Youngest Inaugural Poet in U.S. History Amanda Gorman Named 2026 Kean University Commencement Speaker

Award-winning poet and activist Amanda Gorman will deliver Kean University’s 2026 Commencement address to thousands of graduates and their guests next month during a ceremony at the Prudential Center in Newark.   

Gorman was appointed the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017 by Urban Word, a program that supports Youth Poets Laureate. Gorman’s groundbreaking performance of her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration received international critical acclaim, inspiring millions of viewers with her message of hope, resilience and healing. 

"Amanda Gorman represents the passion and sense of purpose that we strive to instill in every Kean student," said Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. "She uses her powerful voice to advocate for meaningful change in the world, and we are confident her inspiring words will resonate deeply with the Class of 2026 as they prepare to make their own impact on society.” 

Nearly 3,600 undergraduate and graduate students are expected to graduate from Kean this year. The joint commencement ceremony will take place on May 20. The Class of 2026 graduates at a time of growth and transformation for the University, as Kean prepares for its upcoming merger with New Jersey City University, which is expected to be completed on July 1. 

Gorman has graced the cover of TIME magazine and was the first poet to appear on the cover of Vogue. Recognized as one of Variety’s Power of Women honorees, she was a cover star for the publication and one of three featured honorees on Glamour’s Women of the Year cover. She also partnered with Estée Lauder in a three-year collaboration as the brand’s first-ever Global Changemaker. This partnership inspired Writing Change, an initiative that supports grassroots organizations dedicated to advancing literacy as a pathway to equality, access and social change through the power of young voices. 

The special edition of her inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb,” her debut picture book, Change Sings and her poetry collection Call Us What We Carry, were published in 2021 and all debuted at #1 on New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Her second children’s book, Something, Someday, was released in September 2023 and was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Since then, she has also released a third children’s book, Girls on the Rise.