At the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business commencement ceremony Sunday, keynote speaker Chris Shockley urged graduates to embrace curiosity, resilience and thoughtful leadership as they enter a rapidly changing professional world.
“You are remarkable,” said Shockley, president and CEO of Virginia Credit Union. “Not in a ‘everyone gets a medal’ kind of way. But in a real, earned, measurable way. And you’re more ready than you might think.”
The ceremony, held May 10 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, celebrated the School of Business Class of 2026, including approximately 500 undergraduate students and 100 graduate students earning degrees and certificates.
Speaking with humor and reflection, Shockley acknowledged the realities many students faced while pursuing their degrees, like balancing coursework with jobs, family responsibilities and personal challenges.
“There were moments where it would have been easier to stop,” he said. “But you didn’t. And that matters. Because that kind of discipline, that kind of persistence, that’s not something you learn from a textbook. That’s something you carry with you for life.”
Shockley also shared lessons from his own experience as a first-generation college student and encouraged graduates to focus on long-term growth through consistency and adaptability.
“I came across something that changed my life: compound interest,” said Shockley. “Because it showed me something powerful: Small, consistent actions, over time, can completely change your life.”
The ceremony also marked a milestone for graduates who completed their degrees across the school’s undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. Faculty and university leaders recognized students earning academic honors, including members of Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies, as well as graduates earning cum laude distinctions and University honors.
The School of Business also recognized doctoral graduate Sonika Singhal, who earned a Ph.D. in business with a concentration in information systems. Her dissertation, “The Costs of AI Transparency in Crowdfunding,” was chaired by Victoria Yoon, Ph.D.
During his address, Dean Brian Brown, Ph.D., reflected on the personal growth many students experienced during their time at VCU.
“Your college journey may have started as a pursuit of a degree or a credential,” said Brown. “But over time, it became something else. You made friends. You found mentors. You learned about different pathways. You changed your mind. You surprised yourself.”
Brown also encouraged graduates to define success beyond titles or salaries.
“Measure it by fulfillment,” he said. “By the people you bring along with you. By the good you do when you get where you’re going.”
The ceremony included a posthumous degree recognition for Alex James Norton, who was awarded a Bachelor of Science in finance. Norton’s father, Ricky Norton, accepted the diploma on his behalf.
As the ceremony concluded, graduates moved their tassels from right to left following the official conferral of degrees. Families, friends, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the newest alumni of the VCU School of Business.
Watch a recording of the VCU School of Business commencement ceremony on the VCU School of Business YouTube channel.