Bestselling author and popular educator John Green will deliver the address at Rice University’s 113th undergraduate commencement ceremony May 9 at 7 p.m. at Rice Stadium.
For more than two decades, John has shaped how young people read, learn and engage with the world. His books, including “Everything is Tuberculosis,” “The Fault in Our Stars,” “Looking for Alaska,” “Paper Towns,” “Turtles All the Way Down” and “The Anthropocene Reviewed,” have reached millions of readers in more than 55 languages and helped expand the cultural impact of young adult literature. His storytelling invites readers to grapple with big questions about meaning, responsibility, curiosity and connection — questions our graduates now engage with as they prepare to step into the next chapter of their lives.
Beyond his literary accomplishments, John has made remarkable contributions to public education. Through the YouTube channels vlogbrothers and Crash Course, the podcast “Dear Hank and John,” and the educational media nonprofit Complexly, he has helped make high-quality learning accessible to audiences around the globe. Together with his brother, Hank, he has also fostered a global community dedicated to civic engagement, global health initiatives and reducing poverty — an effort that reflects a deep belief in using knowledge to serve the public good.
John’s work speaks directly to the spirit we seek to cultivate at Rice: intellectual curiosity paired with empathy, creativity paired with responsibility, and achievement paired with purpose. His ability to combine storytelling, intellectual rigor and a genuine commitment to improving the world makes him an inspiring voice for our graduates as they prepare to lead in an increasingly complex society.
Commencement is one of the most meaningful traditions in the life of our university — a moment to celebrate our students’ accomplishments and to reflect on the responsibilities that come with a Rice education. We hope you will join me in congratulating the Class of 2026 and in welcoming John to campus for this special occasion. My hope is that his reflections will resonate with our students as they explore and pursue what comes next and the impact they will make on the world.
John’s selection was led by a committee of students, faculty and staff as well as members of the campus community who provided thoughtful recommendations for this year’s speaker.
You can find additional details at our commencement website at https://commencement.rice.edu/may-commencement.
We look forward to seeing you in Rice Stadium and celebrating our wonderful graduates!