Congratulations to the graduates of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics! It was a wonderful weekend celebrating our more than 1,500 Lerner College graduates from the Class of 2026 including undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students.
Convocation for master’s students was held on Wednesday, May 20, and the doctoral hooding for our Ph.D. program graduates was held earlier that day. Convocation for undergraduate students from the Lerner College Class of 2026 was held on Friday, May 22.
“At Lerner, we strive for a distinctive Lerner education for our students,” said Lerner Dean Oliver Yao during his remarks. “A degree is important. But your Lerner education is more than just a degree. It was also about learning how to think critically, solve problems creatively, collaborate effectively, and lead ethically in a rapidly evolving world.”
UD President Laura Carlson and Interim Provost Bill Farquhar attended Lerner’s graduate Convocation. Lerner alumnus Jack Beeson, who earned an executive MBA in 1998 and is retired senior vice president and former head of Global Capital Markets at Wilmington Trust Company, served as the master’s Convocation speaker. Lerner alumnus Bill Woodhour, a 1987 graduate with a bachelor of science in business administration and president and CEO of Maersk Line, Limited, served as the undergraduate Convocation speaker.
Information about the Class of 2026 Lerner Convocation ceremonies can be found on the UD Commencement website. On Saturday, May 21, the Commencement for the entire UD Class of 2026 was held in Delaware Stadium with Mariah Calagione, former UD Trustee and co-founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, serving as the Commencement speaker.
This year, Lerner also celebrates more than 45 members of the Class of 2026 who were nominated by faculty and staff at the Lerner College for their outstanding contributions throughout their time at the College.
These students have demonstrated resilience, leadership and determination throughout their time at UD. Each installment of this series highlights an outstanding member of the Class of 2026, celebrating their achievements, experiences and the impact they have made as Blue Hens, and the exciting paths that lie ahead.