Commencement 2026 Keynote Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients

Dear University Community,

Commencement is one of the most meaningful traditions at our University, a time to celebrate our graduates and the many people who have supported them along the way. As we prepare to honor the Class of 2026, I invite you to join us for our upcoming ceremonies across the Redlands campus, Woodbury, and the San Francisco Theological Seminary.

This year, we are honored to welcome four extraordinary speakers to our ceremonies: two-time Academy Award-winning American film costume designer Ruth E. Carter, social justice leader Reverend Glenda Hope ’69, innovator and entrepreneur Chuck O’Neill ’85, and Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena.

Each will share their insights and perspectives and receive Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degrees in recognition of their outstanding contributions. I hope you will join us to celebrate our graduates and hear from these remarkable individuals as they inspire the next generation of leaders.

Ruth E. Carter will deliver the keynote address at the Woodbury Commencement on Sunday, April 26, at 4:00 p.m. Ruth E. Carter is the trailblazing, two-time Academy Award-winning American film costume designer, celebrated for her work in bringing to life the vibrant and culturally rich costumes of “Black Panther.” Carter made history as the first Black person to win the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, securing Marvel Studios’ first Oscar in the process. She repeated this groundbreaking success with “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” becoming the first Black woman to win multiple Academy Awards in any category and the first costume designer to win for both a film and its sequel. Most recently, for her work in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” Carter earned her fifth Academy Award nomination, becoming the most nominated Black Woman in Oscar history.

Reverend Glenda Hope ’69 will deliver the keynote address at the San Francisco Theological Seminary ceremony on Saturday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m. A Presbyterian minister in San Francisco, Reverend Hope, was ordained in 1970 as Assistant Pastor at Old First Presbyterian Church, where she served until 1972. She then founded San Francisco Network Ministries and later also served as Pastor of Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church. Through her leadership, San Francisco Network Ministries created housing and support programs for unhoused individuals, women, and the LGBTQ community. In partnership with St. Anthony’s Foundation, the organization expanded its work to include computer training and digital access. In 1997, she founded a residential program for sex trafficked and prostituted women. She is known for her advocacy for justice and healing, which continues into her 90th year of life.

Charles “Chuck” O’Neill, Ph.D. ’85 will deliver the keynote address at the University’s Undergraduate ceremony on Friday, April 24, at 9 a.m. With more than 30-year track record of translating scientific innovation into therapies, O’Neill has contributed to 19 product approvals across ophthalmic, oncology, orthopedic, cardiovascular, neurological, and rare metabolic genetic diseases. In 2020, he co-founded MCAL Therapeutics to reimagine lipid-based therapeutics for ocular and mucosal surface diseases. He also co-founded SARcode BioSciences, Inc., where he led the nonclinical development of Xiidra^®, an approved treatment for inflammatory dry eye. He spent nearly a decade at Genentech Inc., where he co-led the nonclinical development of Lucentis^®, the anti-VEGF therapy for age-related macular degeneration, and contributed to the advancement of seven additional approved medicines, including Avastin^™ for the treatment of various cancers and TNKase^™ for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.

Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, will deliver the keynote address at the University’s Graduate ceremony on Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. For nearly five decades, Chairwoman Valbuena has held elected and appointed leadership positions within the Yuhaaviatam tribal government. Her service includes several Tribal Council officer roles, including Secretary/Treasurer and Vice Chairwoman, and she is now in her fifth term as Chairwoman. She is also serving a 27^th year as Chairwoman of the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations and has held leadership positions with the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, the National Indian Gaming Association, and the National Congress of American Indians. She serves on the Advisory Council for the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California, a position she has held since the organization’s founding more than 20 years ago. 

I look forward to celebrating this milestone with you as we come together to honor the Class of 2026 and all they have accomplished.

Sincerely,