Save the Date!
Congratulations to our graduating class of 2026! We look forward to celebrating your accomplishments on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the ONU Sports Center Field House, and then at a reception immediately following at the College of Law (Tilton Hall).
We ask you please wear your cap and gown, and bring your hood with you. Please note: You may NOT wear additional cords, sashes, etc. during the ceremony.
8:30 AM - Doors open. Guests should arrive by 9:00 AM, and should be seated by 9:30 AM
9:20 AM - Graduating students assemble for the processional
10:00 AM - Commencement begins
Commencement Speaker
Ohio Northern University’s Claude W. Pettit College of Law is honored to welcome Barbara J. Howard, president-elect of the American Bar Association, as the keynote speaker for its 2026 commencement ceremony.
A distinguished leader in the legal profession, Howard is principal of the Barbara J. Howard Law Firm in Cincinnati and will begin her term as ABA president in August. A board-certified specialist in family relations law, she has built an exceptional career focused on complex family law matters and collaborative practice.
Howard has held numerous leadership roles, including Chair of the ABA’s House of Delegates, and past president of both the Ohio State Bar Association and the Cincinnati Bar Association. Her commitment to service also extends to higher education and community leadership, including serving as Chair of the Xavier University Board of Trustees and currently as Chair of the Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science, magna cum laude, from Xavier University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
A reception will be held immediately following Commencement in the Law School (Tilton Hall). Students and their families are cordially invited to attend a dessert reception and freely take pictures and tour our beautiful facility at their leisure.