Malika Andrews (‘17), award-winning ESPN host and former editor-in-chief of The Beacon, will be the 2026 undergraduate commencement speaker, President Robert Kelly announced in a video posted to Instagram on Feb. 19.
The ceremony will take place on May 3 at 11 a.m. in the Chiles Center, celebrating graduates from UP’s School of Business, School of Education, Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering, School of Nursing & Health Innovations and College of Arts and Sciences.
Andrews, who graduated from UP with a degree in communications, now serves as the face of ESPN’s NBA coverage and was the first woman to anchor the NBA draft.
Kelly also announced that Karen Eifler, retired faculty member of the School of Education and former co-director of the Garaventa Center, will receive the Christus Magister Medal at the ceremony.
Sister Adele Marie Altenhofen (‘81), who serves as president of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Ministries Corporation, and John E. Kelly III, a retired executive at International Business Machines, will receive honorary degrees.
On May 2 at 1 p.m., U.S. Army General Xavier T. Brunson will deliver the commencement address at the graduate school commencement. Brunson will also receive the honorary doctorate for public service.
The full 2026 commencement schedule can be found here.
Kalena O’Connell is the News and Managing Editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at oconnell27@up.edu.
