On Thursday, May 1, College of Nursing faculty and staff joined students, families, and distinguished guests, including Bob S. Carter, MD, PhD, CEO for University of Utah Health and Executive Vice President of Health Sciences; Board of Trustees Chair Katie A. Eccles, JD; and Physician Assistant Education and Sciences Division Chair Leigh Elrod, DPAS, MPAS, PA-C, to celebrate 448 graduates during the 2026 Convocation ceremony.
University and College leadership congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments and offered reflections on the path ahead. Graduates shared the complexity of their individual journeys, expressed gratitude to those who supported them, and spoke about the impact they hope to make in the lives of others through their future roles.
Read excerpts from the ceremony and view the celebratory moments of the day below:
"Today, we welcome you as colleagues. We are proud of the dedication you have shown, the standards you uphold, and the responsibility you now assume. You are entering professions that are trusted because they are grounded in evidence and guided by purpose. You will advance that trust through informed advocacy, professional expertise, and meaningful rapport you establish with patients, families, and communities.
"Congratulations, graduates! Faculty, staff, and I are immensely proud of your academic achievements! You carry your individual achievements and the collective hope of your profession. We look forward with pride and confidence to the impact you will make, and the leadership you will bring to work that touches lives, strengthens communities, and benefits society as a whole."
—Dean Marla De Jong, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAAN
"The University of Utah strives to be an institution with unsurpassed societal impact. Thanks, in part, to the significant contributions of our College of Nursing faculty and graduates, we are well on our way. Congratulations, Class of 2026! Just as you did during your time here, may you always find ways to lead and blaze new trails wherever you are. Best wishes to each of you as you enter practice or your next phases of training."
—Bob S. Carter, MD, PhD
CEO, U of U Health
Executive Vice President, Health Sciences
"[A]pproach everyone with a calm and sympathetic demeanor. You never truly understand what is going on in someone’s life or the impact a single moment can have. Make your interactions genuine and provide a moment of peace and comfort when those moments may be scarce."
—Grant Andrew Moreen, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
"I didn’t know how I was going to balance my responsibilities at home and work and pursue a master’s degree, but somehow, I did it and even got married along the way...which I do not recommend during finals week of research class!
"Thank you to the generous scholarship donors at the University and in the community. Your support makes it possible to pursue dreams that might otherwise feel out of reach. Thank you to our professors and instructors, whose dedication and mentorship have been unmatched.
"And thank you to my classmates for the group chats and Zoom sessions that kept us connected in an online program. I can truly call you my friends."
—Jamilyn McDonald, Masters of Science, Gerontology
"To our faculty: You didn't just teach us how to practice. You showed us what it means to truly care about this work. We leave here better providers and people because of you. And to our families and loved ones: You are the people we called after a long day in clinic to excitedly explain something we learned, even when you didn't understand a single medical term we were using. You listened and celebrated with us anyway. Thank you.
And to my fellow graduates… when imposter syndrome shows up again, remember this moment. Remember what it took to get here. And remember that you never slipped in. You belonged here from the very beginning. So before we go, I want to ask everyone in this room to do one thing with me. Take a deep breath in. And let it out. That is what today feels like."
—Reygan Brandt Tawney, Doctor of Nursing Practice
"I was born and raised in Al-Baqa'a Refugee Camp, the largest refugee camp in the world. A place of limited resources, uncertainty, and challenge, but also a place of unlimited dreams. In that camp, people do not talk about the “impossible.” They talk about hope, dignity, and achievements.
"Those values shaped how I saw the world. I saw how one nurse could change everything. That is why I chose nursing, not because it was easy, but because it changes lives."
—Malek Alnajar, PhD
