2026 Digital Program

On behalf of the faculty and staff of the Charles H. Lundquist College of Business, it is a privilege to welcome you to our 2026 PhD, Master of Accounting, and MS in Finance commencement ceremony. Today, we recognize a profound milestone—the completion of a journey defined by rigorous inquiry, professional evolution, and a steadfast dedication to excellence.

To our graduates: your time here has been more than an academic pursuit; it has been a deliberate investment in your potential and vision to shape the future of academia and industry. Whether you joined us to master the complexities of financial markets, advance the standards of accounting, or contribute original research to the global body of business knowledge, you have emerged with a sharpened perspective and a more sophisticated toolkit. You’ve learned how to serve with purpose and integrity, and we are immensely proud of the scholars, professionals, and thoughtful leaders you have become.

To the families, partners, and colleagues who supported these graduates through years of research, late-night analysis, and demanding exams: thank you. Your belief in their aspirations has been a vital catalyst for their success.

At the Lundquist College, we believe that advanced education is a lifelong commitment to thinking boldly and acting with intent. As you transition into your professional roles or join the ranks of faculty, remember that you are now part of a distinguished global network: “Once a Duck, always a Duck.” You will always find a home and a community of peers here at the University of Oregon. Congratulations on this significant achievement.

Bruce Blonigen, Edward Maletis Dean, Lundquist College of Business

Monday, June 15, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Beall Hall

Processional

Pomp and Circumstance (Edward Elgar)
Lindsey Henriksen Rodgers, PhD playing the Organ

Welcome and Opening Comments

Bruce Blonigen
Edward Maletis Dean, Lundquist College of Business

PhD Program Recognition and Hooding

Ryan Rahinel
Director, PhD Program; Associate Professor of Marketing; Judy and Hugh Oliphant Research Scholar; Coordinator, Marketing PhD Program

PhD Program Speaker 

Abby Frank
PhD Candidate, Marketing

Master’s Programs Recognition and Honors

Jenn Welander
Interim Director, Master of Accounting Program; Assistant Teaching Professor of Accounting

Master of Accounting Hooding 

Bruce Blonigen
Jenn Welander
Stephanie Peel
Professor of Practice; Porter Faculty Fellow

Master of Science in Finance Hooding 

Bruce Blonigen
Z. Jay Wang
Head, Department of Finance; Professor of Finance; Alumni Investment Management Research Scholar
Anjit Anand
Director, Cameron Center for Finance and Securities Analysis; Professor of Practice

Closing Remarks

Bruce Blonigen

Recessional

College Awards

Outstanding Master of Accounting Student Award
Maxwell Griffith Reder

School of Accounting Award for Excellence 
Kyle Aaron Richardson ^†

Outstanding Master of Science in Finance Student Award
Haylie Rose Kerr *

Top Academic Honors

Graduating at the Top of the Lundquist College of Business Graduate Program Class

Master of Accounting Valedictorian
Maxwell Griffith Reder

Graduate Ambassadors

^† Indicates membership in Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society
* MSF Class of 2026 Most Outstanding Student, awarded by program faculty based on performance in the curriculum, extracurricular pursuits, and contributions to the program.

Doctoral Candidates

Xuanyu Bai
Finance PhD Program
“The Effect of Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions on Government Subsidies” 
Doctoral Chair: Youchang Wu, Professor of Finance; John B. Rogers Research Scholar 

Abby Frank
Marketing PhD Program
“The Afterlife Advantage of Cultural Producers” 
Doctoral Chair: Ryan Rahinel, Director, PhD Program; Associate Professor of Marketing; Judy and Hugh Oliphant Research Scholar; Coordinator, Marketing PhD Program

Matthew Kuchin
Accounting PhD Program
“Proprietary Costs of Disaggregated Earnings Guidance” 
Doctoral Co-Chair: Jaewoo Kim, Associate Professor of Accounting; Booth Research Scholar; Coordinator, Accounting PhD Program
Doctoral Co-Chair: Kyle Peterson, Director, School of Accounting; Charles E. Johnson Memorial Professor of Accounting 

Adria Mankute
Marketing PhD Program
“Consumer Behavior in Complex Contexts: Effects of Indirect Marketing on Memory”
Doctoral Chair: T. Bettina Cornwell, Head, Department of Marketing; Professor of Marketing; Philip H. Knight Chair; Academic Director, UO Olympic Studies Hub

Tim Messenger
Accounting PhD Program
“Foreign Tax Credit Hyping and American Competitiveness in the Foreign Mergers and Acquisition Market”
Doctoral Chair: Linda Krull, Richard W. Lindholm Professor in Taxation

Wendi Wu
Finance PhD Program
“Clearing the Murky Waters: How the First Analyst Recommendation Affects Retail Trading Costs”
Doctoral Co-Chair: Maria Chaderina, Assistant Professor of Finance 
Doctoral Co-Chair: Rob Ready, Associate Professor of Finance; Doug McKay Research Scholar; Coordinator, Finance PhD Program

Lundquist College of Business Degree Candidates

Master of Accounting

* Master of Accounting Class of 2026 Valedictorian
^† Indicates membership in Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society.

