The esteemed scholar and Northeastern graduate will speak to the Class of 2026 on May 15.

Northeastern Illinois University proudly announces alumna Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Ph.D. (B.A. '07, Interdisciplinary Studies), as the keynote speaker for its May 2026 Commencement ceremony.

The event takes place at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026, at Credit Union 1 Arena, 525 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. Tickets are required for graduates and guests. A livestream will be available at neiu.edu/commencement.

"Dr. Taylor's achievements showcase the profound impact of a Northeastern education," stated Northeastern Illinois University President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan, Ph.D. "We are honored to have her motivate our graduates as they step into their future personal and professional paths."

Following her bachelor's degree from Northeastern, Dr. Taylor earned her master's and doctoral degrees from Northwestern University. She currently serves as the Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and is a prominent scholar and author.

Dr. Taylor has received prestigious awards including a MacArthur Fellowship and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Her research and public work have garnered national acclaim, literary honors, and notable distinctions. She authored several celebrated books - such as "Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership" (University of North Carolina Press, 2019), a Pulitzer Prize finalist in History - along with other influential publications on economic and social topics.

Dr. Taylor is a Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians, part of the inaugural Freedom Scholars cohort, and a contributing writer for The New Yorker.

EVENT DETAILS

WHEN: Friday, May 15, 2026
Commencement at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets required.
Livestream: neiu.edu/commencement
WHERE: Credit Union 1 Arena, 525 S. Racine Ave., Chicago
RSVP: Media RSVP to Chris Childers at Cchilders@neiu.edu.

ABOUT NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

Northeastern Illinois University provides over 40 undergraduate degrees and certificates, plus more than 50 graduate programs, certificates, licenses, and endorsements. Its Main Campus spans 67 acres in a vibrant residential area on Chicago's Northwest Side. Established in 1867, Northeastern is a Minority-Serving Institution and the Midwest's oldest four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution. Additional sites include the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, El Centro, and the University Center of Lake County.

SOURCE Northeastern Illinois University