Class of 2026: Nearly 5,000 graduates earn degrees at Binghamton University Commencement

Thousands of graduates celebrated their achievements during a series of nine Commencement ceremonies held May 14-16 on the Binghamton University campus.

Each of the University’s six schools and colleges held its own ceremony, during which it conferred baccalaureate and master’s degrees; Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest school, held three.

Doctoral candidates from programs throughout the University were honored during the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on Thursday, May 14, at the Anderson Center’s Osterhout Concert Theater. The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences conferred PharmD and MS degrees on its graduates earlier that morning at the Osterhout Theater.

All told, the University bestowed more than 3,500 bachelor’s degrees, more than 1,000 master’s degrees, and 238 doctorates in spring 2026.

Doctoral hooding ceremony

Commencement ceremonies are woven from vibrant threads of tradition. During the doctoral ceremony, the pivotal moment comes when the candidate receives a hood from their advisor announcing their accomplishment; the colors on the hood represent their discipline.

In his opening remarks, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School Terrence Deak addressed anxieties about the future as artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in our everyday lives. He told the graduates to focus on the skills that algorithms will never master.

“I urge you to trust that the critical thinking and knowledge you have gained will serve as transferrable skills to diverse career pathways,” he said. “I urge you to explore your curiosities with the hunger of a child, so that learning remains a part of your daily subsistence. I urge you to challenge the inadequacies that you see in the world with a clear moral compass and a purposeful approach to betterment of self and society. 

“And I urge you to remember that sometimes your best asset is the humanity and respect you bring to people, places, relationships, and ideas. These are the characteristics that can never be replaced by automation or artificial intelligence.”

At her first Binghamton University Commencement, President Anne D’Alleva reminded graduates about the support that families and faculty mentors gave to them along the journey to their doctorates. She also highlighted the experiences beyond the academic knowledge that they have learned.

“Your education has prepared you for what’s next,” she said. “You’ve met new people, you’ve tried new things, and you’ve learned how to manage the ups and downs of living, working, and studying on your own. In other words, you have a new, broad understanding of our world and your role in it. You’re more confident. You’re more capable. You are going to do great things.”

Provost Donald E. Hall hailed the Class of 2026 for displaying their intellectual curiosity, work ethic, and sense of humor during their time at Binghamton.

“As you make your way forward, remember to define your value to prospective employers," he said. "Show them that you know how to solve problems, that you know how to ‘play well with others’ on teams, that you learned to be a leader at Binghamton, and that you are a good communicator. These skills will serve you well in whatever endeavors you undertake.”

Chevelle Newsome, the president of the Council of Graduate Schools, served as the doctoral ceremony’s keynote speaker. Over the last 65 years, CGS has grown to include nearly 500 colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, and around the world.

Newsome told graduates that their new credentials are a pride-worthy achievement, but they need to explore beyond their disciplines and engage in the wider world to be truly effective. 

“A doctoral education gives you uncommon abilities: to ask rigorous questions, to tolerate ambiguity, to pursue evidence even when it unsettles comfortable narratives,” she said. “Those skills are not abstract. They are urgently needed. But credentials alone do not create change. Change happens because you choose to participate again and again.”

Staying engaged as alumni

At each of the Commencement ceremonies (except for the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science), Alumni Association President Felicia Moreira '01, MA '02, welcomed the graduates as new alumni while celebrating a University-wide milestone of eight decades providing affordable, quality education. 

Moreira looked back at her time as a student-athlete in softball at Binghamton and the memories she made on the field and in the classroom, as well as working in Residential Life, Athletics, the alumni office, and the Fleishman Career Center.

She noted that the Binghamton University network now includes more than 160,000 alumni in over 100 countries, and she urged the graduates to stay connected.

“Your Alumni Association has played a role in your graduate journey in ways you may not even realize,” Moreira said. “We’ve helped support scholarships, fellowships, research projects, symposiums, and workshops. We’ve mobilized alumni to offer expertise and mentorship to you, sometimes connecting you directly with another Bearcat in your field. Some of you will leave here to work with or for a Binghamton graduate. That network — your Alumni Association — is here to continue that support for life.”