McNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY
McNeese State University will hold two ceremonies Friday, May 22, to confer degrees on spring graduates at the university’s 166th commencement in McNeese’s Townsley Law Arena. The ceremony for the colleges of liberal arts and nursing and health professions will be held at 9 a.m. and the ceremony for the Burton College of Education and colleges of business and engineering and sciences will be held at 1:30 p.m.
An honorary doctorate will be awarded at the afternoon ceremony to Captain Lee Jackson, founder and chief executive officer of Jackson Offshore Operators, LLC, a marine transportation company out of New Orleans. Jackson also serves as a member of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors and is an advocate for higher education in Louisiana.
Commencement speaker for both ceremonies is Dr. Paula A. Gant, president and CEO of GTI Energy, an innovation ecosystem for energy research and technology development focused on building and demonstrating solutions for better-performing energy systems. Gant earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from McNeese and a doctorate in economics from Auburn University.
The Outstanding Graduate Award – sponsored by the Student Government Association and the McNeese Alumni Association – will be presented during commencement to two McNeese students to recognize them for their academic achievements. One undergraduate student and one graduate student from each of McNeese’s five colleges were nominated for the award.
Guests will not be allowed access to the floor at any time before, during or after the ceremonies. Graduates will not be allowed access to the guest seating areas at any time before, during or after the ceremonies.
The spring class of 2026 includes 675 graduates from 32 parishes, 23 states, one U.S. territory and 14 countries and 696 degrees will be awarded, including 37 associate degrees, 548 bachelor’s degrees, 107 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees.
Doors will open one and one-half hours before each ceremony. For the safety and security of everyone in attendance, only clear bags not to exceed 12”x 6”x 12” will be allowed inside the arena and all bags are subject to search. Diaper bags are an exception.
The McNeese commencement ceremonies will be live streamed on McNeese’s YouTube channel for family members and friends unable to attend commencement. For notifications when the events go live, subscribe to our channel here: www.youtube.com/mcneesestateu.
The ceremony will also be broadcast on the Calcasieu Parish Government Channel at a date to be announced.
