Congratulations 2026 Graduates!
The Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences (DBBS) will be hosting the 2026 Division Hooding and Recognition Ceremony as part of the University’s commencement celebrations.
9:00 AM – Tuesday, May 12th 2026
Graham Chapel
2026 Speaker Information
We are delighted to announce this year’s guest speaker, Dr. Jarret Glasscock, a distinguished DBBS alumnus of the Genetics program. Following his training in DBBS, Dr. Glasscock spent two decades as a faculty member in the Department of Genetics at Washington University and as a key contributor to The Genome Institute. During this time, he played a significant role in the Human Genome Project, contributed to the publication of the first cancer genome, led the Institute’s Computational Biology Group, and participated in the Technology Development Group responsible for characterizing some of the earliest RNA-seq experiments on platforms such as 454 and Illumina/Solexa (Serial #1).
Dr. Glasscock is the co-founder of Cofactor Genomics, a diagnostics company that harnesses the power of RNA to advance precision medicine in immunotherapy. We are honored to welcome him back to DBBS to share his insights and experiences with our community.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Division Hooding & Recognition Ceremony will be held at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, May 12th.
Yes; all spaces at the venue are accessible. Please reach out to DBBS_Graduation@wustl.edu if you have questions or concerns about accessibility.
Students who graduated in August and December of 2025, those who graduate in May 2026 or expect to graduate in August 2026 are invited to participate in the Hooding & Recognition Ceremony. All eligible students will be notified via email. If you are unsure if you are able to participate, please check with your Graduate Program Administrator.
Interested students must also register to participate in the University commencement celebration on May 15th.
Graduates may have one faculty member participate in their hooding. Instructions on how to select a faculty member will be included in the email invitation that will be sent to all eligible participants.
DBBS will be covering the rental cost of regalia for graduates participating in the Hooding and Recognition Ceremony. After you have RSVP’ed, you will receive a link to reserve your regalia via instructions provided by the DBBS Graduation email.
Please note: regalia is required for participation in commencement ceremonies.
For details regarding regalia pick-up and drop-off dates, please refer to the University’s website. If you are unable to pick up your regalia in person and need someone to do so on your behalf, kindly provide them with an email authorizing the pickup. They will need to present this email to the Bookstore staff.
Please note: If you do not have regalia on the day of the ceremony, you will not be allowed to participate.
Graduates may include their child(ren) during the ceremony and will be asked for their participation plans within the DBBS RSVP Survey. If at any time you need to change your response or have any questions about your children walking with you, please reach out to the DBBS Graduation team (dbbs_graduation@wustl.edu)
Participants and guests may not bring any outside beverages into the venue. Please consume drinks before entering the venue.
Yes. All students interested in walking in the University’s Commencement ceremony must register here.
Yes, for guests, DBBS requires a clear bag policy. These bags will be checked upon entry. Diaper bags and medically necessary equipment bags are permitted after inspection. Please let your guests know of this requirement.
Clear bags cannot exceed 14″ x 14″ x 4″
Graduates, please do not bring bags or purses into the venue. We will not be able to provide a location to store bags or purses during the ceremony. Please make alternative arrangements for your personal items.
Yes, you can! WashU has many affinity group ceremonies that celebrate and recognize different communities on campus. Please see information about affinity ceremonies and how to register, here.
