May 6, 2021 — Northern Kentucky University celebrates one of the greatest joys each year with its Commencement exercises from May 7 through 9 at BB&T Arena. NKU will uplift more than 5,000 graduates and remember their hard work and determination with five in-person ceremonies for the first time since December 2019.

Friday, May 7 at 5 p.m. | Chase College of Law

• Number of graduates: 233
• Speakers: The Honorable Justice Michelle Keller (’90) and the Honorable Justice Robert Conley (‘84), with the Supreme Court of Kentucky
• Student Speaker: Brendan Sullivan, Class of 2021 valedictorian
• Salmon P. Chase Award Recipients: Megan Smiddie (2020), Holly McCabe (2021)

Saturday, May 8 at 10 a.m. | College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education

• Number of graduates: 630
• Speaker: Andrá Ward (’86), NKU Board of Regents’ Chair
• Student Speaker: Hannah Burns, representing the College of Education

Saturday, May 8 at 3 p.m. | Haile/US Bank College of Business, College of Informatics

• Number of graduates: 514
• Speaker: Normand Desmarais, NKU Board of Regents’ Vice Chair
• Student Speaker: Nicholas Elleman, representing the College of Informatics

Sunday, May 9 at 10 a.m. | College of Health and Human Services

• Number of graduates: 579
• Speaker: Normand Desmarais, NKU Board of Regents’ Vice Chair
• Student Speaker: Amanda Woll, representing the College of Health and Human Services

Sunday, May 9 at 3 p.m. | 2020 Graduates from All Colleges

• Number of graduates: 3,275
• Speaker: Andrá Ward (’86), NKU Board of Regents’ Chair
• Student Speaker: Hannah Edelen, Former Student Body President

All ceremonies will be held at BB&T Arena on NKU’s campus. Due to state capacity regulations, please note that all guests—including children, regardless of age—must have a ticket to enter the venue. Parking is free of charge in all surface lots and garages, and doors will open one hour prior to each ceremony.

NKU will live stream each ceremony for graduates or guests who are not able to attend in person. Videos of the ceremonies will also be available for on-demand viewing on NKU’s YouTube channel. Visit NKU’s Commencement webpage for more details on the ceremonies.