Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology held its spring convocation on May 17, 2026, at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
Over 400 students walked across the stage of Foellinger Great Hall to receive their diplomas. The school awarded bachelor degrees in Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology, MCB Honors Concentration, Neuroscience; master of science degrees; and doctoral degrees in Biochemistry, Cell & Developmental Biology, Microbiology, Molecular & Integrative Physiology; Biophysics & Quantitative Biology; and Neuroscience.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Guy Padbury, Senior Vice President of Clinical Pharmacology and Translational Sciences for Pfizer’s Oncology Division. He received his PhD in Biochemistry from Illinois in 1988 and has more than 35 years of scientific expertise and leadership in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. As a translational scientist, he coordinates efforts among chemists, protein scientists, toxicologists, and pharmacologists to advance drug candidates from discovery through production. He has played a leading role in bringing many pharmaceuticals to market – drugs that treat conditions ranging from diabetes to heart disease.
“I come from a blue-collar, working-class family. I was the first in my family to go to college. I chose science because I found it fascinating," Padbury said. "I loved the continual learning it offered, and I was drawn to a career that would evolve over time. What I could not articulate at the time of my graduation was the impact this career would have. That sense of purpose revealed itself gradually over many years.”
In his speech, Padbury shared several defining moments in his career that brought that purpose into focus.
“As I approach the later stages of my career, I am both reassured and inspired knowing that all of you will carry this work forward,” he said. “Science will win. The science you do will matter. The science you do will improve quality of life, extend lives, and, in some cases, save the life of someone you love. And never forget, ‘The patient is waiting!’
A reception followed the ceremony in the lobby of the Krannert Center.
The ceremony can be viewed on Mediaspace.