University of Denver Celebrates the Class of 2026

During commencement ceremonies on June 13, University of Denver students will mark the end of their undergraduate years and the beginning of their journey into the future. No matter what they studied or where they’re headed, they are well prepared to pursue their dreams and passions in the world beyond campus.

As the big day approaches, we asked students from across campus to reflect on how they’ve grown, what will stick with them after graduation, and what has made DU special. 

Ryan Leider: Making Connections

Major: Real Estate and the Built Environment, with a minor in Finance

What has been your favorite class at DU and why? My favorite class was Construction Building Systems during my junior year with Eric Holt [associate professor of the practice]. He knows how to relate to students and teach the material in an entertaining way. 

How have you changed over the past four years? I think I’ve matured, and I think I’m happier. I’ve learned that if you choose to have a good day and choose to learn, you will—and that really showing up to class means not just being there but contributing and asking the right questions.

What part of your academic journey will stick with you the most? My professors, who have been really helpful to me. They’re all just good people. Vivek Sah [director, Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management] is helping me find jobs, introducing me to people almost every other day. Ryan Chacon [assistant professor] has taken the time to teach outside of class and to care about his students as people. 

What’s next for you after graduation? I’ll be joining JLL, a commercial real estate agency, as an industrial capital markets analyst in Denver.

Who or what has made DU special for you? I’m in the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, and being part of Greek life has connected me to so many people. I also played club soccer for four years, and I made a broad mix of friends that way. Finally, the location has made it special. At one point, I stacked my classes so I could go skiing on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and you don’t get that chance anywhere else. If you want to be outdoors and get a good degree, DU is the place for that. 

Shivani A. Durvasula: Confidence and Collaboration

Major: Strategic Communication, with minors in Marketing and Writing

What has been your favorite class at DU and why? My Strategic Communication Seminar, which I took in my second year. We had the Student Success Coaching team at DU as our clients, and we created a full strategic communications plan to help them address their goals. The following academic year, we got to see some of those elements come to life, like email headlines and social media posts that we had recommended. 

How have you changed over the past four years? When I first got here, I thought my college journey had to look a certain way, but that led me to feel like I wasn’t doing enough or doing things the right way. Since then, I’ve grown more confident about what my journey looks like, and I’m seeking out things that really fulfill me.

What part of your academic journey will stick with you the most? Working in groups and collaborating. In group work, you’re always navigating different personalities and goals, and that’s so transferable to the real world. 

What’s next for you after graduation? I’m currently applying for jobs, so I don’t know exactly where I’ll end up. I’ve cast a wide net in terms of location, but I’ve grown really attached to Colorado, and I would love to stay here. 

Who or what has made DU special for you? My friends. When I came to DU, I felt a bit insecure about meeting new people, and it took a bit to find my best friends. Now, I feel so supported. When I gave a presentation recently to earn distinction in my major, my friends were there watching me and being the loudest ones in the audience. 

Rhianna Lewis: Seizing Opportunities

Majors: Theatre and Spanish

What has been your favorite class at DU and why? It was a class on reproductive geographies that was part of the Honors Program. We talked about population growth and movement, contraceptive access in countries around the world, and how people are having families. It really changed the rest of my class trajectory. 

How have you changed over the past four years? I’ve learned how to take advantage of opportunities when they come along and make the most of the things that are offered to me. At DU, I’ve had so many opportunities, and taking them has completely changed my life.

What part of your academic journey will stick with you most? Working on my senior capstone show for the theatre department. Every senior directs a one-act play, so I chose the show, cast it, and worked with all the student designers. It taught me a lot about professional collaborating.

What’s next for you after graduation? I’ve been named an alternate for a Fulbright [scholarship]. But if I don’t receive that, I’m still planning on taking the year off, traveling, and doing volunteer work abroad. I’ve got the travel itch. I’ve never ventured to South America, and since I’m graduating with a degree in Spanish, I feel ready to connect with the cultures that I’ve learned so much about.

Who or what has made DU special for you? The professors I’ve had have really helped make me a better person and shaped my experience. So much of my support system was the teachers that I had in classes.

Braidyn Sheffield: Building a Community

Major: Computer Engineering, with a minor in Mathematics

What has been your favorite class at DU and why? My favorite class was Embedded Systems Programming, because it introduced me to what I’m passionate about and what I want to do after graduation. An embedded system typically consists of a microprocessor, or “brain,” that interacts with outside sensors and collects data to control other elements outside of the microprocessor.

How have you changed over the past four years? I’ve gotten more open to meeting new people. I came in as a veteran, older than everyone else and not feeling like I belonged, but I’ve met a lot of really good people and made lifelong friends.

What part of your academic journey will stick with you most?  The skills I’ve learned and the friends I’ve made along the way.

What’s next for you after graduation?  I’m currently interviewing  for a position as an embedded systems engineer.

Who or what has made DU special for you? Two people have made it special for me: Goncalo Martins [teaching associate professor], who teaches Embedded Systems Programming, and Anthea Johnson, director of the Equity in STEM program. That program is the reason I opened up so much and was able to build a community here at DU. It’s about making sure that all people feel welcome and have the support they need to be successful in a STEM field.