Speakers and Honorees Include Actress Jane Fonda, Historian Louise Mirrer, Philanthropic Leader Elizabeth Alexander, Former Ambassador Patrick Gaspard, Lawyer Maya Wiley, Deputy Mayor Helen Arteaga and Astrophysicist David N. Spergel

The City University of New York will honor the Class of 2026 beginning this week with 28 commencement ceremonies held across New York City. Graduates will mark their achievements at iconic venues including Barclays Center, Lincoln Center and the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island.

“One of the most rewarding moments at CUNY is coming together to celebrate our students as they become our newest alumni,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “As they turn their tassels, they begin a new journey — using their skills and insights to uplift our city, state and beyond.”

“As Chair of Higher Education in the State Senate, I have fought to keep tuition affordable and expand access for students across the State,” said State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, chair of the Committee on Higher Education. “As someone who attended the graduate school at Hunter College, I personally understand the value of a CUNY degree. To the Class of 2026, I want to congratulate you all on your outstanding achievement.” 

”As Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, I am immensely proud to celebrate the City University of New York’s Class of 2026,” said State Assemblywoman Alicia L. Hyndman, chair of the Committee on Higher Education. “A CUNY education is far more than a degree; it is a profound catalyst for upward mobility and a cornerstone of our state’s intellectual and economic vitality. These graduates have demonstrated extraordinary resilience, unparalleled grit, and academic excellence. As they step into this next chapter, inspired by a stellar roster of trailblazing honorees, they carry with them the power to innovate, uplift our communities, and shape the future of New York. Congratulations to the Class of 2026 — your achievements are a brilliant testament to the enduring promise of public higher education.”

“As Chair of the Higher Education Committee, I am proud to celebrate the Class of 2026 across CUNY,” said City Council Member Rita Joseph, chair of the Committee on Higher Education. “The Class of 2026 reflects perseverance, hard work, and determination. CUNY has long been a pathway of opportunity for students from every background, and this graduating class represents the promise and brilliance of New York City. To every graduate: your journey, your sacrifices, and your achievements matter. We celebrate you and look forward to the impact you will make in our communities and across the world.”

The value of a CUNY degree is reflected in graduates’ earning power. Compared with New Yorkers holding only a high school diploma, those with a CUNY associate degree earn 67% more on average. The premium rises to 106% for bachelor’s degree holders and nearly 200% for those with master’s degrees.

A Deep Bench of Honorees

CUNY commencement ceremonies will also recognize leaders whose stories of success will serve to inspire the Class of 2026. Below is a selected list of honorees from this year’s ceremonies:

  • Jane Fonda, award-winning actor, activist and founder of the Jane Fonda Gender and Climate Justice Fund, will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Hunter College on June 4.
  • Louise Mirrer, distinguished scholar and president and CEO of the New York Historical will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Baruch College on June 1. Mirrer is also a former CUNY executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.
  • Helen Arteaga, New York City deputy mayor for health and human services, will deliver the commencement address at the CUNY School of Medicine on May 21 and serve as distinguished speaker at Guttman Community College on June 17. Arteaga is a public health champion and a CUNY 50 Under 50 Alumni honoree.
  • David N. Spergel, astrophysicist and president of the Simons Foundation, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the CUNY Graduate Center on June 2. The Simons Foundation and Simons Foundation International’s historic $75 million gift to the University helped establish CUNY as a hub for computational science and supports the University’s participation in the Governor’s Empire AI project.
  • Maya Wiley, Civil Rights attorney and president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the CUNY School of Law on May 21.
  • Patrick H. Gaspard, former U.S. ambassador to South Africa and former president of the Open Society Foundations, will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Brooklyn College on May 28. As Ambassador, Gaspard fostered strong relations with South Africa and later, as Open Society Foundation president, spearheaded major philanthropic initiatives supporting civil rights groups as well as essential workers during COVID19.

In addition to college-level honors, Chancellor Matos Rodríguez will confer University honorary degrees — granted upon his recommendation — to three leaders who embody CUNY’s founding commitment to public service and upward mobility:

  • Elizabeth Alexander, renowned poet, educator and president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, will receive a University honorary degree at The City College of New York’s Commencement on May 29. Under her leadership, the foundation gifted $10 million to help CUNY develop its Black, race and ethnic studies (BRES) programs and expand the CUNY Cultural Corps internship program. Last year, the foundation provided an additional $5 million to establish New York’s first dedicated BRES graduate degree program.
  • Suzanne Shank, co-founder, president and CEO of financial services firm Siebert Williams Shank, will receive a University honorary degree at Baruch College’s Commencement on June 1. Shank, who heads one of the nation’s leading women- and minority-owned investment banking firms, oversaw the launch of an investment vehicle to support diversely owned small- and medium-sized businesses in support of distressed and underserved communities.
  • Mitch Draizin, founder and president of the University’s LGBTQI+ Advisory Council, will receive a University honorary degree at LaGuardia Community College’s Commencementon June 18. An equity advocate and philanthropic leader, Draizin has been a staunch supporter of CUNY’s LGBTQI+ students, overseeing more than 200 volunteer advisers who provide co-curricular support and resources for LGBTQI+ students. He has also worked to implement LGBTQI+ student leadership and support programs, providing pathways to professional success and civic engagement.

