Commencement Day Details

  • Saturday, May 9, 2026

    Start Time: 10:00 a.m.
    Ceremony lasts approximately 2.5 hours

    Location: HGA – Dr. Henry Givens Jr. (DJW) Auditorium

    Graduate Arrival:
    All graduates must arrive on campus no later than 8:30 a.m. and report directly to HGA 311 for robing and lineup.

    Regalia Requirement:
    Full academic regalia is required to participate in the Commencement ceremony.

  • Regalia: Caps & Gowns

    Academic honor stoles will be handed out during graduation rehearsal.

    Regalia Pickup: Office of Career Engagement (HGA 119).

    All balances must be paid in full prior to retrieving your cap and gown, transcript, diploma.

  • Ceremony Guidelines

    Silence all cell phones and electronic devices during the ceremony.

    Balloons, large signs, noisemakers, and air horns are not permitted.

    Large purses, bags, and personal items are not allowed during the processional or on stage during degree presentation.

    Students must wear appropriate clothing under their academic regalia.

    After the ceremony, graduates should meet their guests outside the auditorium/gymnasium.

Commencement Speaker

Dr. Kendra Holmes, PharmD
President & Chief Executive Officer, Affinia Healthcare

Dr. Kendra Holmes is President and CEO of Affinia Healthcare, where she became the first woman and first Black leader in the organization’s 117-year history in 2023. A pharmacist by training, she has served Affinia since 2003 in multiple executive leadership roles overseeing clinical operations, behavioral health, maternal-child health, and community services.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Holmes led Affinia’s response efforts by expanding testing, vaccine access, telehealth, and outreach to underserved communities across the St. Louis region. Under her leadership, Affinia also launched a new state-of-the-art Ferguson Health Center to expand access to primary, behavioral, and dental care.

She earned her BS and PharmD from University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis and completed the Community Health Centers Executive Management Fellowship at University of Kansas Medical Center.

Dr. Holmes has received numerous honors for her leadership and advocacy, including the National Association of Community Health Centers’ Elizabeth K. Cooke Advocacy MVP Award, the St. Louis Business Journal Most Influential Business Women recognition, and the YWCA Leader of Distinction in Health award. She continues to champion health equity, compassionate care, and community-centered healthcare innovation throughout the region.