Xavier University of Louisiana will welcome His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson and STEM advocate Dr. Calvin Mackie as the University celebrates more than 600 graduates during its 2026 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 9.

Cardinal Turkson, one of the most prominent figures in the global Catholic Church, will address the Undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences ceremony at 1 p.m. and receive an honorary degree. He will also serve as celebrant for Xavier’s Baccalaureate Mass the evening before Commencement.

A native of Ghana, Cardinal Turkson has served the Catholic Church across continents, including as Archbishop of Cape Coast, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and the first Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. He currently serves as Chancellor of both the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

His presence at Xavier carries special significance. As the nation’s only historically Black and Catholic university, Xavier’s commencement celebration reflects both its deep Catholic identity and its global mission to prepare graduates for lives of leadership, service, and the common good.

Dr. Calvin Mackie will deliver the keynote address for the Graduate Programs and College of Pharmacy ceremony at 8 a.m. and will also receive an honorary degree. A New Orleans native, Dr. Mackie is a nationally recognized STEM advocate, educator, entrepreneur, and founder of STEM NOLA, which later expanded to STEM Global Action.

Since 2013, STEM NOLA and STEM Global Action have engaged more than 200,000 students, many from underrepresented backgrounds, in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics experiences. Dr. Mackie’s selection is a natural fit for Xavier, a national leader in STEM and health sciences and one of the country’s top contributors of Black students to medical and pharmacy schools.

Together, Cardinal Turkson and Dr. Mackie reflect the breadth of Xavier’s mission: faith and scholarship, justice and innovation, service and leadership. Their participation will help mark a powerful sendoff for the Class of 2026 as graduates prepare to carry Xavier’s legacy into communities, professions, and industries across the world.

Xavier’s 99th Commencement ceremonies are ticketed events, with admission limited to guests who receive tickets directly from graduates.