School of Business & Leadership Commissioning Ceremony

Location: Library Plaza (outside/rain or shine)
Date & Time: Saturday, May 9, 9:00-10:30 a.m. (ET)
Graduate Arrival and Line-up: 8:00 a.m. Wear academic regalia (gown, hat, and tassel; carry your hood)

Congratulations! You have made it to graduation! We are excited that you have decided to join us for our Commissioning Service and look forward to meeting your families and friends.

Commissioning is a sacred service dedicated to worship, prayer and anointing. Commissioning means “to grant authority,” “to entrust,” or “to appoint or assign a task or function.” This special ceremony authorizes our graduates to take their training into the world and make a difference for Christ.

This event will prayerfully commission you to serve the world as a Christian leader in your chosen field. The schedule includes:

• Dean’s welcome and invocation
• Formal reading of graduate names and hooding
• Faculty prayer and anointing of graduates
• Presentation of awards
• Professional headshots by Grad Images
• Reception at the Communications Building Plaza from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

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The service will be streamed live on this page at 9:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Commencement (aka graduation) will be held Saturday, May 9, beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET on the Library Plaza. This ceremony includes all graduates & faculty. Please view www.regent.edu/commencement for more information about Commencement.

Please RSVP for both the Commencement and Commissioning ceremonies whether you plan to attend or not. To RSVP for these events, please visit your MyRegent portal, select the Student tab at the top and scroll down to the My Account portion where you will be able to communicate your participation by completing the survey in the “RSVP for Commencement & Commissioning” option. Please RSVP by April 5, 2026.

View the Regent campus map and area hotels.

Processional and Opening Hymn*	“Great is Thy Faithfulness” Dr. MaryJo Burchard Adjunct Faculty Accompanied by Mr. Brad Shedd Adjunct Faculty
Welcome & Invocation	Dr. Doris Gomez Dean, School of Business & Leadership
Introduction of the Chancellor	Dr. Doris Gomez
Exhortation from the Chancellor	Gordon Robertson Chancellor, Regent University
Introduction of the Provost	Dr. Doris Gomez
Greetings from the Provost	Dr. William Hathaway Provost, Regent University
Dean’s Commissioning Address to the Class of 2026	Dr. Doris Gomez
Presentation of Candidates & Hooding Ceremony	Presenters & Reader Dr. Mihai Bocarnea Associate Professor, Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership Candidates Dr. Kathleen Patterson DSL Program Director and Professor, Doctor of Strategic Leadership Candidates Dr. Emilyn Cabanda DBA Program Director and Professor, Doctor of Business Administration Candidate Dr. Jeffrey Ganthner MBA Program Director and Assistant Professor, Master of Business Administration Candidates Dr. Stephen Firestone MAOL Program Director and Associate Professor, Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership Candidates Dr. Lilly Mbinglo MS in Accounting Program Director and Adjunct Faculty, Master of Science in Business Analytics Candidates Master of Science in Accounting Candidates Dr. Bob Habib Adjunct Faculty, Reader
Academic Award Presentations	Dr. Lilly Mbinglo
Alumni Hall of Distinction Induction	Dr. Doris Gomez
Benediction	Dr. Doris Gomez
Recessional and Closing Hymn**	“Be Thou My Vision” Dr. MaryJo Burchard Accompanied by Mr. Brad Shedd

*Please stand.
**Please stand and permit the faculty and graduates to exit before family and guests.

Dean Gomez cordially invites you and your guests to attend the
School of Business & Leadership Commissioning Reception
at the Communication Building Plaza
immediately following the ceremony
from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Please join us for Commencement as we celebrate our graduates from all our schools on Saturday, May 9^th at 5:00 p.m. on the Library Plaza.

Arrival

Graduates are expected to check in at the table outside in front of the Administration Building (#3 on the campus map) by 8:00 a.m. dressed in full regalia—gown, hat, and tassel (carry your hood).

Parking

Parking will be available across campus, but we encourage you to park in the Communication Building parking lots (lots K and L on the campus map). Click here to view the Regent campus map.

Where to Order

Purchase your academic regalia through Oak Hall. Online ordering will open on February 5, 2026. Please note that only Oak Hall regalia may be worn by graduates for on-campus related commencement activities. 

Deadline to ship to Home: April 5, 2026
Deadline to ship to Regent: March 22, 2026

**Orders that graduates request to be shipped to Regent University will be available to pick up in the Welcome Center, Divinity Building Room 177 on the following dates:

Tuesday, May 5; 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6; 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 7; 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Friday, May 8; 7:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Graduates are strongly encouraged to pick up regalia prior to May 9. However, regalia may also be picked up on Saturday morning. Regalia will be available to pick up from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Welcome Center, Divinity Building Room 177 and then at the regalia station near the student line-up from 3 p.m.

Cost Overview

Master’s regalia package – $68+ (robe, cap, hood, and tassel)
Doctoral regalia package – $111+ (robe, tam, hood, and tassel)

Shipping, handling, and tax not included.

Oak Hall offers a variety of shipping options. See the Oak Hall website for details.

Graduates must wear all regalia for the service, including caps and gowns (bring your hood). Gentlemen should wear button-down dress shirts and ties with dress pants and dress shoes. Ladies should wear a dress, skirt or dress pants and dress shoes. Please be advised that men will need to remove their caps during prayer.

Graduates will not be permitted to carry anything— including purses, bags, umbrellas, or cameras— into the ceremony. Graduates should leave all belongings in their vehicles or with their guests. There is no place to store belongings before or during the service. You will not be returning to your original seat once you have walked across the stage. Regent University is not responsible for lost or stolen belongings.

There are no seating limits; therefore, tickets are not required.

Contact Rebecca Morgan at rebemo1@regent.edu for questions about the School of Business & Leadership Commissioning Ceremony.