Undergraduate Celebration

Columbian College graduates are invited to attend the in-person Undergraduate Celebration ceremonies on May 16 at the Charles E. Smith Center. The celebration is open to graduates receiving their bachelor's and associate's degrees, along with family and friends. Not sure which ceremony to attend? See the list of participating majors. Graduates will need to register themselves and their guests in order to obtain tickets.

All graduates are also invited to attend the May 17 University-wide Commencement on the National Mall.

We look forward to celebrating the class of 2026! Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #CCASOnward.

Which Ceremony Should I Attend?

Our Speakers

Keynote Speaker: Reena Ninan

BA '01, Political Communication
Noon and 3:30 p.m. Ceremonies

Reena Ninan, BA '01, is an entrepreneur and former television journalist, and the founder of Good Trouble Productions, a media and strategy company that helps leaders shape narrative and drive impact. She is the creator and host of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting and HERO: The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women. Reena has reported from the Middle East as a foreign correspondent before serving as a White House correspondent for ABC News and anchor of the CBS Weekend News. She frequently appears on CNN, where she provides analysis on global affairs and politics. 
 

Faculty Speaker: Professor Danny Hayes

Professor of Political Science
Noon Ceremony

Danny Hayes is a GW professor of political science whose research and teaching focus on the media, public opinion and elections. He is the author of three books and a winner of the Goldsmith Book Prize from Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center. His work, which has appeared in numerous academic journals, has been supported by the National Science Foundation. He is the recipient of the Kenny Prize for Innovation in Teaching of Introductory Courses and has been named “best professor” three times by the GW Hatchet student newspaper.
 

Faculty Speaker: Associate Professor Robert Baker

Associate Professor of Music
3:30 p.m. Ceremony

Robert Baker has been a member of the GW music faculty since 1992. In addition to his academic work, he has also been a pillar of the Washington music scene. He has performed in over 55 productions with the Washington National Opera and worked with all the major Washington DC Choruses. Career highlights include his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2002 and a Grammy-winning recording with the National Symphony Orchestra. As an interpreter of new music, he has collaborated on over 20 premieres of new works, including Peter Westergaarde’s “Moby Dick” and “A Book of Songs” by Douglas Boyce.

Student Speaker: John G. Parel 

BS in Psychological & Brain Sciences
Noon Ceremony

John G. Parel majored in psychological and brain sciences and will matriculate into the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences this fall.  As an undergraduate student, he authored and co-authored seven research publications spanning oncology and orthopedic surgery in prestigious medical journals, including JAMA, and presented his research at national medical conferences. John served as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for Organic Chemistry and as an ELSI leader for General Chemistry II. 

Student Speaker: Olivia Nippe-Jeakins

BS in Astronomy and Astrophysics
3:30 p.m. Ceremony

Olivia Nippe-Jeakins is an astronomy and astrophysics major, studying some of the universe’s largest, most energetic events and the fundamental forces that govern the atomic nucleus. Her work resulted in several academic honors, including one of seven nationally awarded USRA Distinguished Undergraduate Scholarships, and she was actively involved in the GW Department of Physics and the broader physics community. In the fall, Olivia will pursue a PhD in experimental nuclear physics with applications to astrophysics.