On May 10, more than 3,500 family members, faculty, friends, mentors, and supporters celebrated the achievements of Willamette University’s Class of 2026 during ceremonies held in Salem and Portland.
Graduates from Willamette College, the Atkinson Graduate School of Management, and the School of Law enjoyed the sunny and warm weather under the tent on the quad in Salem, while the Pacific Northwest College of Art celebrated at the Portland Art Museum.
Stewards of knowledge, culture, and the land
The graduates were welcomed into alumnihood by commencement speakers who represented statewide and national leaders in the arts, law, business, and environmental stewardship.
Oregon Attorney General and Willamette alum Dan Rayfield JD’06 addressed the School of Law graduates, challenging future lawyers to live up to the values of the legal profession. At the Atkinson Graduate School of Management ceremony, dual-degree alum Angela Wilhelms JD/MBA’13 shared lessons from a career in business advocacy, law, and public service. In Portland, award-winning writer and multidisciplinary artist Emilly Prado inspired PNCA graduates with rich storytelling and creative experiences.
At the Willamette College ceremony, commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient Chuck Sams shared his experiences in public service. The former director of the National Park Service, and first Native American to serve in that role, Sams encouraged Willamette graduates to see themselves as stewards dedicated to making a difference.
“Today, you join a long tradition of Willamette graduates who have gone on to make meaningful impacts in their communities and beyond,” Sams said to the graduates. “You are stewards of knowledge, of culture, and of the land. The future is bright because of your promise, your energy, and your commitment to service.”
Celebrating a Willamette education for a changing world
While the ceremonies celebrated the incredible accomplishments of the graduates, the day also marked the beginning of their journey into an uncertain world — one affected by sweeping technological, social, and political change.
Amidst an ever-shifting world, Willamette University President Steve Thorsett challenged the graduating class of Willamette College to: “Listen well. Learn continuously. Act bravely.”
“The world has, and will continue to change,” Thorsett said. “The careers you imagined working in will transform and the skills you’ve gained may become obsolete. This is not something to fear, however, because this is the condition that your liberal arts education prepared you for.”
To the 2026 graduates of the Pacific Northwest College of Art, Thorsett emphasized how an interdisciplinary arts education sets students up to succeed on any path they choose to pursue.
“You are prepared for all kinds of work in the world after PNCA,” Thorsett said. “Whether you are working on your own, as part of a creative team, in a tech company, or a social enterprise or as part of an enormous organization, you are taking from PNCA a refined skill in translation of the human experience.”
Equipped with the transformative power of a Willamette education, the university’s newest alumni will be ready to face the challenges of a rapidly-changing world, embarking on a lifelong quest to turn knowledge into action.
