Auburn will celebrate nearly 2,000 graduates during the university’s fall commencement on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Neville Arena. The three ceremonies will feature distinguished alumna and Trustee Emerita Sarah B. Newton as keynote speaker, offering graduates inspiration shaped by decades of leadership in education, student opportunity and community impact.

“Commencement represents an important moment for our students and for our campus,” Provost Vini Nathan said. “It reflects years of hard work, growth, and ambition. We look forward to honoring their achievements and the meaningful contributions they will make as alumni.”

Since 1856, Auburn has awarded more than 338,000 degrees, including over 275,000 bachelor’s degrees and 62,700 graduate and professional degrees. This fall, 1,998 graduates will join that legacy, representing the full spectrum of disciplines that define the university. The class includes 1,493 bachelor’s recipients and 505 graduate students, among them 130 doctoral candidates and 375 students earning master’s or education specialist degrees. Together, the graduates represent 41 states and 37 countries, range in age from 20 to 61, include 226 first-generation students, more than 17 newly commissioned military officers and numerous students earning academic honors. The Harbert College of Business will award the largest number of degrees, with 359 graduates, followed by the College of Liberal Arts with 317.

The university’s fall ceremonies will feature keynote remarks from Trustee Emerita Sarah Newton, a 1974 Auburn graduate whose four decades of leadership reflect a deep commitment to education and community advancement. Newton began her career as an elementary school teacher and later served as principal of Fayette Elementary in her native Fayette, Alabama, a Title I school where she strengthened academic programs and supported faculty development. Beyond education, Newton’s leadership includes regional engagement as president of the Fayette County Community Development Corporation and a member of the Fayette Economic Advisory Board, where she helped secure grants, expand educational opportunities and drive economic growth throughout West Alabama.

Newton later served two consecutive seven-year terms on Auburn’s Board of Trustees, chairing the Academic Affairs Committee and contributing to accreditation and academic policy initiatives across the Southeast. She is also the founder of Auburn’s nationally recognized EAGLES program, which provides postsecondary transition support for students with intellectual disabilities, and co-founded The EAGLES Foundation, which has raised more than $2 million in scholarship funding. A lifelong advocate for educational access, Newton holds two master’s degrees from Auburn and continues to work with faculty through the College of Education and the College of Human Sciences to expand learning opportunities and build innovative partnerships.

Commencement ceremonies will begin at 8 a.m. for graduates in the Colleges of Agriculture, Education, Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Nursing, Sciences and Mathematics and the Harbert College of Business. The 1 p.m. ceremony will honor doctoral and master’s degree candidates in the Graduate School, followed by a 6 p.m. ceremony recognizing graduates from the Colleges of Architecture, Design and Construction, Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

Tickets are required for entry into Neville Arena. All graduates and guests must enter through the main doors; the Scholarship Entrance is reserved for individuals with accessibility needs. A list of prohibited items, parking guidance and day-of logistics is available online. Guests without tickets may view a live broadcast at the Village Dining Hall or stream ceremonies on the commencement website.

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