2026 Commencement and Baccalaureate speakers announced

Ballet dancer, author and founder Misty Copeland, who made history as the first Black woman to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, will deliver Wake Forest’s commencement address on Monday, May 18. The ceremony will take place on Hearn Plaza and begins at 9 a.m.

Copeland began her ballet studies at the late age of 13. At 15, she won first place in the Music Center Spotlight Awards. In September 2000, Copeland joined the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) as a member of the corps de ballet. In 2015, she was promoted to principal dancer, becoming the first Black woman to hold the position in the company’s 75-year history. Copeland retired from the ABT in 2025.

Author of the New York Times best-selling memoir, “Life in Motion,” Copeland recently released “Letters to Misty,” which shares her advice to young dancers, inspired by the letters she has received over the years. Copeland’s book series for young children, “Bunheads” and ”Bunheads 2,” was inspired by her early experiences in ballet.

An avid philanthropist, Copeland is an ambassador of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, of which she is also an alumna. In 2022, she launched The Misty Copeland Foundation, with its first signature program BEBOLD, which aims to transform conventional dance education and strives to make ballet accessible, affordable, and fun.

The baccalaureate speaker will be Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World. The service will take place on Sunday, May 17, at 11 a.m. 

The graduation ceremony and baccalaureate service are ticketed events reserved for graduates, their families and guests. Livestream webcasts of both events will be available on the University’s commencement website, and recordings will be posted after the events.

More information about the commencement speaker is available on the Wake Forest News website.