Commencement celebrates Class of 2026

Commencement marked a moment of pride and celebration for more than 1,100 students earning undergraduate and graduate degrees from James Madison University’s College of Business, Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management and School of Strategic Leadership Studies this May.

Friday’s ceremony honored 811 undergraduate students from the College of Business’s AACSB-accredited programs, including accounting, computer information systems, economics, finance and quantitative finance, international business, management and marketing. The ceremony also recognized 85 graduate students earning advanced degrees, including 53 Master of Science in Accounting students, 26 MBA graduates and six doctoral graduates in Strategic Leadership Studies.

The Hart School held its ceremony on Saturday, honoring 205 undergraduate students and 14 graduate students earning a Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Leadership.

The celebration also recognized the community that supported graduates throughout their academic journeys. President Dr. James C. Schmidt encouraged students to reflect on the faculty, family members and friends who helped them reach this milestone, while offering special recognition to first-generation college graduates for their perseverance. He emphasized that a JMU degree reflects both achievement and the readiness to navigate change while making meaningful contributions in careers and communities.

That sense of preparation and responsibility was echoed by College of Business Dean Michael Busing. “You are entering a world where the pace of change is unlike anything previous generations have experienced,” Busing said, noting that technology, particularly artificial intelligence, is reshaping every industry.

While acknowledging rapid innovation, Busing emphasized that the need for ethical, human-centered leadership remains constant. Graduates, he said, are uniquely prepared to balance emerging technologies with judgment, integrity and empathy.

“Your education at James Madison University has prepared you not just to use technology, but to question it, improve it and apply it responsibly,” he said. “Let technology expand your reach, but let your humanity guide your purpose.”