Graduate Commencement Exercises
Graduate Commencement Exercises
Monday, May 18, 2026
3M Arena at Mariucci
Welcome to the official digital companion for the Carlson School of Management Graduate Commencement Exercises. We are honored to have you with us to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2026.
Use the links below to jump directly to each section of the ceremony:
- Message from Dean Jamie Prenkert
- Order of Ceremony
- Commencement Speaker
- Candidates for Degree
- Recognition
- Alumni Board Welcome
- Academic Traditions
- "Hail! Minnesota" & "Minnesota Rouser"
As you explore, we invite you to follow along and recognize the dedication, resilience, and business acumen of our graduates.
Download the Official Program
You may also download the official program to save as a digital keepsake.
Letter from the Dean
Dear Graduates,
What a thrill to celebrate this milestone with you! We couldn't be prouder of your achievement of earning your graduate degree.
Because of the world's complexities, your leadership is needed now more than ever. The resilience, curiosity, openmindedness and adaptability you've honed as students will be your greatest assets. You've not only deepened your business acumen but also remained committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive society.
As you step beyond our campus, remember the spirit of agility you've cultivated. The business world is dynamic, demanding adaptability and continuous learning. Embrace the unexpected, stay curious and see change as an opportunity for growth and innovation.
This significant milestone connects you to more than 63,000 Minnesota Carlson alumni making their mark globally. Like them, I trust you'll embrace challenges, prioritize lifelong learning and empower those around you. Your journey doesn't end here; it's a launchpad to a future brimming with potential.
Stay connected with Minnesota Carlson. Your experiences and insights will be invaluable to future students. Share your lessons, offer connections and reinforce the enduring value of your education. Think of your degree as something that grows more valuable with time and engagement.
Congratulations once again, Class of 2026! Along with our faculty and staff, I eagerly anticipate the amazing things you will accomplish.
Warmly,
Jamie Prenkert
Dean and Investors in Leadership Distinguished Chair
Carlson School of Management
Processional
Welcome
Dean and Investors in Leadership Distinguished Chair
Commencement Speaker
President & CEO, Red Wing Shoe Company
Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards
Student Speaker
Master of Marketing
Presentation of Degrees
Business Administration
Director, PhD Program
Vernon H. Heath Chair
Executive Program
Full-Time Program
Management Science Program
Part-Time Program
Online Program
Associate Dean of Graduate Programs
David M. Bond Fellowship for
Ethics and Corporate Behavior
Medical Industry MBA
Vienna Executive Program
Associate Dean, Global Initiatives
Minnesota Insurance Industry Chair
of Health Finance
Director, Master of Accountancy
Program
Director, Master of Business Taxation Program
& Industrial Relations
Director, Master of Human Resources
& Industrial Relations Program
Associate Professor, Department of
Work & Organizations
Director, Master of Marketing Program
Director, Master of Science in
Business Analytics Program
Xian Dong Eric Jing Professor
for Business Teaching
Professor, Finance
Chain Management
Director, Master of Science
in Supply Chain Management Program
Associate Professor, Supply Chain & Operations
Conferring of Degrees
University of Minnesota Regent
"Hail! Minnesota"
Recessional
Commencement Speaker
Allison Gettings
President and CEO - Red Wing Shoe Company
Allison Gettings, ’17 MBA, is the president and chief executive officer of Red Wing Shoe Company, a global leader in purpose-built work, safety and lifestyle footwear with a 120-year legacy. She is accountable for driving enterprise strategy, advancing a differentiated brand and product portfolio and delivering sustainable growth while preserving Red Wing’s core values and its small-town mindset of treating people like neighbors, not numbers.
Gettings is a fourth-generation family leader with more than 18 years of experience at Red Wing Shoe Company. She has built a broad and deep command of the business, progressing through roles spanning product development, retail, corporate strategy and internal operations. Under her stewardship, the company’s portfolio and operations have modernized, adding new product lines, sharpening brand positioning and improving end-to-end efficiency. Her career reflects a hands-on leadership style grounded in operational experience, thoughtful decision-making and a long-term view of value creation for employees, customers and communities.
Gettings is also committed to community impact and service. She serves on the board of directors for the Red Wing Shoe Foundation and the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation and also serves on the Minnesota Business Partnership board where she chairs the Education Committee and Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from St. Olaf College and a Master of Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
Candidates for Degrees
* Carlson Scholar, ★ Military/Service Member
Recognition
Alumni Board Welcome
Dear Minnesota Carlson Graduates,
Congratulations on your graduation from the Carlson School of Management.
