Commencement
Find information about commencement and discover some of our past commencement speakers.
May 2024 Commencement Ceremony
The Department of Communication's 2024 commencement ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 21st at 8:30 am in the XFINITY Center. August 2023, December 2023, and May 2024 graduates and their guests are invited to attend.
Graduates should arrive at 7:30 am and report to the Pavilion Gym to check in (graduates should use Gates C or D on the ground level to enter).
Doors will open for guests at 7:30 am. Guests should use one of the following gates to enter: Gate A (southeast corner atop the grand staircase), Gate B (northeast corner atop the staircase), or Gate E (southwest corner adjacent to the Terrapin Trail Parking Garage). Gate E is an accessible entrance and closest to the accessible seating. Accessible seating is available in section 120. Security measures, such as wanding and/or bag checks, will be in place for entrance into XFINITY. Backpacks and bags larger than 6"x12"x12" are prohibited.
Regalia information and details on the campus-wide ceremony can be found on the University's commencement website.
Graduates should check out our Commencement FAQ's for additional information.
Live Streaming
You can access the Department of Communication's commencement ceremony from our Departmental YouTube account.
Tickets
Tickets will not be required for graduates or guests to attend the Department of Communication ceremony and graduates do not need to RSVP to attend the ceremony.
Parking and Transportation
Parking on campus is limited and guests are encouraged to consider traveling to College Park via Metro. Free shuttles run frequently from the College Park Metro Station. Parking is free and available in any lot or parking garage on campus. However, the best parking is available in lots 4, 9, 11, and the Terrapin Trail Garage (for accessible seating, please use the Terrapin Trail Garage which has an elevator that will bring you to the entrance level of the XFINITY Center). See the Commencement Map for details.
Commencement Speaker: Amy Yip, '04
Amy Yip is Mental Fitness executive coach, keynote speaker, self-confidence trainer, and the author of award-winning book, Unfinished Business: Breaking Down the Great Wall Between Adult Child and Immigrant Parents. She’s also a 2X TEDx speaker. She works with women to strengthen their mental fitness, overcome self-doubt, and let go of all the ‘shoulds’ so that they can be the authors of their own life stories.
In January 2020, after 16+ years of building and leading global teams in organizations including Google, Clorox, and Booz Allen, Amy left the corporate world, sold everything, and took a one-way flight to Ghana with her husband to volunteer at a breast cancer nonprofit and travel the world. COVID-19 shifted their plans; they got stuck in Ghana for seven months.
One of Amy’s greatest learnings is this: Your mindset, not your circumstances, makes all the difference in your happiness and success.
Through this lens, she works with organizational leaders to find their voice and the courage to speak up, build self-confidence, navigate change, and discover what they really want next in their lives and careers.
Amy is an ICF Professional Certified Coach, a Certified Hudson Institute Coach, a Certified Strozzi Institute Somatic Coach, and a pioneer Mental Fitness Coach certified through Positive Intelligence.
Amy received her MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management, and her BS in computer science and BA in communications from University of Maryland.
Protests, Demonstrations, and Other Such Expressive Activities at Commencement
Freedom of thought and expression are the lifeblood of our academic community. Our values regarding free speech and an open marketplace of ideas can be found in our policy on expressive activities.
The University also recognizes that a healthy and thriving academic community depends on mutual respect and civility. Appropriate behavior, as described in our university policies, is an essential component of what we stand for as a university.
Commencement marks a celebratory occasion and the culmination of academic pursuits for thousands of Terrapins. We kindly ask that all in attendance stay focused and true to the purpose and spirit of the day’s event.
Our policies do not allow for the obstruction, disruption, interruption, or attempt to force the cancellation of any university event, including commencement. If you wish to engage in protests, demonstrations or other such expressive activity, we ask that you abide by university policy and do so in the designated areas outside of the stadium. Failure to uphold a respectful atmosphere in accordance with our policies will result in being asked to leave, and potentially disciplinary or other such action.
Thank you for your shared commitment to observe and protect our principles of free expression.
Past Commencement Speakers
- Shawn D. Bartley, Esq., Shawn D. Bartley and Associates, LLC. (speech)
- The Honorable Anthony Brown, Lt. Governor of Maryland
- Tiffany Boykin, J.D., Dean, Student Engagement, Anne Arundel Community College
- Steven Drake, Steven Drake Associates, L.L.C. (speech)
- The Honorable Donna Edwards, U.S. Representative, MD-4
- Evan Glass, At-Large Member, Montgomery County Council (2018 Winter Commencement Video)
- Cary Hatch, CEO, MDB Communications
- Lindsay F. Hayes, Redpath Writing
- Barbara Jacoby, Senior Consultant, Do Good Institute (video of commencement ceremony)
- William “Brit” Kirwan, chancellor, University of Maryland system
- David Maraniss, author and journalist
- Dr. Lakeisha Mathews, Ed.D., Owner and Primary Career Coach for Right Resumes & Career Coaching, LLC
- Charles Moose, Chief of Police, Montgomery County, Maryland
- Major General Mark Rosenker, Director of the White House Military Office
- Ambassador Dennis Ross
- Roy Schwartz, Co-Founder, Axios (video of the commencement ceremonies)
- Andrew J. Sherman, Partner, Jones Day (speech)
- Chad Steele, Vice President of Public Relations, Baltimore Ravens
- The Honorable Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Lt. Governor of Maryland
- Joshua Wood, J.D., Loyola University School of Law
- Dale Timothy White, Reporter, Anchor and Producer (speech)
Main Campus Ceremony
For information on the main campus ceremony, please see the University’s commencement website.