Congrats Grads! IAFS Celebrates the Class of 2026
The International Affairs Program celebrated the Class of 2026 on May 2 with a memorable graduation ceremony at the Limelight Hotel, bringing together nearly 700 students, family members, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to recognize this year’s graduates. Held on a beautiful spring afternoon in Boulder, the ceremony honored the academic achievements, global engagement, and interdisciplinary accomplishments that define the IAFS community.
Earlier that morning, graduates participated in ̽»¨ÊÓƵ’s university-wide commencement ceremony at Folsom Field as part of the university’s largest graduating class in history. In total, ̽»¨ÊÓƵ awarded more than 10,600 degrees to over 10,000 graduates during the 2026 commencement celebrations, with tens of thousands of family members and guests gathering across campus to celebrate.
The afternoon IAFS ceremony featured commencement speaker Gaea Logan, whose remarks encouraged graduates to continue approaching the world with curiosity, empathy, and a commitment to meaningful engagement across cultures and communities. The ceremony also recognized Graciela Horstman as the recipient of the IAFS Global Engagement and Service Award for her outstanding contributions to the program and broader community.
The IAFS Class of 2026 included:
- 108 majors
- 51 minors
- 18 Global Grant graduates
- 12 Honors Program graduates
The graduating class also reflected the interdisciplinary nature of international affairs studies at ̽»¨ÊÓƵ. One in four IAFS graduates completed double majors, while one in five earned two or more minors alongside their international affairs degree.
As they leave Boulder, IAFS graduates carry forward the global perspective, analytical skills, and collaborative spirit developed through their studies, research, internships, language learning, and international experiences. The program is proud to welcome the Class of 2026 into its growing alumni community and looks forward to seeing the impact they will make around the world.