Graduation
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- McCormick PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony
- Register for the Ceremony
- Order Regalia
- Tickets
- Department and Program Receptions
McCormick PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony
Saturday, December 12, 4 p.m.
Location: Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, IL 60208 map it
The ceremony will be recorded, and there will be a livestream for those unable to join in person.
Graduation Speaker
Brian E. Miller (MS '98, PhD '00) is the Chief Executive Officer of Sovato Health, where he leads the company’s mission to advance and scale remote surgical and procedural capabilities worldwide.
Miller holds more than 25 years of experience in surgical robotics, digital health, and technology innovation, with particular expertise in transforming emerging technologies into solutions that deliver meaningful clinical and operational value.
Throughout his career, Miller has helped advance robotic surgical technologies and surgeon training, with patented innovations in tele-robotic motion control, 3D telestration, adaptive video streaming, video content search, and virtual reality simulation for surgical education.
In 1996, Miller earned bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer engineering from Iowa State University. He went on to earn master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from the McCormick School of Engineering, where he studied haptic interfaces and robotics.
Register for the Ceremony
Graduates who wish to attend the McCormick PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony are encouraged to register now, and must register by Tuesday, Nov. 17:
- Visit northwestern.tassel.com.
- Select ‘register’ under New Users.
- Register using the email address where you received this email.
- Instructions for setting your password will be sent to your email address. Select the ‘set password’ link included in the email.
- Your ceremony will appear after you have finished logging in. Select ‘Register Here.’
- Complete the registration form and select ‘Submit.’
When completing the registration form, you will be able to confirm how your name should be pronounced, and you can submit a recording to help ensure it is read correctly during the ceremony.
If there are any errors on your registration form or you have any questions, please reach out to northwestern-engineering-events@northwestern.edu.
Order Regalia
Regalia is required for the in-person ceremony. The Norris University Center Bookstore has requested that all regalia orders be placed through its regalia order form by Friday, Nov. 6. The bookstore cannot guarantee size availability after that date.
Master’s students will purchase their regalia, and PhD candidates will rent theirs. Master’s students can choose whether they want to pick up their regalia from the bookstore or have it shipped to their home. PhD candidates must pick up their regalia at the bookstore.
If you have any issues with the form or questions about regalia, please contact norrisbooks@northwestern.edu.
Tickets
Tickets are not required for the December 2026 ceremony. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Department and Program Celebrations
Our departments and programs are planning other opportunities to celebrate their graduates. Please watch for more information regarding their specific plans in the coming weeks.