School of Dentistry’s 121st Commencement Ceremony set for May 13 at NRG Arena
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry will see over 170 doctorate of dental surgery, dental hygiene, and advanced education students cross the stage during its 121st Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, at NRG Arena. Photo by Kyle Rogers.
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry will see over 170 doctorate of dental surgery, dental hygiene, and advanced education students cross the stage during its 121st Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, at NRG Arena.
All 2026 spring and summer graduates are eligible to participate. Regalia information for graduating students can be found on the 2026 commencement ceremony webpage.
Nader A. Nadershahi, DDS, MBA, EdD, executive director of the American Dental Association, will deliver the commencement address. Newly promoted in March, Nadershahi previously served as the ADA’s senior vice president of education and professional affairs. Prior to joining the ADA staff, he spent nine years overseeing the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco as the school’s ninth dean.
Other leadership positions of his include serving as the Chair of the Board for the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), as well as roles in the California Dental Association (CDA) for more than 20 years. He holds multiple fellowships and has a breadth of experience in operating private general dental practices in the San Francisco Bay Area.
NRG Arena is a multi-functional facility with guest seating that can accommodate approximately 5,800. A seating map is available online.
To access NRG Arena, attendees are encouraged to use Gates 3, 4, 9, and 10. See below for specific addresses for each gate:
- Gate 3: 8309 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77054
- Gate 4: 8600 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77054
- Gate 9: 8825 Kirby Dr., Houston, TX 77054
- Gate 10: 8600 Kirby Dr., Houston, TX 77054
Parking is available for $25.
The commencement ceremony will be livestreamed via YouTube. A recording of the ceremony will be available following the event, and photos will be available in the coming days on Flickr.
2026 Commencement
- Date: Wednesday, May 13
- Time: 2 p.m.
- Location: NRG Arena (1 NRG Park, Houston, TX 77054)
Graduates are expected to check in no later than 1 p.m. Late arrivals will not be able to participate.
When celebrating commencement on social media, don’t forget to tag @UTSDHouston on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Celebrate with us using the following hashtags: #WeAreUTSD, #UTHealthHouston, and #ClassOf2026.