UHD In-Person Commencement Scheduled for August 14
The accomplishments of University of Houston-Downtown graduates will shine in the spotlight during two in-person ceremonies on August 14 at NRG Stadium.
Approximately 1,590 graduates from Spring, Summer and Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 will be honored for their achievements at the ceremony. Event details are as follows:
Morning Ceremony – 9 a.m.
Colleges Represented – College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, University College
Afternoon Ceremony – 2 p.m.
Colleges Represented – Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Sciences and Technology
“The day’s events will signify an important milestone for many of our graduates as they will be able to celebrate with the full pomp and circumstance befitting the occasion,” said UHD President Loren J. Blanchard.
In addition, President Blanchard will also welcome special guests former UHD Interim President Dr. Antonio D. Tillis and Marilyn Davies, namesake of UHD’s College of Business, who will share encouraging words with the graduates at the event.
Tillis, who now serves as Chancellor of Rutgers University-Camden, will address the graduates during the morning commencement. During his tenure at UHD from 2020-2021, he worked collaboratively to promote student and faculty development, to engage the community, and to advance the strategic vision of UHD.
Davies will serve as the speaker for the afternoon ceremony. Her gift of $10 million to UHD in 2017 created a transformational endowment which continues to support the college’s growing programs, exceptional faculty and student resources that reinforce Houston’s prominence in the business sector.
At the ceremonies, President Blanchard is presenting Chancellor Tillis and Ms. Davies with the President’s Medallion of Honor award. Created in 2019, the President’s Medallion is awarded at the discretion of the UHD President to individuals or organizations who are distinguished by their service to the University community.
The ceremonies will be streamed on the day of the event on UHD’s Facebook page. For more information on the event, visit the commencement website.
The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.
U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.
