Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer’s 2026 Graduate Commencement Address

May 12, 2026

Good afternoon, everyone. Please remain standing as you are able. We will open the 2026 Graduate Commencement Ceremony of Purdue University Fort Wayne with the National Anthem performed by Alina Sofia Brinker, who is an undergraduate senior majoring in music performance. Alina is accompanied by the Purdue Fort Wayne Symphonic Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Daniel Tembras, professor of music and director of instrumental studies.

Distinguished guests, families and friends, members of the faculty, and especially our graduating students, welcome to the inaugural Graduate Commencement Ceremony of Purdue University Fort Wayne. This ceremony marks an important milestone in the life of our university. For the first time, we gather to celebrate our graduate students in a ceremony dedicated entirely to their achievements. This moment reflects the remarkable growth of our graduate programs and the increasing number of students choosing Purdue University Fort Wayne to advance their education.

Your presence here today is a testament to that momentum—and to the strength, relevance, and impact of graduate education at our institution.

And now it is my pleasure to introduce the members of our platform party who are joining us today.

I ask them to stand and remain standing as they are able as I call their names. Would you please hold your applause until all have been introduced.

Dr. Carl Drummond, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. 
Dr. Krissy Surface, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and the Student Experience. 
Allyson Mills, Vice Chancellor for Financial and Administrative Affairs. 
Dr. Nodir Adilov, Dean of the Richard T. Doermer School of Business.
Dr. Isabel Nunez, Dean of the School of Education.
Dr. Sherif Elfayoumy, Steel Dynamics Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science. 
Dr. Janet Badia, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
Dr. Ronald Friedman, Dean of the College of Science.
John O’Connell, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. We congratulate Dean O’Connell, who is retiring at the end of June. 
Dr. Abe Schwab, Professor of Philosophy and our director of graduate studies.
Tara Lewis, Associate Vice Chancellor and Registrar. 

Colleagues and friends, we appreciate your participation in our ceremonies this afternoon.

Graduates, this is your moment.

It is my honor and privilege to stand before you and present you as the Class of 2026.

The road to this day has demanded more than hard work—it has demanded perseverance, grit, and belief in yourself, even when the path was not easy.

And yet you stayed the course. You pushed forward. You rose to the challenge.

Today, we celebrate you alongside the families, friends, and mentors who stood beside you every step of the way.
You’ve earned this. You’ve achieved this. And today, you leave here as graduates of Purdue University Fort Wayne—ready to make your mark.

We are truly honored to celebrate this remarkable moment with you.

To the family members, friends, mentors, and supporters gathered here today—and to those joining us from around the world via livestream—welcome! Your encouragement, belief, and support have played an essential role in bringing our graduates to this day.

Graduates, take a moment, turn, wave, and share your gratitude with those who could not be here in person but are celebrating with you from afar.

As I look out across this room, I see more than a graduating class; I see determination, resilience, and limitless potential. I feel an overwhelming sense of pride—and an even greater sense of hope. Hope for your success, your future, your well-being, and, most importantly, your happiness.

This moment represents a turning point in your lives. You leave here not only with a degree, but with the knowledge, skills, and experiences that will allow you to make an immediate impact—in your careers, your communities, and beyond. Your time at Purdue University Fort Wayne has prepared you for what comes next, and what comes next is full of opportunity.

To the families and friends of our graduates: today is your moment as well. The pride you feel is well-earned. And, as a father myself, I imagine there may be just a little relief mixed in, too.

Graduates, none of this happens alone. Let’s take a moment to recognize those who stood beside you every step of the way. Please rise, as you are able, and join me in showing your appreciation with a well-deserved round of applause for your families and supporters—both here and watching from around the world.

To our faculty, staff, and administration—thank you!

Your dedication to our students goes far beyond the classroom. You mentor, you guide, you challenge, and you support—often in ways that are unseen, but never unfelt. Because of you, our students are not only educated, but empowered.

You are the foundation of this university and the driving force behind the success we celebrate today.

At this time, I invite all faculty, staff, and administrators to please rise, as you are able, so that we may recognize and thank you for your extraordinary commitment to our students and to Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Thank you. Please join me in giving them a well-deserved round of applause.

Graduates, we hope your time at Purdue University Fort Wayne has been meaningful, and that you leave here today confident in the education you have earned.

The degree you receive today carries the strength and prestige of Purdue, and its value will only continue to grow. Our university—your university—is gaining momentum, strengthening its reputation, expanding opportunities, and driving innovation and talent across northeast Indiana and beyond.

No matter your field of study, you are entering the workforce exceptionally well prepared and equipped with the knowledge, skills, and real-world experience to make an immediate and meaningful impact.

As our alumni, partners, and supporters continue to invest in the future of this institution, we remain focused on building something even greater; expanding our reach, and creating more opportunities for those who follow in your footsteps.

Because of that commitment, Purdue Fort Wayne will continue to graduate talented, driven individuals —graduates like you—who will shape industries, strengthen communities, and lead with purpose.

And one thing is certain: this degree is yours forever, and you will always be a proud Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodon.

And now it’s time for the moment you’ve all been waiting for. At this time, we will confer degrees. Will the candidates please rise and remain standing as you are able.

Exercising the authority of the Trustees of Purdue University, legally vested by the people of the State of Indiana, and upon the recommendation of the faculty, I now confer upon each of you who have fulfilled the stated requirements, the indicated degree with all the rights, privileges, duties, and responsibilities of that degree. 

As evidence of this achievement, you will receive an appropriately inscribed diploma.

Congratulations to each of you!

Graduates of Purdue University Fort Wayne, we send you forward with our best wishes and great confidence in what you will accomplish.

We will now move to the individual presentation of diplomas and the hooding of our graduates.

Today, each of you will take part in the tradition of hooding—a meaningful and symbolic moment that represents the completion of your graduate degree and your mastery of your field of study.

As you cross the stage, take your time. Walk with pride, take in the moment, and celebrate all that you have accomplished.

We are proud of you. Your families are proud of you. This is your moment.

Let us begin. Graduates, as your name is called, please come forward to the stage.

Graduates, welcome to the Mastodon Alumni Community!

As a member of the Class of 2026, you’ll soon find how powerful it is for you to be an alumnus or alumna of Purdue University Fort Wayne. There are tens of thousands of Mastodon alumni in Indiana, across the nation, and around the world.

The connections you’ve built here—through your classmates, your faculty, and this university—will stay with you and support you long after today.

Purdue Fort Wayne will always be your home. Stay connected, stay engaged, and come back often.

Congratulations again, graduates! We’re all so proud of you!

Before we begin the recessional, I want to once again extend our sincere thanks to the family members and friends who are here with us—and to those joining from around the world. Your support has made this moment possible.

Thank you for being such an important part of the Purdue Fort Wayne family.

At this time, we ask that family members and guests please remain seated while our graduates recess from the theatre. Once the final graduate has exited, you are welcome to make your way out and reconnect with your graduate in the lobby or outside the theater.

Congratulations once again to the Class of 2026. And, as always, let’s GO DONS!