The evening of Saturday, May 16, delivered beautiful weather accentuating the positive energy of the friends, family, and University of Vermont faculty and staff that attended the 2026 Graduate College Commencement ceremony. Diplomas were awarded for Master and Ph.D candidates across a full spectrum of academic disciplines, including 27 members of the Grossman School of Business Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program. 

Graduates Created Through Perserverance

Marlene Tromp speaks to the Class of 2026 at the Graduate College Commencement

Throughout the ceremony, speakers reflected on the perseverance and purpose that define graduate education. University of Vermont President Marlene Tromp celebrated the extraordinary accomplishments of the Class of 2026, emphasizing the transformative nature of their work. “A graduate degree is about becoming a creator of new knowledge. What an extraordinary thing!” emphasized President Tromp.  She also challenged graduates to embrace what comes next with confidence and courage, urging them to “let go of the trapeze bar and fly.” 

Graduate College Dean Holger Hoock echoed that message, reminding graduates of the broader societal importance of their education. “Graduate education is a public good, and you are its living measure,” he told the audience.  Dean Hoock also called on graduates to pair their knowledge with purpose, adding, “What you have done here matters… to the people you will serve.” 

Representing the graduate student body, speaker Saba Rafiei reflected on the shared challenges and triumphs of the academic journey. “Graduate school is a test of resilience. It asks us to sit with uncertainty, to make mistakes and begin again,” she said. Continuing the message of resilience, Rafiei also highlighted the collective effort behind the moment, reminding her peers that “every ordinary responsibility carried with extraordinary persistence has brought you to this great celebration.”

Next Steps for MAcc Graduates

Master of Accountancy (MAcc) graduates from the class of 2026

For MAcc graduates, the ceremony marked more than the conclusion of their studies—it signaled the beginning of impactful careers in accounting, finance, and consulting across the country. Program director, Professor Suzanne Lowensohn, shared that the success of MAcc graduates is already evident beyond the commencement stage. As Lowensohn noted, the program has seen a notably high number of students pass the CPA exam shortly after graduation, which she attributes to the rigor and quality of the Grossman School’s curriculum. “We’re incredibly proud to see so many of our graduates successfully complete the CPA so early in their careers,” she said, adding that it reflects “the strength of the education they receive here and their readiness to step into the profession with confidence.”

MAcc graduates from the class of 2026 will join a global community of professional firms with the hope to make a meaningful difference through the lessons learned at their time at Grossman School. Among the national and local firms that MAcc graduates have committed to are AM Peisch, CBIZ, CohnReznick, Compucount Inc., Crowe, Deloitte & Touche, EisnerAmper, EY, Gallagher Flynn, John Hancock, Johnson Lambert, KBS, National Life Group, One Day In July, LLC, Pinchasik Yelen Muskat Stein LLC, Peoples Trust Company, PwC, RSM, and the Vermont Federal Credit Union.

The Class of 2026 leaves UVM not only with advanced degrees, but with the skills, resilience, and purpose to shape the future of their professions and communities. The Grossman School is proud of all these students have accomplished, and excited for what’s ahead. Congratulations, Class of 2026.