Order of Ceremonies Spring 2026

Congratulations to the graduates of the Gies College of Business Class of 2026!

We are proud to celebrate your achievements and the dedication that brought you to this milestone.

LiveStreams

Order of Ceremony Programs

Message from the Dean

"We are honored to celebrate this major milestone with you today and are exceptionally proud of all you’ve achieved – successfully completing a rigorous curriculum, earning your degree, and exploring your passions and purpose. We hope you’re graduating with confidence in yourself to take what you’ve learned and apply it toward whatever is next in your journey. As you move on to that next experience, please look back on the memories and relationships you’ve made in your program – and the support you’ve received along the way, whether from family, friends, faculty, staff, or alumni. We’re all excited to see where your future takes you and the impact you will make in the lives of others. I know you will continue to make the College proud. Please carry the passion, purpose, and integrity of your Gies Business experience with you always. Proudly share what you have learned. And remember, once you are part of the Gies Business community, you are always part of the Gies Business community. Congratulations to the Class of 2026."

W. Brooke Elliott - Josef and Margot Lakonishok Professor in Business and Dean Gies College of Business

Alumni Speaker

Aaron Schumm Founder, CEO, and Chairman Vestwell Finance ‘00

Aaron Schumm is the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Vestwell, a fintech platform powering the modern savings economy. Founded in 2016, Vestwell partners with financial institutions, governments, employers, and payroll providers to expand access and engagement to critical savings programs. The platform powers retirement, education,

disability, health, and emergency savings programs for over two million people across 500,000 businesses. Prior to Vestwell, he had cofounded FolioDynamix, a wealth management financial technology platform later acquired by Envestnet.

Aaron has more than two decades of leadership experience across enterprise fintech andfinancial services. He is a recognized global voice in fintech and regularly represents the industry on the future of savings, financial security, and public-private collaboration. Hehas spoken at leading forums, and he is a published contributor to Entrepreneur, where he shares perspectives on how technology, policy, and employers can work together to expand access to savings.

Aaron has served on the boards and advisory boards of multiple fintech companies, several of which were successfully acquired, reflecting a long-standing commitment to innovation and responsible scale.

Aaron received his bachelor’s in finance from Gies College of Business in 2000 and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in 2007. He has been recognized as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year (New York), named to InvestmentNews’ 40 Under 40, and featured as one of WealthManagement.com’s top “10 to Watch.” Under his leadership, Vestwell has been recognized among Inc.’s Fastest Growing Companies, CNBC’s World’s Top Fintech Companies, and Forbes’ Best Places to Work.

Note to attendees:

To honor every graduate and maintain a smooth ceremony experience, we kindly ask that graduates and guests remain seated for the duration of the ceremony. This helps ensure each graduate receives the same recognition and prevents disruptions for those celebrating their graduate’s moment.