Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Reed delivered keynote address
NEW ORLEANS — The University of Holy Cross (UHC) today celebrated the Class of 2026 at its annual commencement ceremony at the John A. Alario Event Center in Westwego. Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter Reed delivered the keynote address in honor of 161 graduates, representing degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
“The Class of 2026 has contributed to a legacy of excellence that we’ve upheld for 110 years,” said Dr. Stanton F. McNeely, president of UHC. “Their success in the classroom, in clinical settings and in our community is reflected in the rankings, the ratings and the outcomes we celebrate this year. We are very proud to celebrate their achievements today.”
This year’s graduating class enters the workforce at a moment of significant momentum for the university. In 2025, UHC was named the No. 1 nursing school in Louisiana by RegisteredNursing.org, which evaluated 28 programs statewide. Additionally, its teacher education programs earned the highest possible rating from the Louisiana Department of Education’s Teacher Preparation Quality Rating for the fourth consecutive year. It is one of two institutions statewide to achieve this distinction across both undergraduate and post-baccalaureate pathways. In early 2026, UHC also launched a fully online Master of Arts in Teaching, expanding access for career changers and nontraditional students.
“UHC is building career pathways with intention and innovation,” said Dr. Reed. “Students do not fit into one traditional model. Louisiana’s future workforce depends on our ability to build systems that work for every student. Today’s graduates are proof that when institutions commit to that work, students rise to meet it.”
Dr. Reed is a nationally recognized leader whose career has spanned state and federal leadership roles. Prior to her current role, she led the Colorado Department of Higher Education and served as deputy undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education under the Obama administration, where she also led the White House Initiatives on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In January 2023, she was named one of the nation’s Top 10 Black higher education leaders by Forbes. She is currently the only female in the country to have served as a state education executive in multiple states.
A Commencement Mass and Awards Ceremony was held prior to the ceremony on Saturday, May 16 at the UHC campus.
At this year’s commencement, UHC conferred 40 doctorates, 61 master’s, 51 bachelor’s and nine associate degrees.
For more information about the University of Holy Cross and its programs, visit uhcno.edu.
About the University of Holy Cross:
Founded in 1916 by the Marianites of Holy Cross, the University of Holy Cross is a fully accredited Catholic university in New Orleans offering more than 50 undergraduate and graduate programs. Through the Marianite mission of educating minds and hearts, UHC is a recognized leader in the helping professions, including distinctive programs in nursing, education, counseling and health sciences. Students benefit from a personalized academic experience enriched by spiritual values, service opportunities and an inclusive campus community. Learn more at uhcno.edu.