PHOTOS: Friday, May 1 | Saturday, May 2

Florida State University celebrated its Spring 2026 graduating class Friday and Saturday, awarding more than 8,900 degrees and honoring alumna Sara Blakely with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. 

FSU President Richard McCullough presided over the ceremonies at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, where about 7,190 graduates participated in person and heard messages of resilience, leadership and service. 

The ceremonies featured three speakers whose careers span business, military service and government: entrepreneur Blakely, Lt. Gen. Sean M. Farrell and Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez. 

The ceremonies began Friday morning with doctoral hoodings, recognizing the university’s newest Ph.D. and doctoral graduates. 

“As the new torchbearers of our great university, I urge you all to embrace your esteemed role as highly respected scholars and leaders,” McCullough told the doctoral graduates. “You are actively shaping the future of industries, academia, the arts and scholarly achievements in society. As you embark on new academic and professional pursuits, I encourage you to continue to embody the three values of Florida State: Vires, Artes and Mores, or strength, skill and character.” 

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark continued: “All of us charged with the care of this great university urge you, graduates, to take on this stewardship with pride, joy, gravitas and celebration.”  

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Florida State University awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to alumna and Spanx founder Sara Blakely during spring commencement Friday, recognizing a career built on instinct, persistence and a willingness to do things differently. 

When Blakely took the stage, she didn’t dwell on success. She talked about failure, self-doubt and the decision that shaped everything that came next. 

“The most critical thing that I did — the thing that everyone here can do — is I made one big investment early on,” she told the graduates. “I invested in me.” 

Blakely returned to campus 33 years after graduating from Florida State, where she said her dreams began, even if her path after college didn’t go as planned. 

She had hoped to become a lawyer. She failed the LSAT twice. She went to a job fair and was rejected by 20 companies. She hoped to be Goofy at Disney World and didn’t meet the height requirement. 

Eventually, she found herself selling fax machines door to door for seven years. 

“It was brutal,” she said, recalling days of rejection while her peers moved into careers as lawyers, doctors and corporate executives. 

At one point, she pulled her car to the side of the road and said out loud: “I’m in the wrong movie.” 

Two years later, she started a company called Spanx. 

What began as a simple fix — cutting the feet off a pair of pantyhose to improve the way clothing fit — grew into a global brand that reshaped the shapewear industry. Blakely built the company without outside investors, eventually selling a majority stake in 2021 after turning it into a billion-dollar business. 

She has continued working on another venture called Sneex, a footwear company she launched to combine the comfort of a sneaker with the look and style of a heel. 

FSU President Richard McCullough conferred Blakely’s degree during Friday evening’s ceremony at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, the first honorary degree awarded during his presidency. 

In introducing her, he described Blakely as someone defined by curiosity and perseverance and a cultural force whose success began with a simple belief: There must be a better way. 

After the hooding, McCullough turned back to the audience and said, “It is now my honor to introduce, for the first time, Dr. Sara Blakely.” 

Blakely told graduates that the curiosity and persistence behind her success is available to anyone willing to do the work on themselves. 

“You can be a spectator in your life or a participant,” she said. “You can be a passenger of your thoughts or the driver of your thoughts. I chose to be the driver.” 

That idea, she said, traces back to her teenage years, when her father gave her cassette tapes by author Wayne Dyer that focused on mindset, visualization and not fearing failure. She listened to them so often she memorized them, even if it made her unpopular on car rides with friends. 

Years later, after building Spanx and landing on the cover of Forbes for being the youngest female self-made billionaire, those same friends sent her a message: “Should have listened.” 

Blakely’s speech mixed humor with hard-earned lessons. She told stories about scrambling to fulfill her first major order without the right manufacturing pieces, navigating embarrassing moments on international television and writing her own patent because she couldn’t afford an attorney. 

“I had no experience, but I had belief,” she said. 

She also warned graduates about the challenge of distraction in a fast-moving world and urged them to protect time to think, reflect and grow. 

“You can distract yourself or you can discover yourself,” she said. 

At one point, Blakely held up a worn red backpack, the same one she carried as a student at Florida State and later to early business meetings. Today, it serves as a symbol for her Red Backpack Foundation, which supports women and girls around the world. 

