Acclaimed Journalist and NBC’S TODAY Co-Anchor Craig Melvin to Deliver Villanova University’s 2026 Commencement Address

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, Villanova University President, announced that acclaimed journalist and NBC'S TODAY co-anchor Craig Melvin will address the Class of 2026 as the University's commencement speaker. Melvin will also receive the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.

The University's 183rd commencement will be held Tuesday, May 19, at 2:30 p.m., in Villanova Stadium. In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be held indoors in the Finneran Pavilion.

Note: For the livestream of Commencement, click here.

Craig Melvin is co-anchor of NBC News' "TODAY," co-host of the "3rd Hour of TODAY" and a host of syndicated "Dateline NBC" broadcasts. He also hosts the podcast "Glass Half Full with Craig Melvin," featuring candid, long-form conversations with individuals about life-shaping moments.

An accomplished journalist, Melvin has covered a wide range of major national and global events, including Republican and Democratic National Conventions and three presidential inaugurations. His political reporting includes interviews with former President Bill Clinton, then-Vice President Joe Biden, former Ambassador Nikki Haley and former Secretaries of State John Kerry, Mike Pompeo and Condoleezza Rice.

Melvin's reporting spans some of the nation's most significant and challenging stories, including nationwide protests and high-profile criminal cases, demonstrating a commitment to thoughtful, on-the-ground journalism during critical moments. In addition to his domestic reporting, Melvin has covered six Olympic Games and six Super Bowls.

Prior to joining NBC News and MSNBC in July 2011, Melvin was a weekend anchor for WRC, NBC's owned-and-operated station in Washington, D.C. Before that, Melvin earned acclaim as an evening news anchor at WIS in Columbia, S.C., his hometown.

Melvin is the author of two books, "Pops: Learning to Be a Son and a Father" and the children's book "I'm Proud of You." He is a graduate of Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., where he serves on the board of trustees, and is active in several charitable organizations, including the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, where he also serves on the board.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University's Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges-the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation's top universities, Villanova supports its students' intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.