Commencement: Heinz College Hooding, Diploma & Awards Ceremony
We look forward to bringing our Heinz College community together to celebrate at our Heinz College Hooding, Diploma & Awards Ceremony. This page will be regularly updated, so check back for the most up-to-date information.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET (Check-In Time: 11:00 a.m. ET)
In-Person Location: Petersen Events Center, University of Pittsburgh Campus
Join us as we celebrate and recognize the achievements of our recent graduates!
The event is in-person and will also be broadcast via livestream on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Broadcast begins at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Graduates from the following classes are eligible to participate in the Commencement events:
- August 2024
- December 2024
- May 2025
- August 2025 (Master's only)
Graduates must register here by April 15th in order to participate in the Heinz College Hooding, Diploma, and Awards Ceremony.
Ceremony Speakers
Producer/CEO of Chestnut Ridge Productions Paula Wagner Will Give the Keynote Address
We are honored to welcome Paula Wagner, Producer/CEO of Chestnut Ridge Productions, to deliver the keynote address at this year's Heinz College Diploma Ceremony.
Wagner is a powerhouse in the entertainment industry, with a career spanning film, Broadway, talent representation, and studio leadership. She began as a Broadway actress before becoming a top talent agent at Creative Artists Agency, where she signed and represented major actors, directors, and writers. She co-founded Cruise/Wagner Productions with her former client Tom Cruise, launching the blockbuster Mission: Impossible film series. As a producer, she has been behind acclaimed films such as The Last Samurai, Vanilla Sky, The Others, and Shattered Glass. Wagner executive produced Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds and many other notable films, and served as CEO of United Artists from 2006 to 2008.
Through her production company, Chestnut Ridge Productions, Wagner produced the critically acclaimed film Marshall, starring Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad and Kate Hudson. Her Broadway theater-producing credits include Pretty Woman: The Musical, The Heiress starring Jessica Chastain, Grace starring Paul Rudd and Michael Shannon, and the Tony-nominated Mothers and Sons. She continues to bring compelling stories to the stage, with upcoming productions of High Noon and The Others.
Wagner's achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including Premier magazine's Women in Hollywood Icon Award, the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Organization's Sherry Lansing Award, and the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards. She was featured in Bravo's "Women on Top," a documentary profiling exceptional women in entertainment.
Wagner is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of entertainment professionals. A passionate advocate for higher education, she has been an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Master of Entertainment Industry Management (MEIM) program for more than a decade and is an emeritus member of the CMU Board of Trustees. She also serves on the Board of Councilors for the USC School of Dramatic Arts and previously held a similar role at UCLA’s School of TV, Film, and Theatre.
Kelly Ufford (MEIM '25) Is Selected as Student Speaker
We are delighted to announce that this year's student speaker for the Heinz College Diploma Ceremony is Kelly Ufford from the MEIM program. Kelly was selected by her peers to address our graduates at the Diploma Ceremony on Saturday, May 10. Congrats, Kelly!
Kelly is from Wichita, KS, and received her undergraduate degree in Musical Theater from Ball State University. After commencement, Kelly plans to stay in Los Angeles and work in the film and television industry.
CELEBRATE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
We encourage graduates, classmates, family members, and loved ones to share congratulatory message, photos, and videos on social media in the weeks and days leading up to and following the event.
Capture the magic of the day and tag us in your posts and on your story! Don’t forget to use #CMUGRAD25 and #HNZGRAD25.
Tag us on:
- Instagram: @heinzcollege
- Facebook: Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy
- LinkedIn: Carnegie Mellon University - Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy
We are excited to share some customized Heinz College graphics - feel free to download and post! Find our most recent designs for your use in this CMU Box folder.
Heinz College Ceremony Venue Details
The Heinz College Ceremony will be held at the Petersen Events Center to allow for ample space for all our graduates and their guests. NO TICKETS or REGISTRATION FOR GUESTS is needed. All seats will give you a good view, so no worries!
FAQs
We know there's a lot on your mind as graduation approaches—we're here to make sure you don't forget the details!
Below, you'll find answers to common questions regarding some graduation basics like regalia and diplomas, as well as information about the CMU's in-person commencement activities.