East Tennessee State University will celebrate 2,061 members of the Class of 2026 at its Commencement exercises May 8-9.
“Commencement is one of the most meaningful moments of the academic year, celebrating both what our students have accomplished and the promise they carry forward,” said ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland. “Our graduates leave ETSU prepared to lead, serve and innovate, advancing our mission to improve the lives of people in this region and beyond.”
On Friday, May 8, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy (10 a.m.) and Quillen College of Medicine (2 p.m.) will hold their hooding and commencement ceremonies for the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and Medical Doctor (M.D.) graduates at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts.
Graduates from the remaining colleges will celebrate on Saturday, May 9, in ETSU’s Ballad Health Athletic Center.
“As we approach commencement, we are excited to celebrate our students and proud to welcome speakers whose careers reflect the very best of ETSU’s mission,” said Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “Their dedication to teaching, leadership and service has made a meaningful impact on our region and beyond, and their experiences will resonate with our graduates as they prepare for what comes next.”
On Saturday, May 9, the 10 a.m. ceremony will honor graduates of the colleges of Health Sciences and Arts and Sciences, as well as graduates receiving a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy studies or a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences. Dr. Mike Stoots, the 2025 recipient of ETSU’s Distinguished Faculty in Teaching award, will speak at the morning ceremony.
Stoots, a professor in ETSU’s College of Public Health, is a nationally recognized educator and director of Project EARTH. He has built a distinguished career advancing public health education and innovation, earning multiple honors, including the 2025 Teaching Excellence Award from the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health.
The 2:30 p.m. ceremony will honor graduates from Clemmer College of Education and Human Development and the colleges of Public Health, Nursing and Business and Technology. Dr. Randy Wykoff, the founding dean of the ETSU College of Public Health, will speak at this ceremony.
A nationally distinguished public health leader, Wykoff has guided the college’s rise to national prominence through decades of innovation, securing major research funding, earning top honors and advancing initiatives that have improved health across the Appalachian region and beyond. Wykoff will retire as the longest-serving dean of public health in the country at the close of the academic year.
Know Before You Go
As guests and graduates prepare to enjoy these special celebrations, please take note of the following event details:
• Doors open to both guests and graduates 60 minutes before each ceremony.
• Plan to come early to allow enough time to park and go through security.
• A clear bag policy is in place, similar to football games, so plan ahead and do not bring gift-wrapped packages.
• Ceremonies will be streamed live. Both ceremonies can be viewed on ETSU’s commencement website.
