Maryland college graduations will feature an astronaut, a Marvel writer and more

Book your celebratory dinner reservations and pick out your best outfits: It’s graduation season for Maryland college seniors.

This May, graduates will be sent off into the real world with words of wisdom from an astronaut, a Marvel Comics writer, a symphony conductor, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist and a lot of politicians. Sadly, there are no puppets this year.

Here’s a rundown of some notable commencement addresses announced so far. This isn’t a comprehensive list — Maryland has more than 50 colleges — just a handful of standouts.

Astronaut Jeanette Epps

University of Maryland, College Park

The state’s flagship university is trading a Muppet for an astronaut at this year’s commencement ceremony.

Astronaut Jeanette Epps will impart advice to UMD grads on May 20 at SECU Stadium. Each graduate can claim six guest tickets and one personal ticket to the main ceremony.

Epps, who earned a master’s and doctorate from College Park, spent nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station in 2024 as part of NASA’s Expedition 71 crew. She flew to the station aboard SpaceX Crew-8 and served as a flight engineer, conducting scientific research and station maintenance during her stay in orbit. She previously worked as a CIA intelligence officer.

Gov. Wes Moore

Frostburg State University

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore will deliver the keynote address on May 21 at Western Maryland’s public university.

Graduates will receive six to eight tickets, depending on their college of enrollment. The ceremony, which will take place at the Cordts PE Center Main Arena, will also be livestreamed on campus in the Lane University Center lounge area.

“These future graduates embody the spirit of excellence and grit that define the State of Maryland, and their potential is our greatest asset,” Moore said in a statement.

Former Gov. Larry Hogan

Washington College

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan will also deliver a commencement address this year.

Hogan, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2024, will speak to Washington College graduates on May 17. He will also receive an honorary doctor of laws degree from the small private college on the Eastern Shore.

The ceremony is open to the public on the Campus Lawn and will be livestreamed.

Mayor Brandon Scott

St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, a St. Mary’s College alum, will deliver the commencement address at the public college in Southern Maryland on May 16.

This is Scott’s second time speaking to St. Mary’s graduates; he gave a virtual address in 2021.

No tickets are required for the ceremony on Townhouse Green, and seating is first-come, first-served.

Nobel Prize winner Katalin Karikó

Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins is embracing its scientific side at this year’s graduation on May 21.

The commencement speaker is Katalin Karikó, a Hungarian immigrant and Nobel Prize-winning scientist who pioneered mRNA research that led to the COVID-19 vaccine. Karikó grew up in a small town with parents who did not graduate high school. She immigrated to the United States with her husband, their young daughter and money sewn into a teddy bear, according to the university’s announcement.

The ceremony will take place on Homewood Field, and tickets are not required. It will also be livestreamed.

News anchor Denise Koch

Notre Dame of Maryland University

Baltimore’s longest-serving news anchor, Denise Koch, will deliver the commencement address to Notre Dame of Maryland grads on May 19.

Koch, an Emmy winner who anchors the nightly news on WJZ’s broadcast, has served as an advisory board member and speaker for the Women of the World Festival Baltimore, hosted by the university.

Graduates will get 10 guest tickets for the ceremony at the Baltimore Convention Center. All guests, regardless of age, require a ticket.

Orioles executive Catie Griggs

Salisbury University

Catie Griggs, president of business operations for the Baltimore Orioles, will speak to undergraduates at Salisbury University on May 21. The Eastern Shore college became the official higher education partner of the Orioles this year.

Griggs is the first woman in franchise history to hold her job and spearheaded $135 million in recently unveiled improvements to Camden Yards, including the new 4K center field video board, according to a Salisbury news release.

The ceremony will take place in Sea Gull Stadium, and each graduate is eligible for up to four tickets.

U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks

Coppin State University

Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland’s junior U.S. senator, will deliver the commencement address to Coppin State graduates on May 22.

“Senator Alsobrooks represents the very best of what it means to rise from community and return to serve it,” Coppin State President Anthony L. Jenkins said.

Each graduate will receive 12 tickets. The event will take place on the Library Quad.

BSO’s Jonathon Heyward

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Jonathon Heyward, the music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, will address UMBC graduates on May 20.

Heyward is the first conductor of color to be named music director of the city’s symphony orchestra and was named to Time magazine’s list of Next Generation Leaders.

Each graduating student will receive five tickets. The event will take place at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena and will be livestreamed.

Activist Bryan Stevenson

Morgan State University

Public interest lawyer, author and social justice advocate Bryan Stevenson will serve as the keynote speaker at Morgan State’s spring commencement, taking place on May 16.

Stevenson is the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative and will be conferred an honorary doctor of laws degree.

“Bryan Stevenson stands as one of the most consequential voices of our time in the fight for justice, equality, and human dignity,” MSU President David Wilson said in a statement. “His life’s work challenges us to confront injustice with courage and compassion.”

Graduation will take place at Hughes Memorial Stadium; tickets are free but required.

Comic artist Nilah Magruder

Hood College

Nilah Magruder, the first Black woman to write for Marvel Comics, will impart wisdom on Hood College graduates on May 16.

Magruder, a Hood alum, has worked on more than a dozen Marvel projects, including “Marvel Rising,” “Edge of Spider-Verse” and “Vault of Spiders.”

Undergraduates will receive six tickets. The event will take place in the Volpe Athletic Center and be livestreamed at Coffman Chapel.

U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin

Goucher College

U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland will deliver Goucher College’s commencement address on May 17.

The liberal arts school’s announcement says Raskin has “battled” President Donald Trump’s “authoritarian policies” and investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The event will take place on the Margaret M. Winslow Great Lawn; each graduate gets five tickets.

Author Michael Eric Dyson

Bowie State University

Michael Eric Dyson, a scholar, author and activist, will speak at Bowie State University’s commencement on May 22.

Dyson serves as a distinguished university professor of African American and diaspora studies at Vanderbilt University and has written more than 25 books, seven of which reached the New York Times bestseller list.

Students get five tickets for guests attending the ceremony at Bulldog Stadium and three for those attending a satellite ceremony on campus.

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