Texas Southern University Celebrates Largest Graduating Class in Institutional History at Spring 2026 Commencement

Texas Southern University marked a historic milestone during its Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies, graduating more than 1,200 candidates—the largest graduating class in the University’s history. The graduates hail from 31 states and six foreign countries.

The record-setting achievement underscores the University’s continued momentum in expanding access, advancing student success, and accelerating timely degree completion. In a further demonstration of its commitment to student achievement, Texas Southern University also announced the clearance of outstanding institutional financial balances for eligible graduates, removing financial barriers that may have otherwise delayed graduation and entry into the workforce or graduate studies.

“What you experienced here is not just an acquisition of knowledge, but a broadening of your knowledge horizon, an understanding that learning comes not just through the ears and eyes, but through the heart,” President J.W. Crawford III shared during his remarks. “Heart knowledge is, perhaps, the most important knowledge that one can acquire, that one can possess. As you take a mental inventory of what has transpired over these years, you will find that deeply embedded in each of you.”

The Spring 2026 Commencement featured two distinguished keynote speakers:

At the 9:00 a.m. ceremony, graduates were addressed by James Stavridis, retired U.S. Navy Admiral and Chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation Board of Trustees. Admiral Stavridis delivered remarks centered on leadership, global responsibility, and service in an increasingly interconnected world.

“For all of our graduates of this magnificent class in the gorgeous trajectories of your lives, find time to serve,” Stavridis encouraged. “Whether that is in the military, as a teacher, peace corps volunteer, emergency medical, working in the public good, public office, community organizer, find a way to serve. Be kind to all you meet in that role of service because you know not what burden they carry.”

At the 2:00 p.m. ceremony, the University welcomed alumna and immediate past Senior Vice President and Chief Belonging Officer for Walmart Inc., Denise Malloy-Deadrick. She returned to her alma mater to inspire graduates with reflections on perseverance, the enduring value of a Texas Southern education, the power of being present.

“Presence is not just physically being there, but it’s mentally being there, emotionally being there, spiritually being there,” she said. “And at the highest level, presence is not just paying attention. It’s the disciplined alignment of perception, thought and action in real-time. In other words, presence is the ability to fully occupy the moment that you are in. It’s the ability to rise to meet the challenge and to seize every opportunity that the moment presents. You already know something about presence because you could not have earned these degrees today. You showed up when you were tired. You showed up when life got difficult. You showed up when you doubted yourself. You showed up in spite of and because of, and that mattered. Because successful people are not always the smartest people in the room.”

Together, the ceremonies highlighted Texas Southern University’s role in preparing graduates to lead, serve, and excel across industries and communities worldwide.

As the University celebrates this historic class, it reaffirms its mission to expand educational opportunity, train the workforce of the future, remove barriers to completion, and cultivate leaders who enter the workforce as lifelong learners.