Skip to main content

Convocation 2026

The School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) Community will gather to celebrate the accomplishments of our 2026 undergraduate, masters, and PhD graduates at SESP’s Convocation on Monday, June 15.

This website contains critical information for our graduates and their guests. Bookmark it for easy access.

Convocation Details

Date: Monday, June 15, 2026

Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Location: Convocation will take place in Ryan Fieldhouse. A reception with light appetizers and
beverages will follow.

Convocation Day of Schedule (Monday, June 15)

  • 1:30pm – 2:30pm

    Doors Open (guests must have a ticket)

    • 1:45pm – 2pm Masters/PhD check-in
    • 1:45pm – 2pm Faculty check-in
    • 2pm – 2:15pm Undergraduate check-in

  • 2:30pm – 4:30pm

    Convocation Ceremony

  • 4:30pm – 5:30pm

    Reception With Light Treats

Convocation Speaker

A professionally dressed man in a navy suit and striped tie stands indoors, facing the camera with a neutral expression. The background is softly blurred, showing a modern interior with warm lighting and architectural curves, suggesting a corporate or hospitality setting.

Entrepreneur and alumnus Jamie Sahara, one of the world’s sharpest thinkers in insurance and risk management, will deliver the 2026 convocation address for Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy. Read more about Jamie. 

Student Speaker Tryout Processes

SESP invites graduating undergraduate and graduate students to tryout to be one of two (2) SESP Convocation speakers (one undergraduate / one master’s level) to provide parting words of congratulations, observation, advice, wisdom, etc. that are of particular importance to their fellow graduates.

Elements of an effective speech include:

  • Timely, compelling, and well thought out remarks. 
  • Style/ability to effectively deliver one’s remarks. 
  • Ability to deliver remarks within the 3-5 minutes allotted. 
  • Inclusiveness of remarks (various academic offerings and array of graduate experiences, perspectives, and identities.
  • Reflective of SESP’s culture, mission, and values (learn more here). 

To be considered for a speaker role, the graduate must be able to attend the SESP Convocation rehearsal at Ryan Field House on Friday, June 12 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Undergraduates interested in trying out for the student speaker role should contact the convocation co-chairs by 5 p.m. CT, Friday, May 1:

Sara and Daniel will follow-up with details.

Masters-level graduates interested in trying out for the graduate student speaker role should contact their program liaison by 5 p.m. CT Thursday, May 7. Tryouts will be conducted the week of May 18.

 

SESP Student Leadership Award Application Process

SESP is pleased to sponsor the 2026 SESP Alumni Leadership Award. This award, presented annually to one undergraduate and one graduate student, recognizes outstanding leadership and character. The award includes a $1,000 prize to each recipient. A committee of SESP alumni will read and evaluate each application on the components described below. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. (U.S. Central) Monday, May 18. Recipients will be announced and recognized at the SESP convocation ceremony on June 15.

A complete application must contain:

  1. Personal statement (approximately 500 words): Recognizing leadership as a demonstrated ability to affect the vision and guide the direction of an organization or team, write a 500-word statement in which you define leadership and describe how you exemplified it in a real-life situation within SESP, the Northwestern community, or the community at large. Please include details that will help the alumni review committee understand the challenges of the situation and the unique leadership skills you applied. Note: AI is a great tool to review and revise for clarity and spelling/grammar; However, essays completed using generative AI or similar technology will not be accepted.
  2. Current resumé or C.V.
  3. Letter of recommendation: Obtain a letter of recommendation from an individual who was affected by or witnessed your leadership and who can describe your leadership style and your ability to impact vision and change. Focus on how well the person writing the reference knows you, in regard to the aspect of leadership on which you are writing. Do not focus on a big name reference who can only write in broad terms as to your abilities. Letters of recommendation must come directly from the recommender. Provide your recommender with this link so that they can upload their letter here.

Please Submit your SESP Alumni Leadership Award application here by Monday, May 18.

The Criteria

Leadership has many forms and meanings, and there is not a standard definition applied here. The focus is on the impact. The alumni committee will evaluate applications as follow:

  • 60%: Demonstrated leadership, how it is or was demonstrated and its impact (the recommendation letter is factored into this)
  • 40%: Quality of the personal statement

If you have any questions about the award, please contact the SESP Graduation Team at sespconvocation@northwestern.edu or your program contact (see below).

 

SESP Undergraduate Student Toast

All SESP Undergraduates are invited to celebrate together and toast their accomplishment – more details to follow.

Questions: Whom to Contact?

Leading up to Convocation, graduates will receive additional emails from the SESP Convocation Planning Committee and their individual programs. Graduates who read all messages and take timely action as needed have a more enjoyable and less stressful Convocation experience than graduates who do not pay attention.

If you have questions about SESP Convocation, contact:

Northwestern Commencement Reminders: Tickets and Regalia

The day before SESP’s Convocation – June 14, all Northwestern graduates will gather at the United Center west of downtown Chicago to be recognized as a school and to hear Commencement Speaker Sarah Jessica Parker.

The University has sent several communications about how to order tickets for your guests for both University Commencement and SESP Convocation and how to order your regalia.

Be sure to read all future University Commencement related messages. If you miss any messages, you may view them here.

Life After Northwestern: Helpful Tips

Degree Conferral Date

While University Commencement is June 14 and SESP Convocations is June 15, your degree deferral dates vary:

  • Fall ’25 Graduates: December 19, 2025
  • Winter ’26 Graduates: March 27, 2026
  • Spring ’26 Graduates: June 22, 2026
  • Summer ’26 Graduates: September 4, 2026 (the name of Summer graduates will appear in the 2027 SESP Convocation Program and University Commencement Bulletin)

Transcripts

Northwestern issues both paper and secure electronic transcripts. The procedures for ordering transcripts can be found on the Office of the Registrar website (Transcripts).

You may wish to verify that your degree has been posted before ordering a transcript by logging in to CAESAR to view your unofficial transcript. We recommend that you do this within a week of the degree conferral date (see above), before you lose access to CAESAR.

Diplomas

When you graduate, your SESP program will order your diploma for you. Your diploma will be mailed to you at the address listed in CAESAR (at the time of the mailing). Before SESP Convocation, be sure to login to CAESAR to ensure your correct address listed. When your diploma is ready to be shipped (about 3-4 weeks after your degree is posted), you will receive an email with tracking information. You may learn more about your diploma on the Office of the Registrar website (Diplomas).

Certified Electronic Credentials

Northwestern University offers Certified Electronic Diplomas and Certificates (CeDiploma/CeCertificate). When your paper diploma is ready to be mailed (3-4 weeks after degree posting) you will receive an email with information about ordering a CeDiploma. You can learn more about how these credentials work on the Office of the Registrar website (Electronic Credentials).

Post Graduation Email and Access to Google Suite

Before your NetID is deactivated, you will receive an email from the University explaining your options. More information can be found here. It is important to note that you will not retain access to you’re the full suite of tools (via your @u.northwestern) that you have as a student. Thus, we recommend that you save @u.northwestern.edu documents, papers, records, etc.