Commencement Speakers 2026
May 16 at 1 P.M. - School of Law Commencement
Jacob Fate '26 JD
Jacob Fate earned his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. After the bar exam, he will be working as a public defender in Hennepin County. As Jacob reflects on his time at St. Thomas School of Law he says, “In law school there’s always the next thing but never the last thing. Congratulations to my classmates on the last thing!”
May 23 at 9:00 a.m. - Undergraduate Commencement for Opus College of Business
Ilham S. Mohamud '26
Ilham S. Mohamud is majoring in Business Law and Compliance. This summer she will be working at the United States Senate on Capitol Hill, followed by a position at a law firm to gain hands-on legal experience. After that, Ilham plans to attend law school to continue building on that foundation. Reflecting on her experience at St. Thomas, Ilham states, "My time here taught me that growth comes from challenge, and that the most meaningful progress happens when you’re willing to step beyond what’s comfortable.”
May 23 at 12:30 p.m. - Undergraduate Commencement for College of Arts & Sciences
Olivia Ann Keller '26
Olivia Ann Keller is a Neuroscience major with minors in Science, Medicine, and Society; Biology. After graduation she plans to take 1-2 gap years and continue training and competing at the next level in track and field while working in cardiology research at the Minneapolis Heart Institute. Following this time, she intends to matriculate to medical school with the goal of becoming a physician. Olivia is particularly interested in sports medicine, surgery, and metabolic health, while remaining open to where her experiences lead. She is committed to lifelong learning and growth both in and outside of medicine. Reflecting on her time at St. Thomas, Olivia notes, “My time as a Tommie grounded me in faith and showed me that people are everything. It taught me to lean into fear and discomfort with courage, to be both process- and people-oriented, and through people who challenged and invested in me, I learned to take risks, pour into others, embrace lifelong learning, and stay rooted in God. I am eternally grateful for all that St Thomas blessed me with, and I am excited to continue to roll!”
May 23 at 3:30 p.m. - Undergraduate Commencement for Morrison Family College of Health, School of Education, School of Engineering
Priya Devi Sanicharra '26
Priya Devi Sanicharra is majoring in Nursing. She plans to work with children, provide family-supportive trauma-informed care, and further her education. Her goal is to continue growing professionally while creating a safe, compassionate environment where children and their families feel heard, supported, and empowered. Priya notes, “My time here has shaped me into a more compassionate and capable person. I leave with gratitude for the experiences, lessons, and people who helped prepare me for the path ahead.”
May 24 at 9:30 a.m. - Graduate Commencement for Morrison Family College of Health, Opus College of Business
Amanda Rose Thooft '26 DSW
Amanda Rose Thooft received her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree from the University of St. Thomas. She plans to continue to create spaces, in practice, supervision, and teaching, where people feel truly seen and valued to become their most authentic selves. While at St. Thomas she notes, “I learned that the common good begins in the simple, everyday act of truly seeing one another.”
May 24 at 12:30 p.m. - Graduate Commencement for College of Arts & Sciences
Emma Chaplin '26 MA
Emma Chaplin earned a master’s degree in theology at the University of St. Thomas. Following graduation she will be walking the Camino de Santiago. Reflecting on her time at St. Thomas Emma says, “These last few years have fundamentally altered the way I view and interact with the world around me. This life, the opportunities I've been given, are so much more about God and His Glory than they are anything else. When approaching life through this lens, it becomes easy to see that everything, everything, is a gift.”
May 24 at 3:30 p.m. - Dougherty Family College Commencement
Mai Vang '26 AA
Mai Vang earned an associate’s degree from Dougherty Family College. She plans to continue her education while gaining hands-on experience in marketing through internships and related opportunities. Mai says, “Dougherty Family College isn’t where we earned our degrees. It’s a place where we learned what resilience looks like. We showed up, even in some of the hardest times, and that’s something we’ll carry with us wherever we go.”