The countdown to the cap and gown excitement has begun! Learn more about the Class of 2026 and Dean's 160th Commencement below.
Ceremony Information| Fun Facts About the Class of 2026 | Get to Know the Commencement Speaker| Student Singers | More Commencement Celebrations
Ceremony information
WHEN:
Saturday, May 9, 2026
A detailed timeline can be found here.
WHERE:
The front lawn of Dean Hall, along Awpie Way, on the Dean College campus, 99 Main Street, Franklin, MA. A livestream will also be available here.
Who:
- J.Darrell Kulesza, interim president of Dean College
- Jay R. Leiendecker, chairman of the Board of Trustees
- Nery Gomez, member of the Board of Trustees
- Student keynote speakers
- Student Singers
Fun facts about the class of 2026
- Total number of graduates: 252
- Total earning a bachelor’s degree: 235
- Total earning an associate degree: 31
- Number of Graduates earning double Degrees: 17
- One student is earning three degrees, BA, BS and AA!
- Number of Graduates earning double majors: 8
- Number of countries represented: 5 (U.S., Australia, Barbados, China, Japan)
- Number of U.S. states represented: 23
- Percentage of graduates from out-of-state: 49%
- Percentage of graduates who lived on campus their senior year: 83%
- Percentage of graduates who participated in an Athletic Program while at Dean: 25%
- Percentage of graduates who are first-generation college students: 37%
- Percentage of graduates who received financial aid while at Dean: 97%
- Top Majors for the Class of 2026
- Business Management
- Dance
- Criminal Justice
- Sport Management
- Psychology
- Exercise Science
- Theatre/Musical Theatre
- Number of graduates who have earned honors designations: 30
- Number of active-duty military or veterans: 1
- Most common last name amongst the 2026 graduates: 3 students with the last name Santos, Smith and Vasquez
- Most common first name amongst the 2026 graduates: 6 students with the first name Jacob
get to know the Keynote Speaker
We are pleased to announce Nery Gomez, entrepreneur, investor, and member of the Dean College Board of Trustees, has been chosen as the Keynote speaker at Commencement. Learn more about Nery and his time at Dean.
student singers
The following graduating students have been chosen to perform at Commencement this year.
The National Anthem
- Helenna Clanton
- Aiden Day
- Luke Farlow
- Kayleigh Lyons
- Emily Marino
- Mikayla Wray
The Alma Mater
- Helenna Clanton
- Dylana Deignan
- Luke Farlow
- Paige Langston
- Hannah Pogemiller
- Alaina Rothwell
- Ava Turner
- Mikayla Wray
A Beginning, Not An End
- Helenna Clanton
- Aiden Day
- Dylana Deignan
- Cordelia D’Orsi
- Jackie Enokian
- Paige Evora
- Luke Farlow
- Paige Langston
- Kayleigh Lyons
- Emily Marino
- Hannah Pogemiller
- Alaina Rothwell
- Emily Russell
- Ava Turner
- Jason Warner
- Mikayla Wray
- Lia Zajas
- Sophie Zawadski
More commencement celebrations
- The Graduating Student Awards Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 8, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. This is an invite-only event. A livestream will be available.