Award Winning Students

Among CUNY’s graduates are seven recipients of the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The winners will receive up to $55,000 annually as they work to complete their bachelor’s degrees. The Class of 2026 also includes several recipients of the Jonas E. Salk Scholarship, an annual award granted to those accepted to medical schools or graduate programs in the biomedical sciences. Each awardee will receive $8,000 over four years to defray the tuition costs of their graduate studies or medical training.

CUNY 2026 Commencement Schedule

Below is a list of the University’s main 2026 commencement ceremonies with selected highlights:

Thursday, May 21

  • CUNY School of Law
  • United Palace, Manhattan, 11 a.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient & Speaker: Maya Wiley, lawyer

  • CUNY School of Medicine
  • The City College of New York, Manhattan, 11 a.m.
  • Speaker: Helen Arteaga, New York City deputy mayor for health and human services 

Thursday, May 28

  • Brooklyn College
  • Barclays Center, Brooklyn, 9 a.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Patrick H. Gaspard, former U.S. ambassador to South Africa

  • Queens College
  • Queens College, Queens, 9 a.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Marie Maynard Daly Clark, Queens College ’42, the first African American woman in the U.S. to be awarded a doctorate in chemistry. Her granddaughter, Carly Reid, will accept the degree.

  • College of Staten Island
  • College of Staten Island, Staten Island, 9:30 a.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient & Speaker: Laura Kennedy, Hunter College alumna, advocate for people with disabilities and former president of Arc of the United States

  • Lehman College(first of two dates)
  • Lehman Performing Arts Center, The Bronx, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Michael D. Nieves, president and CEO of the Hispanic Information Telecommunications Network (HITN)

  • CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies
  • The Town Hall, Manhattan, 4 p.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Gwynne Wilcox, former chair, National Labor Relations Board, and the first Black woman to serve on the board

Friday, May 29

  • Bronx Community College
  • Bronx Community College, The Bronx, 9:30 a.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Melissa Murray, professor and faculty director of the Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Center

  • York College
  • St. John’s University, Queens, 10 a.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Adrienne Adams, former New York City Council speaker

  • Queensborough Community College
  • Queensborough Community College, Queens, 10 a.m.
  • Speaker: Christine Mangino, president of Queensborough Community College

  • Medgar Evers College
  • Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island, Brooklyn, 10 a.m.
  • Speaker: Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke

  • The City College of New York
  • The City College of New York, Manhattan 10 a.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient & Speaker: Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré (Ret.), former commander of Joint Task Force Katrina.

Monday, June 1

  • Baruch College
  • Barclays Center, Brooklyn, 9 a.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Steve Ells, founder and former chairman of Chipotle Mexican Gril

  • John Jay College of Criminal Justice
  • Barclays Center, Brooklyn, 3:30 p.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Lonnie Bunch, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Tuesday, June 2

  • Lehman College(second of two dates)
  • Lehman Performing Arts Center, The Bronx, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient: Carl A. Kirton, Lehman College ’86, editor-in-chief, American Journal of Nursing

  • Hostos Community College(first of two ceremonies)
  • Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture, The Bronx, 11 a.m.
  • Speaker: Benny Lorenzo, managing partner, Aspira Capital Management, LP; board member, Hostos Community College Foundation

  • Macaulay Honors College
  • United Palace, Manhattan, 3 p.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient & Speaker: Ethan Frisch, Macaulay at City College ’08, co-founder and CEO of Burlap & Barrel

  • CUNY Graduate Center
  • David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center, Manhattan, 6 p.m.
  • President’s Distinguished Alumni Medal Recipient: Ashleigh Washington, Ph.D. candidate in Social Welfare; senior director of learning, Safe Horizon, the largest victim service organization in the United States

Wednesday, June 3

Thursday, June 4

  • Hunter College
  • Barclays Center, Brooklyn, 3:30 p.m.
  • Honorary Degree Recipient & Speaker: Actress Jane Fonda

Monday, June 8

Wednesday, June 17

  • Guttman Community College
  • Bryant Park, Manhattan, 10 a.m.
  • Speaker: Adaora Udoji, award-winning journalist and emerging technology consultant with expertise in artificial intelligence, user interfaces and virtual and augmented reality

Thursday, June 18

  • LaGuardia Community College
  • Queens College, Queens, 9 a.m.
  • University Honorary Degree Recipient: Mitchell Draizin, founder and president, Concordia Philanthropic Fund

  • Kingsborough Community College
  • Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island, Brooklyn, 11 a.m.
  • Speaker: Gregg Bishop, executive director of the Social Justice Fund

The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY holds its annual commencement ceremony in December at The Times Center in Midtown Manhattan, following the school’s typical academic program length of three semesters.