“It’s a reminder that everything you need is already right there on your back,” she said. 

Blakely’s recognition marks the 133rd honorary degree conferred by the university.

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Lt. Gen. Sean Farrell and Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez
will also address graduates 

Florida State University will award an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to alumna and entrepreneur Sara Blakely during spring commencement ceremonies May 1-2, celebrating her impact as an inventor, philanthropist and founder of Spanx and Sneex.

Blakely, who earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from Florida State University in 1993, will serve as commencement speaker for the College of Arts and Sciences ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, May 1, and for the 9 a.m. Saturday, May 2, ceremony for the Dedman College of Hospitality, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, College of Applied Studies, College of Medicine, College of Motion Picture Arts, College of Fine Arts, College of Communication & Information, and College of Social Work.

Joining Blakely as spring commencement speakers are Lt. Gen. Sean M. Farrell, deputy commanding general of U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, and the Honorable Daniel Perez, speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.

Florida State University will award 8,923 degrees this spring, including 6,732 bachelor’s degrees, 1,523 master’s and specialist degrees, 261 doctoral degrees, 140 Juris Doctor degrees, 140 Juris Master’s degrees and nine LL.M. degrees. About 7,190 graduates are expected to participate.

President Richard McCullough will preside over the ceremonies, which will take place at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 W. Pensacola St.

Blakely is widely recognized as a category-creating inventor who revolutionized the shapewear industry after cutting the feet off her own pantyhose to create a smoother look under white pants. She launched Spanx in 2000 with $5,000 and built it into a global brand synonymous with innovative, comfortable apparel. In 2021, she sold a majority stake in Spanx while remaining executive chairwoman and part owner.

Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, Blakely will be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in May.

In 2024, she launched Sneex, a footwear brand featuring a design that combines the comfort of a sneaker with the style of a heel.

A longtime advocate for women’s empowerment, Blakely has donated millions through the Red Backpack Foundation, signed The Giving Pledge, and funded scholarships and invention education programs for thousands of girls.

Blakely will receive FSU’s 133rd honorary degree, awarded to individuals whose achievements and service have made a lasting impact on society.

Lt. Gen. Farrell will speak at the 2 p.m. Friday, May 1, ceremony for the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, College of Nursing, and Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. He will also address graduates at the 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2, ceremony for the Herbert Wertheim College of Business.

In his role as deputy commanding general for U.S. Special Operations Command, Farrell ensures the readiness of joint special operations forces and, as directed, conducts operations worldwide. An FSU alumnus commissioned through ROTC, he is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flight hours in aircraft including the AC-130H Spectre, AC-130W Stinger, AC-130U Spooky and C-130E Hercules. He has commanded at the wing, group and squadron levels and previously served as deputy commanding general of Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. His career includes assignments at the Pentagon, Air Force Special Operations Command headquarters and senior leadership roles overseeing force structure, resources and strategic assessments. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from FSU and graduate degrees in applied behavioral science and national resource strategy.

Perez will speak at the 7 p.m. Saturday, May 2, ceremony for the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and College of Music.

An attorney and FSU alumnus, Perez is Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. As a first generation Cuban-American, Perez learned hard work, optimism and the importance of public service and leadership at a young age. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State in 2009 and his law degree from Loyola University New Orleans. First elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2017, he represents District 116 in Miami-Dade County. During his legislative career, Perez has chaired the Rules Committee, Judiciary Committee, Pandemic & Public Emergencies Committee and Public Integrity & Elections Committee.

Other ceremonies 

The doctoral hooding ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, May 1, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. 

The College of Law will hold its Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 3, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, with a reception to follow on the Green at the College of Law. 

FSU Panama City will host its spring commencement ceremony at 5 p.m. (CST) Sunday, May 3, at the Atlantis Center in Lynn Haven, welcoming all Panama City campus graduates, as well as those who completed degrees in the previous summer and fall semesters. Former state Sen. Doug Broxson, who serves on the Florida Board of Governors, will deliver the commencement address.

For more information, see commencement.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University will hold fall commencement ceremonies Friday, Dec. 12. The Honorable Lawrence McClure of the Florida House of Representatives and retired FSU Head Men’s Basketball Coach J. Leonard Hamilton will address graduates.

