School of Business & Leadership Commissioning Ceremony

Location: Library Plaza (outside/rain or shine)
Date & Time: Thursday, May 8, 6:00-8:00 p.m. (ET)
Graduate Arrival and Line-up: 5:00 p.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 & anointing of graduates
• Presentation of awards
• Professional headshots by Grad Images
• Reception at the Communications Building Plaza from 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

---

The service will be streamed live on this page at 6:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Commencement (aka graduation) will be held Saturday, May 10, beginning at 9:15 a.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 Sunday, April 13, 2025.

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, College of Arts & Sciences
Welcome & Invocation	Dr. John Mulford Professor
Introduction of the Provost	Dr. Doris Gomez Dean
Exhortation from Academic Affairs	Dr. William Hathaway Provost
Dean’s Commissioning Address to the Class of 2025	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 Professor, Doctor of Strategic Leadership Candidates Dr. A. Gregory Stone & Dr. Andrew Root Professor & Assistant Professor, Master of Business Administration Candidates Dr. Stephen Firestone Associate Professor, Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership Candidates Dr. Mihai Bocarnea Associate Professor, Master of Science in Business Analytics Candidates Dr. Bob Habib Adjunct Faculty, Reader
Academic Award Presentations	Dr. Bramwell Osula Principal Lecturer Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership Doctor of Strategic Leadership Master of Business Administration Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership Master of Science in Business Analytics
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 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Arrival

Graduates are expected to check in at the table outside on the left side of the front of the Administration Building (#3 on the campus map) by 5:00 p.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.

Students who ordered their regalia to be shipped to Regent University must pick up their regalia on campus at the Dede Robertson Student Center. Graduates must present their picture ID to pick up their regalia (caps, gowns, and tassels) in the Welcome Center, Divinity Building Room 177. Click here to view the Regent campus map.

Pick up Regalia

Tuesday, May 6; 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Welcome Center, Divinity Building Room 177

Wednesday, May 7; 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Welcome Center, Divinity Building Room 177

Thursday, May 8; 7:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Welcome Center, Divinity Building Room 177

Friday, May 9; 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Welcome Center, Divinity Building Room 177

Graduates are strongly encouraged to pick up regalia prior to May 10. However, regalia may also be picked up the morning of Commencement beginning at 8 am at the regalia station near the student line-up.

The Registrar’s staff will only release regalia to someone other than the graduate if they have received prior written consent from the graduate at registrar@regent.edu. Graduates must send this written consent from their Regent email account.

Graduates not attending the Commissioning Service may pick up their regalia the morning of Commencement, beginning at 8:00 a.m.; however, they are strongly encouraged to pick up their regalia in advance.

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.