Commencement Stories

The Class of 2018 was treated to life lessons from a number of speakers, headlined by Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen, PhD, MSW.

Courtney Miyamoto, DDS ’18, a third-generation School of Dentistry graduate, produced the video shown at the Universitywide ceremony at Royal Farms Arena.

Rain forced the annual Party in the Park to the SMC Campus Center, where graduates and their families enjoyed food, dancing, and more.

Family, friends, and faculty cheer on 146 graduates as they transition from students to doctors.

U.S. Court of Appeals Chief Judge Roger L. Gregory encourages graduates to "be the light of justice."

Honorees are revealed and 132 DDS graduates are hooded during the school’s convocation ceremony.

More than 200 PharmD and graduate students receive degrees and embark on the next phase of their lives.

Keynote speaker Katie Boston-Leary urges nursing graduates to redefine their profession.

Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen, PhD, MSW, a former UMB faculty member, gave the University’s keynote speech.

The commencement speaker, honorary degree recipients, honorary marshals, and student remarker offer advice to UMB’s Class of 2018.

This year’s honorary degree recipients are Fred Smith and Venice Paterakis, Mary Catherine Bunting, and Carolyn Frenkil. Each will receive an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree.

Aarti Sidhu of the Francis King Carey School of Law brought a unique perspective to the student remarker role at UMB’s commencement on May 18.

This year’s honorary marshals at UMB’s commencement are Mary M. Rodgers, PT, PhD, FAPTA, FASB, FISB; Karen Kauffman, PhD, CRNP, FN, FAAN; and Jill Whitall, PhD.