Design Icon Stella McCartney and Famed Fashion Director Bruce Pask to Headline SCAD Commencements
University Celebrates Record-Breaking Class of 2026
ATLANTA and SAVANNAH, Ga. — May 27, 2026 — The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is delighted to announce programming for 2026 SCAD commencement ceremonies, Friday, May 29, at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, and Saturday, May 30, at The Gateway Center Arena @ College Park in Atlanta. A record-breaking class of more than 4,500 students will walk in these ceremonies representing top-ranked degree programs from SCAD's schools of film and acting, design, fashion, fine arts, business innovation, creative technology, and more.
Globally recognized fashion designer Stella McCartney will give the commencement speech in Savannah, with Bruce Pask, associate vice president of the men's fashion office for Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, to address students in Atlanta.
"This spring, the largest graduating class in SCAD history, more than 4,500 Bees, joins the world's most influential network of elite, creative pros," said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. "Across fashion houses, film studios, and Fortune 500 brands, SCAD alumni shape culture at the highest level. As the careers of our commencement speakers — visionary designer and sustainability entrepreneur Stella McCartney and fashion authority Bruce Pask — demonstrate, creativity with conviction can change the world. The future is yours, Bees!"
McCartney launched her eponymous luxury fashion house in 2001 and, as a lifelong vegetarian, has never used leather, feathers, skin, or fur in any of her designs. Prior to starting her fashion house, she served as creative director of Chloé in Paris.
"I'm truly honored to receive this recognition from SCAD and humbled to speak to the next generation of creatives at such a pivotal moment in their lives," said McCartney. "Education, curiosity, and challenging tradition have always been central to my journey. I believe young designers have the power to reshape our industry for the better, and I'm very grateful to be part of that conversation."
Pask has served as a visiting mentor, juror, and advisor to the SCAD School of Fashion since 2019. He is recognized as one of the key figures in the luxury fashion industry, admired for both his style and aesthetic.
"I am honored and truly moved to be joining the SCAD Atlanta 2026 commencement ceremony, sharing this milestone and celebration with some of the brightest, most expansively creative minds as they prepare to embark upon their next great chapters and world-changing careers," said Pask. "It has been an absolute inspiration and a joy to have served as a mentor to the School of Fashion's seniors these past few years. I have built relationships with students and faculty that are creative exchanges and have transformed my life."
Outstanding SCAD 2026 graduates will represent more than 40 top-ranked programs, including interactive design and game development, interior design, film and television, fashion, graphic design, and design management. Since its founding in 1978, the university's mission has been to prepare talented students for creative professions. Today, SCAD's success rate is unmatched. According to a 2025 study, 99% of recent SCAD graduates reported being employed, pursuing further education, or both within 12 months of graduation. SCAD alumni have found fulfilling careers at Adobe, BMW, Delta Air Lines, Disney, Google, Hasbro, Microsoft, NASA, Ralph Lauren, and more.
Outstanding SCAD Students
Savannah
Valedictorian: Jackie Maciuszek, B.F.A. business of beauty and fragrance
Salutatorian: Owen Boatright, B.F.A. interior design
Excelsus Laureate: Hardik Kumawat, M.F.A. service design
Atlanta
Valedictorian: Kalina Richardson, B.F.A. graphic design
Salutatorian: Christian "Haley" Vaughn, B.F.A. illustration
Excelsus Laureate: Randall Swoopes II, M.F.A. interactive design and game development
About Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney was born in London to a family of creators who were legendary in public, yet ordinary at home. Raised in both the city and the English countryside, she was kept grounded by her late mother and muse, Linda McCartney – a photographer, vegetarian and animal rights activist whose values and innate appreciation for beauty continue to inspire her today.
She graduated from Central St Martins in 1995, becoming immediately known for her womenswear's sharp tailoring, bold aesthetics and masculine energy. By 1997, Stella was appointed the Creative Director of Chloé in Paris, leading the house to critical and commercial success.
In 2001, Stella McCartney launched her eponymous luxury fashion house and showed her first collection in Paris that October. A lifelong vegetarian, Stella has never used leather, feathers, skin or fur in any of her designs since day one – a revolutionary stance both then and now. Since those first seeds were planted, the brand has continued to grow its sustainability thought leadership through material and supply chain innovation, partnerships and beyond.
About Bruce Pask
Bruce Pask serves as AVP, Men's Fashion Office at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, following his tenure as Senior Editorial Director, Neiman Marcus, and Senior Men's Fashion Director, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus — a retail career built on more than thirty years in the fashion magazine and editorial world. He has held fashion directorial posts at T: The New York Times Style Magazine, GQ Magazine, and Cargo Magazine, and has worked as an editor, stylist, and creative consultant for renowned magazines and fashion publications. His styling and design work has spanned numerous celebrated campaigns and fashion shows — from "The Sopranos" to American Express. Pask received Emmy Award honors for his costume designs for the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors television broadcast. He co-costume designed the 85th and 86th Academy Awards with Oscar-nominated designer Julie Weiss. Pask also created costume designs for the Broadway productions of "Design for Living" (2001) and "Promises, Promises" (2010).
Pask serves as a Visiting Mentor ('24–current) and Juror ('19–'23) to the School of Fashion at the Savannah College of Art & Design; Mentor to the Fashion Buying and Merchandising Masters program at Polimoda in Florence, Italy ('19–current); Mentor, Fashion Scholarship Fund Mentoring Program ('22–current); CPHFW Show and Presentation Committee Member ('22, '25, '27) and Mentor, Copenhagen Fashion Week Newtalent program ('24, '25); Selection Committee, CFDA Empowered Vision Award ('25); Juror, 2015 ANDAM Fashion Award, Paris; and Juror and Mentor, British Fashion Council/GQ Menswear Designer Fund (2021). He was honored with the 2023 Award for Cultural Diplomacy by the US Consulate General in Florence, Italy. Pask is recognized as one of the key figures in the luxury fashion industry, admired for both his style and aesthetic.
SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow. SCAD enrolls approximately 18,500 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 100 countries. The future-minded SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and myriad advanced learning resources, affording students opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and real-world assignments with corporate partners through SCADpro, the university's renowned research lab and prototype generator. SCAD has earned top rankings for degree programs in interior design, architecture, film, fashion, digital media, and more. Career success is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. A 2025 study found that 99% of recent SCAD graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 12 months of graduation. SCAD provides students and alumni with ongoing career support through personal coaching, alumni programs, a professional presentation studio, and more.
Media Contacts
Michelle Gavin
SCAD Executive Director of Communications
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Wendy Gardner
SCAD Senior Director of Public Relations
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