Commencement Information

three women stand with their arms around each other in graduation caps and gowns

Commencement 2026

Congratulations to all of our class of 2025 graduates!

2026 Commencement Ceremonies are scheduled to be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and will recognize all students graduating in 2026.

Important note:  No balloons are allowed to be brought into the Convention Center.

SCHEDULES FOR 2026:

  • Ceremony for the School of Nursing
    begins at 10:00 a.m. (procession and live broadcast begins at 9:45 a.m.)
    Doors open to guests at 9:00 a.m.
  • Ceremony for the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
    begins at 2:00 p.m. (procession and live broadcast begins at 1:45 p.m.)  
    Doors open to guests at 1:00 p.m.

The dates represented below are the officially published graduation dates for each graduation period.

For students completing 
all course requirements in:		Date your Degree
will be conferred		Commencement
Ceremony
October (Fall 2025)
PA Students Only		October 17, 2025Monday, May 5, 2025
December (Fall) 2025January 9, 2026Saturday, May 9, 2026
April (Spring 2026)May 9, 2026Saturday, May 9, 2026
August (Summer 2026)September 4, 2026Saturday, May 9, 2026
October (Fall 2026)
PA Students Only		October 16, 2026Saturday, May 9, 2026

 

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Logistics for both Ceremonies

The 2026 Commencement Ceremony

School of Nursing - May 9, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. (Feed begins at 9:45 a.m.)
SON Live Broadcast Link will be available as we grow closer to the ceremony

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences - May 9, 2026 - 1:00 p.m. (Feed begins at 1:45 p.m.)
SHRS Live Broadcast Link will be available as we grow closer to the ceremony

EventTimeLocation/Event Notes
Graduates Report8:30 amNorth Lobby - Level 1
Graduates report to the Convention Center and check in at the North Lobby- Level 1.  You will be directed to your preparation and line-up area from there.
Line-up and Preparation9 - 9:40 amRoom 104ABC
Program Staff will prepare all School of Nursing students for the lineup in room 205ABC.   Please make sure that you have your Grad Pass from the Marching Order system available as that QR code will trigger the system to read your name as you cross the stage.  Your program staff will review the seating and stage instructions with you.  Please follow the directions of your program staff member.
Procession Begins9:45 amLevel 1
The academic procession begins, moving from Level 1 up to the Ballroom East/West on Level 3.  Please follow the directions of your Program Staff and Faculty Marshals.
Ceremony Start10:00 am sharpBallroom East/West - 3rd Floor
Commencement Ceremony begins.
Ceremony EndApproximately
12:00 Noon		Ballroom East/West - 3rd Floor
Commencement Ceremony ends.  After the stage party, directors, and faculty have recessed, graduates will recess from the ballroom, at the direction of the Faculty Marshals, and return to the preparation rooms on Level 2 to pick up personal belongings.  Please remove any personal items left in room 104ABC and clear the space by no later than 12:15 pm.
EventTimeLocation/Event Notes
Graduates Report12:30 PMNorth Lobby - Level 1
Graduates report to the Convention Center and check in at the North Lobby- Level 1.  You will be directed to your preparation and line-up area from there.
Line-up and Preparation1 - 1:40 pmRoom 104ABC
Program Staff will prepare all School of Rehabilitation Sciences graduates for the lineup in room 205ABC.   Please make sure that you have your Grad Pass from the Marching Order system available as that QR code will trigger the system to read your name as you cross the stage.  Your program staff will review the seating and stage instructions with you.  Please follow the directions of your program staff.
Procession Begins1:45 pmLevel 1
The academic procession begins, moving from Level 1 up to the Ballroom East/West on Level 3.  Please follow the directions of your Program Staff and Faculty Marshals.
Ceremony Start2:00 pm
sharp		Ballroom East/West - 3rd Floor
Commencement Ceremony begins.
Ceremony EndApproximately
4:00 pm		Ballroom East/West - 3rd Floor
Commencement Ceremony ends.  After the stage party, directors, and faculty have recessed, graduates will recess from the ballroom, at the direction of the Faculty Marshals, and return to the preparation rooms on Level 2 to pick up personal belongings.  Please remove any personal items left in room 104ABC and clear the space by no later than 4:15 pm.

All parking for the event will be in the BCEC South Parking Lot (see map below):

If you are carpooling and want to drop folks off before parking, you will be able to make a quick stop at the North Lobby entrance and then proceed to the South Lot to park. The cost for parking in the South Lot for 2026 will be confirmed at a later date.

To self-park in the BCEC South Lot, from Summer Street, turn onto East Side Drive and continue straight along the side of the building. At the end of the building, make a right and go down the ramp. At the bottom of the ramp, turn left and you will see the entrance to the South Parking lot in front of you.

Regular shuttles will transport all guests from the South Lot to the North Lobby entrance.

Note:  If you choose to walk from the parking area, the entrance to the BCEC on the Southeast side of the building will be open.  (See floor plans above)

 

Commencement Student Speakers

Complete our application for 2026 Commencement Student Speaker here:  2026 Commencement Student Speaker Form

Contact Ronan Campbell (rcampbell [at] mghihp.edu (rcampbell[at]mghihp[dot]edu)) if you have questions about this exciting opportunity.

Akshaya stands on a deck in front of a river with golden afternoon light

Akshaya Kannan 
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology - Class of 2025 

Akshaya Kannan, originally from Chicago, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she studied Chemistry, Spanish, and Linguistics. During her undergraduate years, she worked as a Chemistry lab teaching assistant and was recognized on the ‘List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent with Outstanding Ratings’ for four consecutive semesters. Akshaya’s love for teaching is driven by the joy of watching students thrive and gain confidence in their abilities. Her commitment to teaching, coupled with her passion for both science and languages, led her to pursue a master’s in speech-language pathology at the MGH Institute of Health Professions.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Akshaya co-directs a music school known as ‘Akshaya Music Academy’ with her mother, where they teach South Indian classical music to students of all ages. Through innovative methods, they incorporate cultural and linguistic elements into their lessons. At the MGH Institute of Health Professions, Akshaya also serves as a peer writing tutor graduate assistant, offering guidance to fellow students on their written works.

