The SMTD Commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 2:00pm at Hill Auditorium. The event will be livestreamed. Tickets *ARE REQUIRED* for the SMTD Commencement ceremony at Hill Auditorium. The SMTD ceremony is not open to the public; it is only open to graduating students, their family and registered guests, and students/ faculty/ staff from SMTD. Tickets will be required for entry to Hill Auditorium for anyone over the age of two. Seating accommodations are available for guests with wheelchairs or those unable to use stairs. Closed captioning will also be present on stage throughout the ceremony. Doors will open to guests *one* hour prior to the start of the ceremony.

Join Dr. Gustavo Souza Marques (Gusmão), Assistant Professor of Musicology, for a talk at the Ann Arbor District Library on his recently released book, *Tyler, The Creator’s Hip Hop Revolution: Transmedia Journeys Beyond Gangsta*, published in Bloomsbury’s New Approaches to Sound, Music and Media series. Focusing on Tyler – one of the most inventive artists in the history of hip hop – the book approaches his musical work through the lenses of history, identity and audio-visual analysis. This talk is part of the Society for American Music’s *Sounding the Nation* series, a national project covering the history of American music. This event includes a signing with books for sale.

*The Women Who Move Us* builds on the success of *Women Defining Themselves* (May 2024), continuing a powerful exploration of how movement and music illuminate the stories that shape us. This evening’s performance honors the inspiring women who have carried us, guided us, and left lasting impressions on our lives, including mothers, mentors, daughters, and friends. Through original choreography and soulful music, we celebrate the resilience, wisdom, and beauty of these women while deepening our understanding of the arts’ capacity to heal, connect, and inspire across generations. Reception to follow. All proceeds from the evening will support the Scott Pranger ALS Center at Michigan Medicine, advancing research for neurodegenerative diseases. About Dance/Wellness faculty member Amy West’s mission: \"This project is grounded in lived experience. For seven years, my husband and I, along with help from caregivers, cared for my mother-in-law in our home as she slowly succumbed to dementia. Walking beside her during this time profoundly shaped my understanding of health, caregiving, and resilience, and reinforced the importance of connection across all stages of life. *The Women Who Move Us* is both a tribute to her memory and a collective gesture of love and advocacy for all families and caregivers navigating memory loss. It also reflects my commitment to honoring the legacies of the women who came before us while supporting the health and well-being of those who carry them forward. The project will extend its reach through collaboration with the Scott Pranger ALS Center at Michigan Medicine, linking the performing arts with medical research and care. By bringing together performance and science, this partnership reflects the shared humanity at the core of both disciplines: the desire to honor, heal, and sustain life.\" Donate to the Scott Pranger ALS Center at Michigan Medicine: