Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion, and John Kerry, former secretary of state, are among the 13 speakers who will address the Class of 2026 at Georgetown’s commencement this year. Brady will speak to undergraduates in the School of Business on May 16. The former football player won the most Super Bowl titles of any quarterback in NFL history: six with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is now the lead analyst for Fox Sports’ NFL coverage. Brady also co-owns the Las Vegas Raiders and Birmingham City Football Club and has founded several wellness, athletic clothing, and media companies.
Later that day, John Kerry will speak to undergraduates at the School of Foreign Service’s ceremony. Kerry served as a U.S. senator for 28 years and the 68th secretary of state under the Obama Administration. In 2021, he was nominated as the first special presidential envoy for climate in the Biden Administration.
Georgetown holds individual graduation ceremonies for each of the undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. The events begin with Georgetown University in Qatar’s commencement on May 7, followed by senior convocation on May 14. Celebrations conclude with the Baccalaureate Mass and Law Center’s commencement ceremony on May 17.
Other commencement speakers include Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Programme, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture and wife of the late Senator John McCain, who will address graduate students at the McCourt School of Public Policy’s ceremony.
Three alumni will also address Hoyas, including James Farley Jr. (C’85), president and CEO of Ford; Essya Hanachi (B’91), a senior finance executive and former CFO of U.S. Personal Banking at Citigroup; and Emma Hinchliffe (C’15), a journalist and editor of Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Women section, who will speak at senior convocation.
“We are honored to welcome this year’s accomplished group of speakers and alumni to the Class of 2026’s commencement ceremonies,” said Georgetown Interim President Robert M. Groves. “They are each leaders in their fields, and we are grateful for their words of wisdom as we send our Hoyas out into the world.”
Students, family, faculty, alumni, and friends can follow commencement activities online, including live webcasts. Visit the 2026 commencement website for information about how to view the ceremonies and celebrate these graduating seniors.
Commencement Speakers
(In order of their appearance)
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulla Al Thani
Chairman, Musafir.com and High Camp Holding Company
Georgetown University in Qatar
Thursday, May 7, Rosewood Hotel, Doha, 9 a.m. EDT, 4 p.m. AST
Watch the Qatar Campus livestream -
Merve Cinarli Hickok
President at Center for AI and Digital Policy
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
School of Continuing Studies (SCS)
Thursday, May 14, Healy Lawn, 3 p.m.
Watch the SCS livestream -
Cindy McCain
Executive Director of the World Food Programme
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
McCourt School of Public Policy
Thursday, May 14, Healy Lawn, 6 p.m.
Watch the McCourt livestream -
Mary Beard
Professor Emerita of Classics, University of Cambridge
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, including Biomedical Graduate Education
Friday, May 15, Healy Lawn, 9 a.m.
Watch the Graduate School’s livestream -
Mary Wakefield
Former Acting Deputy Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
Berkley School of Nursing
Friday, May 15, Healy Lawn, 12 p.m.
Watch the School of Nursing livestream -
Essya Hanachi (B’91)
Senior Finance Executive and Former CFO, U.S. Personal Banking at Citigroup
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
McDonough School of Business: Graduate Ceremony
Friday, May 15, Healy Lawn, 3 p.m.
Watch the McDonough School of Business Graduate livestream -
James Farley Jr. (C’85)
President & CEO, Ford
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
College of Arts & Sciences
Saturday, May 16, Healy Lawn, 9 a.m.
Watch the College of Arts & Sciences livestream -
Dr. Kedar Mate
Founder & Chief Medical Officer of Qualified Health AI
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
School of Health
Saturday, May 16, Healy Lawn, 12 p.m.
Watch the School of Health livestream -
Tom Brady
7x Super Bowl Champion, Lead NFL Analyst for Fox Sports and Entrepreneur
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
McDonough School of Business: Undergraduate Ceremony
Saturday, May 16, Healy Lawn, 2:30 p.m.
Watch the McDonough School of Business Undergraduate livestream -
John Kerry
68th U.S. Secretary of State and Former Senator
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS): Undergraduate Ceremony
Saturday, May 16, Healy Lawn, 5 p.m.
Watch the SFS livestream -
Comfort Ero
President & CEO, International Crisis Group
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS): Graduate Ceremony
Saturday, May 16, Healy Lawn, 7:30 p.m.
Watch the SFS livestream -
Dr. Carlos Pellegrini
Former Chief Medical Officer, Professor and Chair Emeritus for University of Washington Medicine
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science
School of Medicine
Sunday, May 17, Healy Lawn, 12 p.m.
Watch the School of Medicine livestream -
Morton Schapiro
Professor and President Emeritus, Northwestern University
Honorary Degree: Doctor of Laws
Georgetown Law
Sunday, May 17, Healy Lawn, 3:30 p.m.
Watch the Georgetown Law livestream
(Times are noted in Eastern Daylight Time.)
(Editor’s Note: The top photo is by Elman Studio.)
