College of the Arts Commencement Program 2026

College of the Arts

Commencement Program 2026

Friday, June 12, 2026
Viking Pavilion at the Peter W. Stott Center  

Order of Ceremonies

Processional

Master’s Graduates and Candidates
Bachelor’s Graduates and Candidates
Faculty
Platform Party  

Welcome and Host

Leroy E. Bynum, Jr., D.M.A.
Dean, College of the Arts  

Land Acknowledgement

Honor Song

Fabian Quenelle
Klamath/Modoc/Umpqua/Chinook  

National Anthem

Lily Sveinbjornsson
Bachelor of Music, Music Education, ’26
School of Music & Theater  

Greetings

Ann E. Cudd, Ph.D.
President

Wally Van Valkenburg, J.D.
Chair, PSU Board of Trustees

Leroy E. Bynum, Jr., D.M.A.
Dean, College of the Arts  

Alumnus Greeting

Sammi Pahlow
Class of ’07  

Undergraduate Student Address

Jane Jessamine Bongiorno
Bachelor of Arts, Music Performance, Liberal Studies, ’26
Summa Cum Laude  

Graduate Student Address

Aaron Wood
Master of Architecture, ’26  

Student and Faculty Awards

Leroy E. Bynum, Jr., D.M.A.
Dean, College of the Arts  

Presenting and Conferring of Degrees

Ann E. Cudd, Ph.D.
President

Shelly Chabon, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs  

Alma Mater

Performed by Lily Sveinbjornsson, ’26  

Closing Remarks

Leroy E. Bynum, Jr., D.M.A.
Dean, College of the Arts  

Recessional


Please meet graduates outside the Viking Pavilion!  

Processional and recessional music performed by the PSU Wind Symphony, led by Edward Protzman, D.M.E., Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Practice, School of Music & Theater.  


Alma Mater

“Green May We Ever Be”

Bonnie Miksch, D.M.A.
Professor, School of Music & Theater  

Oh Portland State, our Alma Mater
Where the forest meets the running waters
On the homelands of the Chinook tribes
Where knowledge, art, and community thrive
Where the bridges cross, and the old elms tower
Where the crows amass at the sunset hour
And progress lies beyond each bend
We see no strangers, only friends
Oh Portland with our hearts we lead
Oh Portland dream a world we need
Let our knowledge serve, and our love guide our deeds
Oh Portland, green may we ever be  


Platform Party

Core Platform Party

Ann E. Cudd, Ph.D.
President

Shelly Chabon, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Wally Van Valkenburg, J.D.
Chair, PSU Board of Trustees

Leroy E. Bynum, Jr., D.M.A.
Dean, College of the Arts

Barbara Heilmair, D.M.A.
Associate Dean, College of the Arts
Professor, School of Music & Theater

Julie Perini, M.F.A.
Associate Dean, College of the Arts
Professor, Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design

Sheila A. Martin, Ph.D.
Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief of Staff

Andria Johnson, M.S.
Vice President for Finance & Administration

Cindy J. Starke, J.D.
General Counsel

Sammi Pahlow
B.S., Business Administration, ’07  

Academic Leadership

Juan Manuel Heredia, Ph.D.
Director and Professor, School of Architecture

Lis Charman, M.F.A.
Director and Professor, Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design

Kristin Hole, Ph.D.
Director and Professor, School of Film

Chuck Dillard, D.M.A.
Director and Professor, School of Music & Theater