This fall, FSU will award 2,982 degrees: 1,946 bachelor’s degrees, 811 master’s and specialist degrees, 112 doctoral degrees, 5 Juris doctor degrees, 106 Juris master’s degrees and 2 LLM degrees. More than 2,000 graduates are expected to participate in the ceremonies.

The day will begin with a doctoral hooding ceremony at 9 a.m., followed by two ceremonies at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. for bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degree recipients. President Richard McCullough will preside over all three ceremonies at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, 505 W. Pensacola St.

2 p.m. ceremony: The Honorable Lawrence McClure

McClure, who represents House District 68 in Hillsborough County, was first elected to the Florida House in 2017. He began his career as a summer intern at the Tampa-based Streamline Environmental, where he worked on cleanup, mitigation and petroleum tank removal before rising to become a partner in the firm. He later continued this work as a consultant, helping state and local leaders address environmental, water and land-use issues. Known for practical problem-solving and bipartisan cooperation, he led the House through a difficult budgeting process this year. He currently chairs the House Budget Committee and serves as the alternating chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Commission.

McClure will address graduates from the Dedman College of Hospitality, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, College of Applied Studies, College of Motion Picture Arts, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, College of Social Sciences & Public Policy, College of Business, College of Music, and Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.

7 p.m. ceremony: Coach J. Leonard Hamilton 

Hamilton retired following the 2024-2025 season after 23 years as head coach of the FSU men’s basketball program. He is the winningest coach in program history, leading the Seminoles to the NCAA Elite Eight, three Sweet 16 appearances and the program’s first ACC regular-season championship. Known for his focus on developing strong student-athletes, Hamilton saw 97 percent of his seniors earn their degrees. His career has been defined by leadership, consistency and a connection to young people on and off the court.

Hamilton will speak to graduates from the colleges of Medicine, Fine Arts, Communication and Information, Law, Nursing, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Social Work, and Arts and Sciences.

Every Florida State University graduate is automatically a member of the FSU Alumni Association. Alumni can learn more at alumni.fsu.edu.

For more information and livestreaming links, visit commencement.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University honored its summer graduates Friday with three commencement ceremonies at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, where speakers offered words of encouragement, reflection and humor to the Class of 2025. 

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony Summer 2025 Commencement Ceremonies

The ceremonies featured addresses from FSU Trustee and entrepreneur Jim Henderson and Distinguished Research Professor Pamela Keel, who each shared personal stories and encouraged graduates to lead with compassion, make thoughtful decisions and continue learning beyond the classroom. 

President Richard McCullough presided over all three ceremonies. Provost and Executive Vice President Jim Clark addressed graduates during the morning’s doctoral hooding ceremony. 

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As Florida State University celebrates the summer class of 2025, more than 2,850 graduates are stepping into the next chapter of their lives, joining a global network of over 407,000 FSU alumni.

This summer, the university will award 1,692 bachelor’s degrees, 881 master’s and specialist degrees, 183 doctoral degrees, 4 Juris Doctor degrees, 93 Juris Master’s degrees, and 2 LLM degrees. Roughly 1,850 graduates will participate in person, marking a proud moment for the FSU community.

This summer’s graduates have had a variety of experiences, mentors and moments that shaped their individual academic journeys. From groundbreaking research to personal transformation, these stories reflect the resilience, curiosity and drive that define the spirit of FSU.

Miguel Garcia-Salas is graduating with a doctorate from FSU’s School of Communication Science and Disorders. His work focused on speech-language pathology with an emphasis on family-centered interventions.

During his time at FSU, Garcia-Salas published in top-tier journals, presented at national American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) conferences, earned multiple awards and taught undergraduate courses.

A highlight of his research was the development of the DREAM Program, Dialogic Reading Education through Accessible Modules. This online initiative helps families implement dialogic reading, a proven technique that fosters language development through interactive storybook reading. Garcia-Salas piloted the program with 42 families and reported promising outcomes in his dissertation.

Beyond academics, Garcia-Salas raised his young family in Tallahassee, an experience he describes as deeply meaningful.

“This is all my family knows, this FSU community,” Garcia-Salas said. “The FSU Childcare and Early Learning Program, the Florida Center for Reading Research my school, the library and university grants have all played a role in helping me balance fatherhood and scholarship.”