This moment marks an important milestone and the beginning of a lifetime of opportunity. Today, you join a global community of Minnesota Carlson alumni who are leading, building and making an impact across industries and around the world. We’re proud to welcome you.
While your time as a student comes to a close, your connection to Carlson is just beginning. From alumni networks and career support to lifelong learning and events in the Twin Cities and beyond, there are countless ways to stay engaged. However you choose to show up, through your time, your talents or your support, you strengthen this community for those who come next.
One thing you’ll discover over time: The value of your Carlson degree doesn’t stand still — it grows through the relationships you build and the community you stay connected to.
On behalf of the Minnesota Carlson Alumni Board, congratulations on this incredible achievement. We can’t wait to see what you do next.
Row the Boat, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers!
Sherri Johnson, ’02 BSB, ’11 MBA
President
Minnesota Carlson Alumni Board
Maryam Becker, '19 MHRIR
Kristine Boedigheimer, '99 BSB, '07 MBA
Hannah Cairns, '13 BSB
Ryan Collier, '21 MBA
Brian Durmaskin, '05 BSB
Aaron Engler, '03 BSB
Sean Gabbard, '09 MBA
Ruzana Glaeser, '19 MBA
Todd Johns, '98 BSB
Sherri Johnson, '02 BSB, '11 MBA
John Jones, '18 MBA
Joseph Keys, '09 BSB
Steven Kibaya, '19 MBA
Lindsay Korstange, '15 MBA
Adam Krasnoff, '93 BSB
Nathan Lucht, '99 BSB
Luis Moreno, '01 MBA
Meg O'Hara, '07 MBA
Susan Oliver, '10 BSB
Clark Olsen, '04 BSB
Shayla Owodunni, '12 BSB
Shannon Peloquin, '06 BSB
Katrina Rudisel, '16 BSB
Cherise Salim, '10 MBA
Charles Schaller, '05 BSB
Anthony Scott, '03 MBA
Michelle Staack, '10 BSB
Brett Stier, '07 BSB
Meghan Stiling, '15 MBA
Jason Suydam, '14 MBA
Joe Thomas, '06 BSB
Jenny Wade, '11 MBA
Academic Costume & Regalia
Academic gowns date back to the 14th century when they served two functions of nearly equal importance: to indicate the academic rank of the wearer and to keep the scholar warm in the drafty stone halls of academia.
The markings, cut and color of the modern-day academic costume—cap, gown and sometimes hood—indicate the academic degree, the field of study and the institution that granted the degree.
Degree candidates wear the gowns appropriate for the degrees they are about to receive. Bachelor’s degree gowns are black and untrimmed. A maroon and gold tassel hangs from the mortar board worn on the head by candidates. Master’s degree gowns, black and untrimmed, have pointed sleeves.
Doctoral gowns in the United States traditionally have been black with velvet front facings and crossbars on the sleeves. The Minnesota hood, which may be worn by anyone with a doctoral degree from the University of Minnesota, is black with maroon chevron on gold. Each institution has its own pattern of colors on the hood, worn around the neck and down the back of the gown. The length and shape of the hood identify the most advanced degree the wearer has earned, and the velvet edging shows the field: drab for doctor of business administration.
In recent years, a number of universities have adopted gowns of distinctive school colors. A new University of Minnesota doctoral gown and matching tam made their appearance in 1988 to celebrate the centenary of the first Minnesota doctor of philosophy degree. The new Minnesota gown is maroon-trimmed with black velvet chevron.
Hail! Minnesota
Minnesota, hail to thee!
Hail to thee, our college dear!
Thy light shall ever be
A beacon bright and clear.
Thy sons and daughters true
Will proclaim thee near and far.
They will guard thy fame, and adore thy name;
Thou shalt be their Northern Star!
“Minnesota Rouser”
Minnesota, Hats off to thee!
To thy colors, true we shall ever be,
Firm and strong, united are we.
Rah! Rah! Rah! for Ski-U-Mah,
Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah for the U of M.
[Repeat]
M - I - N - N - E - S - O - T - A!
Minnesota! Minnesota! Yeaaaaaaah Gophers!