More than 170 graduates crossed the stage at Hill Auditorium on May 3, marking a milestone moment for the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy Classes of 2026. New graduates include four PhDs, 82 Master of Public Policy and Master of Public Affairs degrees, and 87 Bachelor of Arts in public policy degrees.
Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes reflected on the legacy of President Gerald R. Ford and encouraged graduates to lead with steadiness and purpose as they move forward. "When the landscape shifts and courage is tested, let your mission be the constant. Be courageous when the right choice is not the easy choice; when the most responsible answer is not the most popular one; when the work requires patience, persistence, and resolve."
Keynote speaker U.S. Senator Gary Peters echoed that sentiment, highlighting the responsibilities and opportunities facing graduates at this moment. "I hope that you will take the truly one-of-a-kind education you received here and use it to better the lives of the people in your community, your state, and your country in these extraordinary times."
Each year, graduating students elect a faculty speaker and student class speakers to offer reflections and parting words.
Elected faculty speaker Jonathan Hanson drew on his own experience to encourage students to remain open to unexpected paths. "Most of you know me as a statistics teacher, but if you told me that when I graduated from college, I would have laughed at you. I didn't even take my first statistics class until I was 28. So, I ask for you to hold open the possibility, the likelihood, that what you do over the next several years is just one more step in a journey, and it's a journey that has no map.
Elected undergraduate speaker Breah Marie Flores Willy (BA ‘26) challenged her peers to lead from a place of curiosity and a willingness to connect, even with those they may disagree with. "The opportunity to serve in the inaugural cohort of the Bridge Builders has been a defining experience of my time at the Ford School, and has left me with lessons I will always try to honor. Those lessons are: Let go of winning, ask questions, share stories, respond rather than react, and find what's shared."
Elected graduate speaker Elizabeth Mugo (MPP ‘26) celebrated the sense of community that defined her Ford School experience. "It's the laughs we've shared, the support we've shown for each other, and the celebrations we've had that are the reason why I always tell people that my favorite thing about the Ford School is the community."
Congratulations, graduates! Go Blue!
Watch the 2026 spring commencement ceremony
