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Princeton Theological Seminary awarded 98 master’s and doctoral degrees during its Commencement service on May 16 at Princeton University Chapel.
Princeton Seminary President Jonathan Lee Walton, PhD, congratulated the Class of 2026 before introducing Commencement speaker and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson, PhD.
“We celebrate the discipline, the sacrifice, the scholarship, the faithfulness, and the perseverance that has brought you to this moment,” he said. President Walton lauded Robinson’s works, calling her “one of the nation’s clearest and most compelling public intellectuals” and praising her “witness to the scared dignity of thought and reflection itself.”
In Robinson’s speech, entitled,“Day to day pours forth speech,And night to night declares knowledge:The Joys of Theology,”
she underscored the importance of bringing theological thought and a fundamental respect for human dignity into the graduates’ future careers and to the communities they serve. She emphasized the gravity of such work, particularly at this current moment, as “there is a great yearning for coherency, for a way of looking at the world that makes meaning possible, or graspable.”
“Theology helps us understand and enjoy the fact that through faith, we are able to explore its applications, to friendship, to civic life, to the ethics of research and medical practice and so on,” said Robinson, who was honored as the 2026 recipient of the Daniel L. Migliore Distinguished Presidential Award for Faithful Leadership earlier in the week.
Robinson said she envisions “a real rekindling of religion — not as self-care, personalized and curated, and not as political or nationalist rage and triumphalism, but as a sober and judicious return to the great questions, to a respect study of humankind, God’s image and His darling.”
The graduates represented eight counties, 26 states, one territory, and the District of Columbia. Their education, formation, and experience at Princeton Seminary have prepared them to serve their communities, the church, and the academy. Members of the graduating class are pursuing roles as pastors, chaplain residents, collegiate professors, PhD students, U.S. Navy lieutenants, nonprofit CEOs, and more.
Lydia Andres, MDiv ’26, will serve as the new director of worship at Woodhaven Reformed Church in Byron Center, Michigan, after graduation. Her time at Princeton Seminary has refined how she views formation and approaches leadership in the church.
“It was here at the Seminary that God put me in touch with professors who not only challenged me to think deeply about what I believe but also to think about how those things relate to formation and to leading the church,” said Andres.
Adriana Soto Acevedo, MDiv/MACEF ’26, said her experience at Princeton Seminary has deepened her theological imagination and broadened her understanding of ministry as a form of bridgebuilding between people, congregations, and institutions. Throughout her time as a student, Soto Acevedo has served as a President’s Fellow, a deacon, a Young Adult Advisory Delegate, co-moderator of a Special Committee of the 225th General Assembly, a member of the Nominating Committee for the General Assembly, and as a delegate at the 69th session of the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women.
As I prepare for what comes next, I carry with me a stronger commitment to ministries rooted in presence, care, and connection.
“Together, these experiences helped me see how congregational life is strengthened not only through pastoral care within the local church but also through advocacy, collaboration, and relationships that connect communities across broader ecclesial and social contexts,” said Soto Acevedo, who plans to pursue ordination in the Presbyterian Church (USA), while exploring opportunities to engage in faith formation, congregational care, and mid-council ministry.
“The Seminary also gave me space to wrestle honestly with questions about vocation, identity, and the kind of leader I hope to become. As I prepare for what comes next, I carry with me a stronger commitment to ministries rooted in presence, care, and connection. I hope to continue serving in ways that help people and communities feel seen, supported, and empowered to imagine new possibilities together.”
A number of events celebrated the graduates during the week leading up to Commencement, starting with the beloved tradition of the Graduate Banquet on May 13. Princeton Seminary faculty and staff who have been deeply involved with the formation and education of the graduating class were servers for the meal, which honored the students’ transition to alumni. Senior Fellowship Day on May 14 brought the graduates together to enjoy either a kayaking adventure, a movie at the Princeton Garden Theatre, or a performance of the play “Mrs. Christie” at the McCarter Theatre. On May 15, a Service of Celebration, Thanksgiving, and Blessing brought the graduates and their loved ones together for worship, singing, and a pinning ceremony. The Class of 2026 ended the day with a commemorative class photo and reception hosted by President Walton and his wife, Cecily Cline Walton.
