DePaul University

During Commencement Weekend, we honored the Class of 2026 and welcomed them into our 225,000+ alumni family.

We were inspired by the reflections of our student speakers, as well as the insights shared by honorary degree recipients and commencement speakers Eugene Jarvis, Cheryl Corley and Daniel Porterfield.

We’re proud to celebrate this milestone and new beginnings. Congratulations, Blue Demons!

(📷: Holden Hall and Amanda Stevenson/DePaul Student Photo Agency)

Before we head into commencement weekend to celebrate DePaul's Class of 2026, we’d like to shoutout the DePaulU Social student squad. Thank you to this incredible crew for the creativity, care and commitment you’ve put into telling DePaul’s story. Congrats to Grace, Sami and Diane. We’re so proud of you! 🎓💙

Commencement Weekend is almost here! 🎓

We’re proud to celebrate the DePaul University Class of 2026. Meet the students selected to speak at this year’s ceremonies:

✨ Stavan Gandhi, DePaul University Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media - CDM
✨ Lily Kate Cobb, The Theatre School at DePaul University
✨ Deeba Shirazi, College of Science and Health
✨ Lonnie Baylor Jr., DePaul Driehaus College of Business
✨ Kathia Hernandez, DePaul Driehaus College of Business Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
✨ Darletta Scruggs, DePaul University School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Each graduate has a story worth celebrating, and they’re just a few of the many inspiring members of the Class of 2026. Learn more about our graduates and read their stories: https://bit.ly/4vJScow

From DePaul University President Rob Manuel:
“Last week, I had the honor of meeting His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. This was a deeply moving experience, made even more special by presenting the Pope with copies of his parents’ DePaul diplomas.

The gift served as a reminder of the power of a Catholic education and the meaningful connection between the Holy Father and our university community.

During my visit, I also met with leaders from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Development, where we had engaging conversations on the Pope’s recent encyclical about artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability. Building on this relationship, I am especially pleased that a delegation of DePaul faculty will return to Rome in late June to continue strengthening this collaboration.

I was incredibly proud to represent DePaul as part of a distinguished Chicago delegation alongside Mayor Brandon Johnson and share DePaul’s mission on a global platform.

Moments like these reaffirm the importance of the work we have been doing and the far-reaching influence of the DePaul community. I look forward to carrying this experience with me and pushing it forward in service to our students and our Catholic Vincentian mission.”

📷: Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media

Four Blue Demons Alumni are now Pulitzer Prize winners!

Congratulations are in order for Jeremy Gorner (LAS ‘04), Claire Malon (CMN ‘21, ‘22), Laura Rodríguez Presa (CMN ‘14) and Richard Requena (CMN ‘20, ‘23) who are part of the team that won journalism’s most prestigious awards. The team won a 2026 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting for their powerful coverage of immigration enforcement activity in the city.

"We could not be prouder of our alumni," says journalism program chair Jason Martin. "Every day they set the example of thorough and ethical reporting.”

Congratulations to the CChicago Tribune

Read more: https://bit.ly/42fAPzb

Read the winning stories on the Tribune site: https://bit.ly/42g0wzA

and the Pulitzer site: https://bit.ly/4toG7DA

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We are proud to announce that Distinguished Alumna Janai Brugger (BM ’05) is now a GRAMMY® Award winner for Best Opera Recording with the Houston Grand Opera in the production of Jake Heggie’s Intelligence.

Created by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer in collaboration with director and choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, the album was recorded live during the opera’s world premiere run at the Wortham Theater Center in fall 2023 and released in August 2025. Intelligence preserves a masterful performance from a celebrated cast and the HGO Orchestra led by Maestro Kwamé Ryan.

Celebrating Janai and all who were part of this Grammy-winning album!