Tulane celebrates the Class of 2026’s achievements, innovation and future with New Orleans spirit

Tulane University President Michael A. Fitts hailed the accomplishments of the Class of 2026, celebrating graduates' creativity, impact and collaborative spirit within both Tulane and the city of New Orleans during an uplifting and memorable Unified Commencement ceremony Saturday, May 16, at Caesars Superdome.

With more than 3,000 graduates in attendance and thousands of family members and friends cheering from the stands, Fitts delivered a speech centered on the ideas and innovations graduates encountered and created during their Tulane journey and encouraged them to carry those lessons into the future.

The milestone event marked the culmination of Commencement weekend, which featured individual school diploma ceremonies, as well as hooding and awards events throughout the university.

Saturday's ceremony included second lining, live jazz and a sea of glittering blue and green parasols decorated by the graduates themselves - all elements for which Tulane's commencements are renowned. But, along with these traditions, there was an updated twist: LED wristbands worn by graduates that lit up the Superdome in shifting colors as Fitts spoke.

"Tulane would not be Tulane without our beloved hometown: the great city of New Orleans," Fitts said, as the wrist bands turned the traditional colors of Mardi Gras. "Its culture and soul have given generations of Tulanians the courage to dream bigger."

Describing New Orleans as a "cradle of ideas" and a "crescent of innovation," Fitts highlighted how advancements often emerge from challenges and unexpected circumstances. Heralding a bright and impactful future for graduates, Fitts pointed to past discoveries by Tulanians who preceded them, including School of Medicine alumnus Michael DeBakey's groundbreaking roller pump invention that helped make open-heart surgery possible. He also recognized more recent achievements, including the Glass Half Full recycling venture and the FanFix platform for social media content creators, both of which were founded by Tulane graduates. Exactics, the diagnostics startup co-founded by Class of 2026 student speaker, Madeline "Dylan" Murray, also topped Fitts's list.

Fitts said that Tulane student inventiveness was also on display during the historic January 2025 New Orleans snowstorm, when students fashioned makeshift gloves, sleds and igloos across campus.

"The ingenuity, creativity and collaborative spirit you developed at Tulane will help you innovate to face any challenge and have fun while doing it," Fitts said. "When you dare to think outside the box, a simple invention has the potential to change the world for the better."

Fitts' address set the stage for the keynote speech by award-winning actor Sterling K. Brown, who delivered a heartfelt, humorous and personal message, congratulating graduates for persevering through the challenges of university life and encouraging them to embrace a future grounded in wellness, mindfulness, service and relationships.

"You endured until the end, and you finished what you started," Brown told graduates. "You made enough right decisions to be collecting your diploma today."

Drawing from his own experiences as he reflected on turning 50, Brown shared practical advice for navigating adulthood, urging students to prioritize sleep, exercise, healthy eating and hydration. He encouraged graduates to build healthy habits early while still enjoying life's indulgences - including the city's beloved beignets.

Brown also emphasized the importance of mental and emotional well-being, encouraging graduates to meditate, journal and create space for self-reflection. "You do not have to be held captive by your own mind," he said. "You have agency."

Throughout the speech, Brown returned repeatedly to the value of relationships and community. He encouraged graduates to travel, experience different cultures and engage in service to others, noting that "thriving is a communal effort and not an individual achievement." He described volunteering and mentoring as experiences that brought him "immeasurable joy."

"Our learning should ultimately lead us into a greater sense of connection with one another," he said.

Brown also reflected warmly on the friendships formed during college, calling them "some of the most special relationships you will ever make in your life," and urged graduates not to lose touch with the people who shaped their college experience.

In one of the speech's most emotional moments, Brown spoke directly about the importance of family, reminding graduates of the sacrifices parents and grandparents make for their children. "For 18 years straight, you were the absolute center of your parents' lives," he said, telling students to cherish time with loved ones and ask older family members about their stories and history while they still can.

"Besides our health, time is the most precious commodity we have," Brown said, closing with a reminder to spend time intentionally with the people they love most.

Following Brown's address, Fitts honored him with the Tulane University President's Medal which is awarded at the sole discretion of the president to individuals who have distinguished themselves by their actions and who have contributed to the well-being of Tulane University, the city of New Orleans, or the world.

Brown first gained national acclaim in 2016 for his portrayal of Christopher Darden in FX's "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story," earning an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor. He later became a household name as Randall Pearson on NBC's "This Is Us," a role that earned him an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series, a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2018, he was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.

He has since built a wide-ranging career in film and television, earning an Academy Award nomination for his role in "American Fiction" and appearing in films such as "Black Panther, "Waves" and the newly released "Is God Is." He has also lent his voice to projects including "Frozen II" and "Invincible," garnering an Emmy nomination for his voice work. He currently stars in and executive produces the Hulu drama "Paradise."

Another highlight of the ceremony was the student speech delivered by Murray. A computer science and psychology graduate from the School of Science and Engineering, Murray reflected on transferring to Tulane from the University of Chicago and ultimately finding both community and purpose.

"I transferred from UChicago to Tulane because I was chasing a dream," Murray said. "But I was choosing a life I wanted over one I thought I was supposed to want."

At Tulane, Murray became involved in improv comedy, taught coding to college and middle school students and helped launch Exactics with several collaborators. During her address to fellow graduates, she spoke about the challenges of building a company while balancing academics, saying that for every moment of excitement and success, there were also moments of uncertainty and exhaustion.

"The hard part is the middle," Murray said. "The part where your dream still looks embarrassingly like a dream."

Throughout her address, Murray encouraged graduates to continue pursuing ambitious goals even when the path feels uncertain, urging classmates to use their experiences to create positive change for others.

"I think that is what it means to chase a dream," Murray said. "To build the reality you want to see in the world."

The ceremony included an opening performance of the national anthem by 2026 graduates Alexandra Beck, Nora Feinberg, Tess Fox and Hadley Magaziner and featured music from Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band, continuing a longstanding Commencement tradition rooted in New Orleans culture. White's performance was highlighted by "The 2026 Shout," an original piece he composed in honor of this year's graduates.

As the ceremony neared its end, jazz vocalist, alumna and Tulane staff member Yolanda Robinson-Windsay delivered a heartfelt rendition of the Crescent City paean, "Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans?" accompanied by White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band.

The ceremony concluded with a jubilant second line as graduates, wristbands aglow, danced and celebrated beneath the confetti-filled Superdome. Graduates held decorated parasols aloft, continuing a Tulane tradition that begins at Convocation, when first-year students receive plain white umbrellas. Over the course of their academic journey, students personalize the umbrellas with memories, achievements and mementos before bringing them back for Commencement as vibrant symbols of their Tulane experience.