After graduation, Garcia-Salas will join the University of Arkansas as an assistant professor. He plans to continue working with historically underserved families and community organizations to promote language and literacy development through home-based interventions.

Carlton Wier, a Marine Corps veteran born and raised in Tallahassee, is graduating this semester with a degree in interdisciplinary social science from Florida State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy.

Wier chose to attend FSU for its tradition, culture and the outstanding reputation of the Student Veterans Center.

“It is an honor to walk in this semester’s commencement ceremony and join close relatives as Florida State alumni,” Wier said. “The history, culture, tradition and the people I had the privilege to meet set Florida State apart.”

During his time at FSU, Wier found support through the Student Veterans Center, which he described as a model of integrity, inclusion and expertise in navigating VA benefits.

“The Student Veterans Center is an example of what selfless service truly means,” he said. “It improves character, performance and confidence in a veteran experiencing college life after and during military service.”

He said he will miss the staff, facilities, athletics, academics, professors, students and alumni most from his time at FSU.

After graduation, Wier plans to start a business or organization dedicated to supporting veterans, law enforcement, first responders and their families with a broader mission to serve the community in any way possible.

“I look forward to continuing to uphold the title and responsibility that comes with being a graduate of Florida State University,” he said. “Go Noles!”

Zahria Moore, a first-generation college graduate from Boca Raton, Florida, is earning her degree in criminology with a minor in African American studies from Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Moore chose Florida State for its standout academic programs and vibrant campus life. Criminology, one of FSU’s top-ranked majors, caught her attention early on, but it was the university’s spirit and support systems that made it feel like home.

“My journey has been very unique and challenging,” Moore said. “Walking in this commencement ceremony is something I’ve always dreamt of, but never fully imagined happening until this week. Getting the email that I would graduate made my heart do a backflip.”

Throughout her time at FSU, Moore found a strong sense of community through the Unconquered Scholars Program and CARE (Center for Academic Retention & Enhancement). These programs provided her with more than just academic support—they gave her a village.

“These programs feel like drinking from a wishing well,” Moore said during her keynote address at the 2025 Unconquered Scholars Awareness Banquet. “Everything that I wanted, everything that I came to college looking for, I found in this remarkable program and these amazing people. My family, my home away from home, my safe space, my confidants.”

Moore’s proudest accomplishment was not only growing within the Unconquered Scholars Program but also helping it grow. Serving on the executive board became a defining part of her college experience.

“Joining the board was possibly one of the best things I could have done in my college career,” she said.

When she reflects on her time at FSU, Moore lights up at the memory of football season and spontaneous campus events.

“Something I love about FSU is the spirit of football season. It unites everyone—no matter who you are or where you came from,” she said. “And I’ll miss the random events on Landis. Waking up to a carnival being built genuinely made me smile.”

After graduation, Moore will begin her career as a youth counselor at a juvenile detention center in New Hampshire—her first step toward a long-term goal of positively impacting the criminal justice system.

“I earned this,” she said. “And I’m excited for everyone to see that.”

Alison Cole has always been drawn to the roar of engines. Growing up in Jupiter, Florida, she was captivated by a nearby facility that assembled and tested military helicopters.

“I grew up down the street from where they built the Blackhawks, and I’d always watch them get tested, and you could hear the engines going,” Cole said. “It was just really fascinating to me.”

That early fascination led her to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration at FSU, which she will receive this month. After graduation, she will work in Orlando for Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control department.

Cole credits her success to the support she received from professors and mentors, especially Larry Giunipero, one of the nation’s top supply chain experts.

“Without Dr. Larry Giunipero, I don’t know where I would be,” she said. “His connections and his love of the supply chain really helped me focus on where I wanted to go after graduation.”

Giunipero praised Cole’s intelligence, business acumen and drive, noting her potential to help solve complex supply chain challenges.

Cole said her MBA experience helped her understand business dynamics and corporate strategy, giving her the tools to navigate the professional world.

Outside of academics, Cole recently completed the London Marathon, a personal milestone she describes as one of her proudest accomplishments.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve probably ever had to accomplish, but I’m really proud that I did that,” she said.

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