencement website.
Thursday, May 9
College of Pharmacy
10 a.m. Hancher Auditorium
Max Ray, dean emeritus of the College of Pharmacy at Western University of Health Sciences and an independent consultant in pharmacy education, will provide the commencement address. Graduate and class president Joshua McDonald will be the student speaker. President Bruce Harreld will confer degrees. Graduates should arrive no later than 9:15 a.m.
College of Education
Undergraduate Commencement & Recognition of Teacher Education Program Completion
4 p.m. Hancher Auditorium
Elementary Education students receiving their Bachelor of Arts degrees from the UI College of Education will be recognized. Secondary education students will be recognized by their program faculty for completing the Teacher Education Program and being recommended to the state for licensure. Renita Schmidt, associate professor in language, literacy, and culture, will be the faculty speaker. Kedibona Ochs will be the student speaker. Ochs, who is originally from Walvis Bay, Namibia, has considered Dubuque, Iowa, his home away from home for the past 13 years. Ochs is receiving an Bachelor of Arts in English and is completing the English Education Teacher Education Program. Michael Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital, will give the keynote address. Doors will open at 3 p.m. for general admission seating.
Friday, May 10
Graduate College
Doctoral Degree Candidates
9 a.m. Hancher Auditorium
(Tickets required)
Participating university officials include UI President Bruce Harreld and John C. Keller, interim vice president for research, associate provost for graduate and professional education, and dean of the Graduate College.
College of Law
2 p.m. Hancher Auditorium
Participating university officials include President Bruce Harreld and Kevin Washburn, dean of the College of Law. Chief Justice Joel H. Bolger of the Supreme Court, State of Alaska, will be the guest speaker. Graduates dressed in their caps and gowns should arrive no later than 12:50 p.m. for a class photo.
Graduate College
Master’s Degree Candidates
7 p.m. Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Participating university officials include Sue Curry, interim executive vice president and provost, and John C. Keller, interim vice president for research, associate provost for graduate and professional education, and dean of the Graduate College.
Saturday, May 11
College of Nursing
9 a.m. Hancher Auditorium
Dean Julie Zerwic will confer degrees. Guest speaker will be Ann E. Rogers, Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Graduate Halle Stutting will be the pre-licensure BSN class speaker and Natalie Lionberger will be the RN-BSN class speaker. Graduates should arrive no later than 8:15 a.m.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
9 a.m. Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Ceremony for graduates majoring in African American studies; American studies; ancient civilization; anthropology; art; art history; athletic training; biochemistry; biology; biomedical sciences; chemistry; cinema; classical languages; computer science; economics; English; English and creative writing; environmental policy and planning; environmental sciences; gender, women’s, and sexuality studies; geography; geoscience; health and human physiology; informatics; science education; social justice; speech and hearing science; sport and recreation management; sport studies; therapeutic recreation
Participating university officials include CLAS Interim Dean Joseph Kearney and UI President Bruce Harreld, who will confer degrees. Former UI president Mary Sue Coleman, who will receive an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, will be the guest speaker. Graduate Jason Fulmer will be the student speaker. Graduate Noah Andrys will sing the National Anthem. Doors open at 8 a.m., and graduates should arrive no later than 8:15 a.m.
Tippie MBA Programs
10 a.m. Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center
Guest speaker will be Chris DeWolf, BBA 1994, president and CEO of Cedar Rapids-based Li’l Drug Store, a supplier of health and beauty products to convenience stores nationwide. Graduates should arrive no later than 9:15 a.m.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University College
1 p.m., Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Ceremony for graduates majoring in actuarial science; applied physics; astronomy; Bachelor of Applied Studies; Bachelor of Liberal Studies; criminology, law, and justice; communication studies; dance; enterprise leadership; ethics and public policy; global health studies; history; interdepartmental studies; international relations; international studies; journalism and mass communication; linguistics; mathematics; microbiology; music; neuroscience; philosophy; physics; political science; psychology; religious studies; social work; sociology; statistics; theater arts; world languages (Asian languages and literature, comparative literature, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish). Graduates from the University College also will join this ceremony.
Participating university officials include CLAS Interim Dean Joseph Kearney and Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Sue Curry, who will be conferring degrees. Guest speaker will be Alan MacVey, professor and chair of the Department of Theatre Arts. Graduate Hira Mustafa, outgoing president of UI Student Government, will be the student speaker. Graduate Jeffrey Rickerl will sing the National Anthem. Doors open at noon, and graduates should arrive no later than 12:15 p.m.
Carver College of Medicine
Bachelor of Science Degree Candidates
2 p.m. Hancher Auditorium
Graduates in nuclear medicine technology, radiation sciences, and medical laboratory sciences will be recognized. President Bruce Harreld will confer degrees. David Asprey, associate dean for medical education and professional programs in the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine and chair and DEO of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and Services, will preside over the ceremony. Keynote speakers will be Dr. Colin Derdeyn, professor, chair, and DEO of the Department of Radiology, and Dr. Matthew Krasowski, professor and vice chair for clinical pathology and laboratory services. Senior radiation therapy student Sydne Thomas will deliver the graduate address. Dr. Anthony Knight, administrative director of radiation sciences education and director of the nuclear medicine technology program, will provide the Charge to the Graduates and will present the graduates. Graduates should arrive no later than 1:20 p.m.
