April 29, 2021

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—Butler University will host seven separate commencement ceremonies May 8-9 to safely accommodate more guests, and allow for proper social distancing between graduates and guests. All ceremonies will be held in Hinkle Fieldhouse on the Butler campus.

Typically, Butler hosts one commencement ceremony for all of its graduates. This year, the university will host separate ceremonies for each of its six colleges, plus an additional ceremony for the Class of 2020. Butler was unable to host a commencement ceremony in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Each graduate will be allowed to invite two guests to attend the ceremony. Guests will be seated in pods, with at least six feet between them and other guests. Graduates will be seated throughout the arena, and will also have at least six feet between them and other graduates, faculty members, and dignitaries who will be in attendance.

“Given what we have experienced over the past year, I have gained an even deeper appreciation for the importance of social gatherings and the value of celebrating life’s milestones together,” Butler President James M. Danko said. “While I prefer Hinkle Fieldhouse at full capacity, I’m grateful that we are able to safely accommodate guests for this very special occasion.”

There are 1,235 students graduating from Butler in the Class of 2021; 978 students are earning undergraduate degrees and 257 students are earning graduate degrees. Of the 1,348 students who graduated in the Class of 2020, 328 are expected to return to campus to participate in their commencement ceremony.

The ceremonies’ dates, times, and speakers are:

Saturday, May 8

Class of 2021

  • 8:30 AM—Jordan College of the Arts: Faculty address by Dr. Becky Marsh, Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education; student reflection speaker is Daniel Scofield, Dance-Arts Administration major, Business Administration minor
  • 12:30 PM—College of Communication: Faculty address by Dr. Abbey Levenshus, Associate Professor of Strategic Communication; student reflection speaker is Jack Shirley, Strategic Communication major, Digital Media Production minor
  • 4:30 PM—Lacy School of Business: Student reflections by undergraduate Taylor Fisher, double major in Finance and Economics, and graduate student Anna Rader​, Master of Science in Risk and Insurance

Class of 2020

  • 8:30 PM—All Graduates: Faculty address by Dr. Jane Gervasio, Professor of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Sunday, May 9

Class of 2021

  • 10:00 AM—College of Education: Faculty address by Dr. Debra Lecklider, Professor and Director of the Experiential Program for Preparing School Principals (EPPSP) graduate program
  • 2:00 PM—College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Faculty address by Dr. Terri Jett, Professor of Political Science and Peace and Conflict Studies Department, Faculty Director of the Hub for Black Affairs and Community Engagement and Senior Advisor to the President, Affiliate Faculty—Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; student reflection speaker is Gwen Valles, double major in International Studies and Spanish, with a minor in Chinese
  • 6:00 PM—College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: Student reflection speakers are Will Grabowski, Doctor of Pharmacy, Class of 2021 President; Megan Becker, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, Class of 2021 President; Eshaan Lothe, Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, Class of 2021 President

Media Contact:
Mark Apple
mapple1@butler.edu
317-519-8592

About Butler University
Butler University is a nationally recognized comprehensive university encompassing six colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Pharmacy & Health Sciences. Approximately 4,600 undergraduate and 800 graduate students are enrolled at Butler, representing 45 states and 30 countries. More than 75 percent of Butler students will participate in some form of internship, and Butler students have had significant success after graduation, as demonstrated by the University’s 98 percent placement rate within six months of graduation. The University was recently listed as the No. 1 regional university in the Midwest, according to the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, in addition to being included in The Princeton Review’s annual “best colleges” guidebook.