The 2026 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony
The doctoral hooding ceremony is annual celebration of graduate students earning the Ph.D. or Ed.D degree. It also acknowledges the hard work of the faculty advisors who have guided the students along the way.
Oxford, MS - The 2026 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony acknowledged the tremendous work and commitment of more than 120 graduates as they reached the highest level of success in the academy. The special event, attended by the Chancellor, Provost, deans of every school with a graduate program, and other administrators, celebrated the dedication of the students and faculty advisors.
A Celebration of Scholarship: The 2026 Doctoral Graduates
The 2026 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony celebrated the achievements of more than 120 doctoral graduates. The event marked the completion of their hard work and dedication in striving for the highest level of academic excellence. Held on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in the Sandy and John Black Pavilion, the ceremony recognized candidates’ accomplishments, years of pursuit, groundbreaking research, and commitment to academia. The livestream recording is available for viewing for those who missed the event.
With heads held high, graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas and be hooded by faculty mentors. Deans and administrators congratulated the new Ph.D.’s and Ed.D.’s as they relished their moment in the spotlight.
Dr. Annette Kluck, Dean of the Graduate School, opened the hooding ceremony with a few words of praise for the doctoral graduates’ commitment and hard work. “Tonight, we celebrate something extremely special. That is, we recognize the tremendous work and commitment of our graduating doctoral students whose persistence, passion, curiosity, diligence, perspective, and intellect led them to pursue the difficult task of doctoral study.”
Dr. Glen Boyce, The University of Mississippi Chancellor, also spoke at the ceremony. Chancellor Boyce began his remarks by noting that the graduates had “accomplished something rare and special.” He continued, “Graduates, now you are part of a distinguished legacy. Regardless of how you decided to pursue a doctoral degree, each of you made that decision some years ago. You sacrificed a great deal in pursuit of that goal.” He also expressed gratitude to the graduate faculty, stating, “To our faculty, I value the time you have spent with these graduates…. Your hard work is seen and deeply valued.” He then turned his attention to the 2026 class with a charge, “You have received a world-class education at the highest level…. The University of Mississippi is a place where students come to build their legacies. You are not done building your legacy”.
After the Chancellor’s address, the 2026 doctoral class marshals spoke. The two marshals, graduating doctoral students Emily Rasmussen and Dr. Esraa Al Shawakri, discussed their academic paths and the trials and tribulations that led them to this milestone. They also offered words of inspiration to their fellow graduates.
Rasmussen, who is finishing her Ph.D. in Engineering Science with an emphasis in Biomedical Engineering, spoke first. She highlighted the learning and growth that accompany earning a doctoral degree. “Little by little, we start to learn….Across our different disciplines and projects, our growth isn’t something that can be neatly captured by publication metrics or [the] number of presentations. It shows up more quietly in how we think … in the way we approach problems without clear answers, and how we respond when things don’t work. This new way of thinking builds slowly, in ways that are easy to miss while you’re in the thick of it but become clearer when you step back.” Rasmussen also encouraged her fellow graduates to take pride in this accomplishment. “So right now, let’s take a step back and recognize what these years have built in you. How they’ve shaped you, strengthened you, and even broken you and rebuilt you. All the ways you have grown, both seen and unseen. And take a moment to thank yourself. Because you showed up. You kept going. You earned this. And you did not do it alone. While our dissertations may only have one name on them, tonight, we celebrate this momentous milestone together.”
Al Shawakri, who graduated with a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with an emphasis in Pharmaceutics, spoke second. She shared how her path was not easy, yet she persevered. “Today, we celebrate more than the completion of a degree. We celebrate years of persistence—of questions that didn’t have answers, of failures that didn’t make sense at the time, and of the quiet decision, over and over again, to keep going. Because if we’re honest, this journey was not easy. There were long nights, failed experiments, and moments when doubt was louder than confidence. Moments when progress felt invisible.” She also thanked her community and the mentors she gained during her time at the university. “To The University of Mississippi, and to this community: thank you for giving us a place to grow, to struggle, and ultimately, to succeed. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, to Dr. Michael A. Repka, and to all our mentors and professors for their guidance and support.”
Both marshals have left a legacy on the university’s campus through their leadership in their respective programs and graduate student organizations. Their speeches reflected their deep commitment to knowledge, leadership, and the UM community.
The Graduate School celebrates our doctoral graduates’ effort and determination. Earning a doctorate is no small feat. We are proud of everything our graduates have accomplished at UM. As they continue their journeys, they leave a lasting mark on our university and inspire current doctoral students. Their futures hold the promise of even greater impact, and we look forward to their continued success. Congratulations to the 2025-2026 Doctoral Graduates of The University of Mississippi!