On Friday, May 1, the School of Public and International Affairs community gathered at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall to celebrate the Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony, bringing together students, alumni, faculty, staff, families, and friends.
The auditorium echoed with cheers as graduates processed in, many turning to wave to those who helped make the moment possible.
Dean Carissa Slotterback welcomed those in attendance, both in person and via livestream, before turning her attention to the graduates.
“As students, I know you came here because you want to have not only careers, but also lives that are about impact and service,” she said. “While each of you will certainly leave here today with a degree and with new knowledge and valuable skills, I hope that you are also leaving with an even deeper motivation for service and commitment to changing the world. Wherever you land next, it has been our true privilege to play a part in your journey, and we will be watching closely… ready to celebrate your successes and the positive impact that you create.”
Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM) graduate Jill Stemple addressed her classmates as the student commencement speaker, urging them to enter the next chapter of their lives with a commitment to improving the systems they will soon join.
“Despite all of the challenges facing public administration today, I am hopeful,” she said. “Not because the problems are small. They are not. But neither is our collective potential. And if every person graduating today commits to leaving their corner of the system just a little bit better than they found it—a little bit more efficient, more equitable, more evidence based, more humane—that impact will be exponential.”
Award-winning students, honored for outstanding achievements in their programs and commitment to the School, were recognized during the ceremony. A full list is below.
Matt Murray (MPIA ’97), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, gave this year’s commencement address, drawing upon his experience and inspiring this year’s graduates to step into the next phase of their lives with confidence and conviction..
Murray’s remarks highlighted three distinct lessons: "a life in public service is about working together to solve complex problems’, "a life in public service is a journey, not a destination," and "a life in public service is about contributing to something bigger than yourself."
“You're wired differently. You’re committed to something bigger. And our world needs you now more than ever before,” he said. “You’re ready now to go out to feed the poor, empower the underserved, rebuild and repair our cities, deter threats to global security, and protect our environment, as well as so many other worthwhile pursuits. Your lives in public service will make our world a more secure and more prosperous place.”
Following the ceremony, graduates and their loved ones gathered to enjoy refreshments and take photos with classmates, professors, and friends.
The full ceremony was live streamed for those unable to attend in person, and a recording is available on the School’s YouTube Channel. Congratulations to all the graduates!
Graduation Awards
International Development Program Award: Paola Ortiz Vargas
Public and International Affairs Program Award: Benjamin Gunter
Public Administration Program Award: David Bilger
Public Policy and Management Program Award: Jill Stemple
Endowed Awards with Special Focus
Taraknath Das Foundation Prize: Zeng Pan and Zhuyijia Yuan
Gloria Fitzgibbons Memorial Award: Rachel LeeAnna Means
Kevin Morrison Memorial Award: Morgan Bryson
David E. Oeler Award: Grace O’Malley
Simon Reich Human Security Writing Award: Paola Ortiz Vargas