Master of Science in Finance

* Master of Science in Finance Class of 2026 Most Outstanding Student, awarded by program faculty based on performance in the curriculum, extracurricular pursuits, and contributions to the program.
^† Indicates membership in Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society.
¹ MBA/MSF Concurrent

Notes on Academic Dress

Today’s academic regalia have their origins in the caps and gowns worn in medieval universities more than 800 years ago. Unlike bachelor’s gowns, both master’s and doctoral robes reflect advanced study, though they differ in style. Master’s gowns typically feature long, closed sleeves with arm slits, while doctoral robes are distinguished by velvet facings and three velvet bars across the sleeves in black or in colors specific to the degree subject (for example, business administration and accountancy: drab; engineering: orange; statistics: light rose).Some of these colors are probably arbitrary, whereas others carry symbolic or historic significance. Thus, green, the color of medicinal herbs and all things living, signifies medicine. Blue, the color of heaven, stands for wisdom and truth (that is, philosophy). Law is represented by the royal purple of the crown.In addition to robes, the hood plays a crucial role in identifying the wearer’s academic field, degree level, and the institution granting the degree. Originally functioning as a head covering, the hood has evolved over time, serving various purposes, such as a shoulder cape and even a bag for alms and payments. The size and shape of the hood indicate the level of the degree, either master’s or doctoral, while the combination of colors conveys important information about the wearer’s academic discipline and institutional affiliation, adding a sense of tradition and distinction to the ceremonial attire.

Charles H. Lundquist College of Business

The Lundquist College of Business empowers an engaged community of students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders who create, apply, and disseminate business knowledge in order to make significant contributions to their professions, communities, and society. An integral part of the University of Oregon’s position as an elite research institution, the college boasts a world-class faculty that delivers a distinctive education combining an integrated understanding of business’s role in society with hands-on experiences.

• The Lillis Business Complex is the first certified environmentally friendly business school facility in the nation. 
• The college’s finance curriculum is certified by the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst Institute’s University Recognition Program, making it one of only 150 programs worldwide on this exclusive list. 
• The UO Master of Accounting program is STEM-certified, a distinction held by a small fraction of accounting programs nationwide, recognizing our graduates’ mastery of advanced technology, data science, and rigorous analytics.
• Lundquist PhD students had a prolific year, with 13 scholarly presentations, three journal submissions, four revision requests, and a journal acceptance. This excellence is driven in part by the unique Robin and Roger Best Fund, a $1 million endowment that has distributed more than $315,000 since 2014 to incentivize and support doctoral candidates’ research and publishing.
• With more than 48 articles accepted for publication in the past year, 110 accepted for publication in the Financial Times top 50 journals in the past five years, and a #18 ranking on a per capita basis for management research, our faculty are talented, sought-after experts in their fields who impress with distinguished honors and research recognition.
• The Lundquist College of Business was first accredited in 1923, and its accounting program was accredited in 1989. Less than 2 percent of the world’s business schools are accredited in both business and accounting by AACSB International. 

The Lundquist College of Business PhD, MAcc, and MSF class of 2026 includes 58 graduates from 8 countries, 14 states, and 26 Oregonians.

University of Oregon

John Karl Scholz, PresidentChristopher P. Long, Provost and Senior Vice PresidentBruce Blonigen, Edward Maletis Dean, Lundquist College of Business

Alumni Association

To learn more about the UO Alumni Association, visit alumni.uoregon.edu

Honoring Native Peoples and Lands

The University of Oregon is located on Kalapuya Ilihi, the traditional indigenous homeland of the Kalapuya people. Following treaties between 1851 and 1855, Kalapuya people were dispossessed of their indigenous homeland by the United States government and forcibly removed to the Coast Reservation in Western Oregon. Today, descendants are citizens of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians of Oregon, and continue to make important contributions in their communities, at UO, and across the land we now refer to as Oregon.

We express our respect for all federally recognized tribal nations of Oregon. This includes the Burns Paiute Tribe; the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians; the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon; the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon; the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; the Coquille Indian Tribe; the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians; and the Klamath Tribes. We also express our respect for all other displaced Indigenous peoples who call Oregon home.

The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. © 2026 University of Oregon.