A reception will take place in the Hancher Stanley Café immediately after the ceremony.
Tippie College of Business Undergraduate
5 p.m. Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Guest speaker will be Mike Mahoney (BBA ’87), CEO of Boston Scientific, a medical device manufacturing company based in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Student speaker will Xin Yie Ng, a double major in finance and business analytics from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Graduates should arrive no later than 4:15 p.m.
Sunday, May 12
College of Engineering
Noon, Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Student speaker will be Antonio Washington. Commencement speaker will be Eric Keen (BS, civil engineering, 1979), chairman and CEO of HDR, an engineering, architecture, environmental, and construction services firm based in Omaha, Nebraska. Degrees will be conferred by Vice President for Student Life Melissa Shivers. Graduates should arrive no later than 11 a.m.
Friday, May 17
Carver College of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine and Master’s in Medical Education degrees
6:30 p.m. Hancher Auditorium
Presiding university official will be J. Brooks Jackson, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. Guest speaker will be Daniel Runde. Graduate Hannah McAtee will lead the class in reciting the Oath of Hippocrates. Graduates should arrive no later than 6 p.m.
Friday, June 7
College of Dentistry
3 p.m. Hancher Auditorium
Dean David Johnsen will give the welcome address. Vice President for Student Life Melissa Shivers will confer degrees. Graduate Grace Moore will be the student speaker. Graduates should arrive no later than 1:30 p.m.
Students with disabilities
Degree candidates with physical disabilities who plan to participate in their ceremony should contact their collegiate commencement coordinator to make necessary arrangements. A list of collegiate contacts can be found on the commencement website.
Streaming and broadcast
See ceremony details above for live video stream links. Streaming pages will go live before the ceremonies, and archival videos will replace live streams on these pages shortly after the ceremonies conclude.
Graduate College, College of Law, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Tippie College of Business ceremonies also will be broadcast live on UITV, Mediacom cable channel 17 (118.5) in the Iowa City area. Please check your TV guide to confirm.
Social Media
Social media users can join the celebration online by using the hashtag #UIGrad19 with UI graduation-related posts on your favorite platforms. Best posts will be shared via UI social media channels.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena: Entering the Arena
Graduates can enter the arena at the east entrance, which will be for graduates only. Graduates also can enter through the south and west entrances, along with guests.
Guests should plan to use the south and west entrances. Doors to the arena will open one hour before the start of the ceremony, with the exception of the College of Engineering ceremony, when doors will open 90 minutes before the start of the ceremony.
Public safety officials will search any purses or bags brought into the building. Everyone will be asked to open their coats or graduation gown for visual inspection. No backpacks, large bags (limited to 8.5-by-11 inches or smaller), packages, wrapped gifts, balloons, or outside food and beverage are allowed at Carver-Hawkeye Arena during this event. No air horns or alcohol are permitted.
Additional information about seating and evacuation procedures at Carver-Hawkeye Arena can be found here:
https://registrar.uiowa.edu/seating-and-evacuation-carver-hawkeye-arena-ui-commencement-ceremonies
https://registrar.uiowa.edu/statement-policy-seating-and-evacuation-carver-hawkeye-arena-renting-organization-events
Information for Guests with Disabilities or Limited Mobility
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Guests with physical disabilities who have a Disabilities Parking Permit (plate, placard, or sticker) will be permitted to park in Lot 46 adjacent to Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Public Safety officers will be restricting entrance to this lot to only those guests with the above-mentioned state-issued permits. From Lot 46, guests should enter the arena via the west doors.
Seating for guests is accessible from the upper concourse, which is the same level where you will enter. Guests with disabilities or limited mobility can find seating in the Feller Club Room. This room is equipped with large TV screens and commencement ceremonies can be watched live from here. No food or beverage will be permitted in this room.
Guests with disabilities also are welcome to view the ceremony from the upper concourse level. Wheelchair and scooter spaces can be found in sections K–N on this level. Space is limited and guests are asked to seat themselves and no more than two companions in this area. Guests should provide their own wheelchair if needed.
A sign-language interpreter will be on stage to interpret the ceremony.
Hancher Auditorium
Doors at Hancher Auditorium open an hour before the designated ceremony’s start time.
Hancher Auditorium guests with disabilities or limited mobility who possess a state-issued disabled parking permit can park in the lot adjacent to the auditorium on the west side, with overflow lots southwest of the auditorium in Lot 55. Visit https://hancher.uiowa.edu/road-construction to view the location of these lots.
Guests with limited mobility can enter Hancher through either of the two west entrances. Guests needing seating accommodations should contact Hancher directly at 319-335-1158.
A sign-language interpreter will be on stage to interpret the ceremony.
For the media
All media should have their credentials visible at all times.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena commencements: Doors open one hour before each ceremony. Photographers and news media are permitted on the arena floor until 15 minutes before ceremonies begin. Media and visitors on the arena concourse are asked to keep noise to a minimum while the ceremony is in progress. Interviews should be conducted outside the arena. Clean audio is available through the arena system.
Hancher Auditorium commencements: Doors open one hour before each ceremony. Media and visitors are asked to keep noise to a minimum while the ceremony is in progress. Interviews should be conducted outside the performance hall area.