SUNY Oneonta will celebrate approximately 1,150 graduates during four Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies May 15–16, featuring distinguished alumni speakers, honorary degree recipients and a new graduate ceremony. All events will take place inside the Alumni Field House.
To kick off the weekend, all graduates will gather between the Fine Arts Building and Welcome Center the afternoon of Friday, May 15, to participate in the Pass Through the Pillars tradition. As freshmen, these students officially joined the Oneonta community by following in the footsteps of their predecessors and walking between the historic pillars of Old Main toward a welcoming crowd. Now, they will walk the opposite way through the pillars—with friends, family and faculty cheering them on—away from the hub of campus and into the next phase of their lives.
New this year, a special graduate commencement ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. Friday in the Dewar Arena with keynote speaker and alumnus Dr. Brandon Lee, who was voted upon by graduating master's students.
Brandon Lee '16, 18G
Dr. Brandon Lee is a Registered Dietitian with the U.S. Army at Fort Drum, New York. After earning his bachelor's degree in Dietetics from SUNY Oneonta in 2016, Lee enrolled in Oneonta's Nutrition and Dietetics master's program, which he completed in 2018, and ultimately completed a Doctor of Health Science degree from Pennsylvania Western University. He has worked across academia, clinical care, research, professional sports, and now supports Soldier health and readiness in the military. A healthcare practitioner, writer, researcher, and speaker, Lee has been recognized twice as Civilian of the Quarter by the U.S. Army. This year, he was honored as New York State’s Outstanding Dietitian of the Year and received the Outstanding Early Career Achievement Award.
On Saturday, the 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. undergraduate ceremonies will feature Class of 1975 alumnus Patrick McCann speaking to graduates and receiving an Honorary Doctor of Science in recognition of his leadership experience in the environmental, engineering and construction industries, and exceptional service to SUNY Oneonta.
Patrick McCann '75
After earning his bachelor's degree in Economics from SUNY Oneonta, McCann went on to earn master's degrees from both SUNY Binghamton and Virginia Tech. McCann spent most of his career with Weston Solutions , an environmental and infrastructure services firm, becoming President in 1998, and Chief Executive Officer in 2003. During his tenure, Weston won several awards for employee satisfaction and ethical practices. McCann is also a dedicated volunteer and served as a board member and trustee for several non-profits like the international development organization Water for People and the SUNY Oneonta Foundation, for which he served as President. From 2020 to 2023, McCann and his wife, Linda McCann '76, co-chaired the Grow. Thrive. Live. The Future of SUNY Oneonta comprehensive fundraising campaign. Under their leadership, the campaign ultimately raised $33.2 million in gifts, grants, and other commitments that fully endowed the SUNY Oneonta Student Emergency Fund, established over 25 new endowed scholarships or support funds, and increased the unrestricted portion of the SUNY Oneonta Foundation's endowment.
The final 4:30 p.m. ceremony celebrating School of Education, Human Ecology and Sports Studies graduates will feature Patricia Kennedy offering the keynote address and receiving an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of her community leadership, advocacy for marginalized populations and institutional innovation in the field of human services.
Patricia Kennedy
Patricia Kennedy is the Chief Executive Officer at Springbrook, one of New York State's leading educational, residential, and clinical providers for individuals with developmental disabilities. A graduate of SUNY Oswego, Kennedy's career has been rooted in compassion and community. She transformed Springbrook from the Upstate Home for Children into a comprehensive support service organization and pioneered inclusive housing and employment programs that promote dignity and independence. Kennedy is also passionate about supporting the vitality of the greater Oneonta area. She was a founding member of the Regional Innovation Council and partners with local businesses and nonprofits on community development initiatives. At SUNY Oneonta, Kennedy has helped establish experiential learning opportunities for students through part-time work and internships at Springbrook, develop microcredentials that support professional development and educational advancement for area Direct-Support Professionals, and facilitate the creation of the on-campus Go-Zone dayhabilitation center.