February 19, 2026
The brilliant University of Portland Class of 2026 can see the finish line now. On Sunday, May 3, final exams and projects will give way to the biggest celebration of their academic lives—Commencement Day. And when they walk across the Chiles Center stage to claim their well-earned college degrees, a rising star from UP’s Class of 2017 will be there to proudly welcome them as Pilot alumni.
Nine years after receiving her own University of Portland Bachelor of Arts degree with honors, ESPN Host Malika Andrews ‘17 returns to The Bluff to serve as her alma mater’s 2026 Commencement Speaker.
Andrews, an award-winning journalist who is the face of ESPN’s NBA studio coverage and anchored ABC’s Good Morning America, announced her upcoming fastbreak trip to Portland in a short video message to UP’s Class of ’26.
“UP holds an incredibly special place in my heart, and the memories I made there—they’re pure magic,” Andrews told soon-to-be graduates. “I can’t wait to be there with you, celebrate with you, with your families, your friends. See you soon and Go Pilots!”
During the undergraduate ceremony, which caps off UP Commencement Weekend activities, the University will present honorary degrees to Andrews and three other distinguished leaders—Sister Adele Marie Altenhofen (UP Class of ’81, MA ‘87), U.S. Army General Xavier T. Brunson, and IBM-Watson creator John E. Kelly III, PhD. The University’s highest honor, the Christus Magister Medal, will be awarded to Karen Eifler, PhD, director of Collegium and retired UP faculty member (see below for detailed information on UP’s 2026 commencement honorees).
“This year’s class of Commencement honorees is truly exceptional,” said University President Robert D. Kelly, PhD. “They personify the values that our graduating students have cultivated during their time on The Bluff; namely, hard work, perseverance, leadership, courage, faithfulness, and a desire to serve others. It will be our great honor to welcome them to UP and celebrate their many achievements.”
University of Portland 2026 Commencement Schedule:
Undergraduate Commencement: Sunday, May 3, 11:00 a.m. at Chiles Center. Degrees conferred for UP’s School of Business, School of Education, Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering, School of Nursing & Health Innovations, and College of Arts and Sciences. Speaker — Malika Andrews
Commencement Weekend Ceremonies:
UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER AND HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE — HUMANE LETTERS
Malika Andrews ‘17 is an Emmy Award-winning host of ESPN’s NBA Today, NBA Countdown, and WNBA Countdown as well as the lead broadcaster on ESPN’s tennis team covering the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. Her work has appeared across multiple ESPN platforms including ESPN.com, SportsCenter, and ESPN Radio. In 2022, she made history as the first woman to host the NBA Draft. As an undergraduate, Andrews served as editor-in-chief of the University of Portland’s award-winning student newspaper, The Beacon.
CHRISTUS MAGISTER MEDAL
Karen Eifler, PhD — Receiving the University’s highest honor, Dr. Eifler was a respected, beloved faculty member in UP’s School of Education from 1998 until her retirement in 2024. As co-director of the University’s Garaventa Center for Catholic Intellectual Life & American Culture from 2013-2024, Dr. Eifler organized lectures and earned a reputation for speaking with eloquence and humor about the mission of Catholic education. She continues to serve as director of Collegium, a faculty-centered national colloquy on faith and intellectual life.
GRADUATE SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER AND HONORARY DEGREE — PUBLIC SERVICE
General Xavier T. Brunson, United States Army, is the Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea. Prior to this assignment, General Brunson served in numerous staff and command positions in Conventional and Special Operations Forces, including Commanding General of I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. As a commissioned infantry officer, General Brunson has served several deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE – PUBLIC SERVICE
Sister Adele Marie Altenhofen ’81, MA ‘87 serves as president of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon (SSMO) Ministries Corporation. As president, Sister Adele Marie oversees all management, fiscal, programmatic, and planning activities of SSMO Ministries and its affiliate organizations—Valley Catholic High School, Maryville Care Facility, and the SSMO Foundation. Sister Adele Marie joined SSMO in 1982 after completing her undergraduate studies in mathematics and Spanish at UP. She starred on the Pilot women’s basketball team, following the path of her father, Bob Altenhofen ’56, a member of the UP Athletics Hall of Fame.
HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE – PUBLIC SERVICE
John E. Kelly III, PhD, is a retired executive at IBM, where he became known as the “Father of Watson,” the IBM computer system best known for competing against humans on the game show, Jeopardy! Throughout his distinguished 40-year career at IBM, Dr. Kelly served in significant technical and business roles—driving leadership in technologies ranging from semiconductors to supercomputers to artificial intelligence cognitive systems. He rose to IBM’s second-in-command role of executive vice president before his retirement in 2020.
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