Looking ahead, Akshaya aspires to open her own multilingual private practice, combining music and speech therapy to support individuals with communication challenges. She is passionate about working with people across the lifespan and from diverse backgrounds, with the goal of helping her future clients realize their full potential and make meaningful progress in their rehabilitative journeys.

Kayla-Paige headshot

Kayla-Paige Flynn 
Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing, Class of 2025

A passionate advocate for understanding the intricacies of human behavior and the mind, she brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her nursing career. Kayla holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and communications from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Before entering the nursing field, Kayla served as the Director of Clinical Services at the Institute for Sexual Wellness, a private forensic psychiatric practice specializing in sexual paraphilias. In this role, she collaborated with the Medical Director to deliver comprehensive patient care. She continues to contribute to the Institute while pursuing her Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner degree. As a Registered Nurse, she has gained significant experience working in correctional facilities, where she provided psychiatric care in a demanding and multifaceted setting. Additionally, her clinical work in the community health setting in Boston has had a profound impact on shaping her career path.

During her time at the IHP, Kayla has taken on active roles as a class representative on the student council, a panelist for the SON Judicial Board, and a proud member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Kayla is deeply committed to inspiring others and healing patients by promoting their well-being through a holistic approach that encompasses both physical and mental health. She believes in treating the whole person rather than just addressing the symptoms, and is dedicated to combining compassionate care, patient education, and evidence-based practices to foster long-term recovery and overall wellness. As she progresses in her career, she aims to merge her psychology background with her nursing expertise, providing comprehensive and empathetic care as a future Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. 


 

 

Academic Regalia

All graduating students in any given year will order regalia when applying for graduation. We value the centuries-old decorum and proud traditions associated with academia regalia. The cap, gown, and hood are international symbols of learning and accomplishment. With their unique heraldry and degree-specific designs, these regalia are long-standing emblems of our higher education culture.

Regalia will be delivered directly to you based on the information provided at the time of your order when you applied for graduation. If you have not ordered, please do so by visiting University Caps and Gown, INC. Orders attempted after posted deadlines will need to be done directly through our //steve.erickson [at] balfour-rep.com (Balfour - University Cap and Gown representative). Please indicate that you missed the order deadline when contacting our representative.

We recognize, while promoting an inclusive, welcoming Commencement experience for all, that there are traditional regalia and ceremonial garments of similar importance associated with other cultures. Students who wish to substitute the regalia of their family heritage in place of the IHP regalia, should request an exemption from the IHP specifications by emailing commencement [at] mghihp.edu.

Honor cords for the School of Nursing Sigma/Upsilon Lambda Chapter can be obtained by contacting //cdonati [at] mghihp.edu (Carla Donati) in the School of Nursing.

Note, the Institute will review and make a decision on all such requests in order to ensure the formal nature of Commencement. Requests must be submitted by April 1 in any given calendar year to be considered for the May ceremony.

Important note: Caps, Gowns, and Hoods (If applicable) are yours to keep after the Commencement Ceremonies.

  1. Adjust the gown so that is sits comfortably on your shoulders. It should fall below your knee, but not so low that it is a tripping hazard.

  2. Put the hood on over your head with the velvet side up and the small tapered end in front. Be sure to drape your hood around your neck with the largest portion of the hood hanging down your back.

  3. Let your colors show! Turn the IHP colors out on your hood and roll the velvet edge out to show the teal and silver inside colors. When you're done, the end of the hood will look somewhat like a fin.

  4. For four-sided mortarboards (caps), place the cap on your head so the point is lined up with the middle of your forehead. Adjust the mortarboard so that it's parallel to the ground. Don't wear it to the side or back. You may need some bobby pins or clips to keep it securely on your head.

  5. For soft tams (Doctoral Students), place the tam on your head with the adjustment tab in the back. Do not wear it to the side or back. You may need bobby pins or clips to keep it securely on your head.

  6. Fasten your tassel to the button on the top of your mortarboard or tam. Put the tassel on the left side to show that your degree has been conferred.

commencement photo examples

For faculty who will be hooding students at Commencement, this video provides a great view of how hooding should be done.

Authentic IHP Doctoral Regalia - Ordering Process

The MGH Institute offers an option for PhD and other Doctoral Faculty and Students to purchase authentic IHP Doctoral Regalia to own.  Authentic IHP Doctoral Regalia is a great option for those IHP faculty or Alumni who received a Doctoral degree from the IHP and may require regalia for future academic events.

Authentic IHP regalia can be ordered directly through Balfour, University Cap and Gown by downloading the order form.

Contact our representative at Balfour with any questions:  steve.erickson [at] balfour-rep.com (steve[dot]erickson[at]balfour-rep[dot]com).  You can also call 603-491-4944.

Historical Commencement Awards

2025 - Peter Richard Brown (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2024 - Tedy Bruschi (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2024 - Heidi Bruschi (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2023 – None Awarded
2022 – Peter L. Slavin (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2021 – Ann W. Caldwell (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2020 – Bette Ann Harris (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2019 – George E. Thibault (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2018 – E. Lorraine Baugh (Doctor of Humane Letters)
2017 – Charles A. Sanders (Doctor of Science)
2016 – Matina S. Horner (Doctor of Humane Letters)

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