Graduation

Jump to a Section

• McCormick PhD Hooding and Master’s Degree Recognition Ceremony
• Schedule
• After the Ceremony
• Department and Program Celebrations

McCormick PhD Hooding and Master’s Degree Recognition Ceremony

Saturday, December 14, 2024, 4 p.m.

Location: Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive  map it
*No tickets required

Tickets

While tickets are not required to attend the McCormick School of Engineering PhD Hooding and Master’s Degree Recognition Ceremony, space is limited. Please encourage your guests to arrive promptly.

Pick up your Regalia

Regalia can still be picked up and purchased at the Northwestern University bookstore during business hours. 

Register for the Ceremony

The deadline for registering for the ceremony has passed. 

If there are any errors on your registration form or if you have any questions, please reach out to northwestern-engineering-events@northwestern.edu.

Event Streaming

The ceremony will be recorded and there will be a livestream feed for those unable to join in person.

Watch Live Stream 

Graduation Speaker

Sanjay Sood is senior vice president and chief technology officer at CDW, a leading multi-brand technology solutions provider to business, government, education, and healthcare organizations in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

Sood joined CDW in 2020, bringing more than 15 years of experience in driving innovative change within complex technology environments. Sood has been instrumental in shaping the company’s future technology vision and strategic direction while building and implementing platforms that support customers, coworkers, and partners. He is responsible for not only establishing the company’s technological roadmap, but also ensuring that its infrastructure is robust, secure, and scalable to meet the evolving needs of its stakeholders.

Previously, Sood served as the vice president of Highly Automated Driving & Core Map Engineering unit at HERE Technologies, where he played a crucial role in advancing autonomous driving technologies. Prior to this, he was the senior vice president of consumer platforms at YP, The Real Yellow Pages (formerly AT&T Interactive), where he was responsible for developing and managing consumer-facing platforms that connected millions of users with local businesses.

In addition to his professional roles, Sood serves on the board of directors at Per Scholas, a nonprofit organization that provides technology education and job training to underserved communities. He is also an adviser for Northwestern’s MBAi Program, where he shares his knowledge and experience with future business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

An owner of more than a dozen patents in the fields of machine learning, information retrieval, and digital mapping, Sood earned his BS and PhD degrees — both in computer science — from Northwestern Engineering.

Accessibility Concerns

If you have questions about accessibility or accessible seating, please email Northwestern Engineering Events.

Parking

Parking is free on Saturdays and campus restrictions are not in effect. Please choose from the following lots:

• South Campus Parking Garage, 1847 Campus Drive. View map
• Lakeside Parking Structure, 1 Arts Circle Drive. View map

Passengers may be dropped off and picked up in the cul-de-sac at the end of Arts Circle Drive, past the two parking lots and directly in front of the concert hall.

You can view a map of the parking lots and Pick-Staiger Concert Hall on the Evanston campus at https://maps.northwestern.edu/evanston.

Questions or Change of Plans

Please visit this page for the most current information. If you have any questions or if you can no longer attend the ceremony, please email Northwestern Engineering Events.

Schedule

2:45 p.m. | Graduates check in at the registration tables just outside the McCormick Auditorium in the Norris University Center (Level 1), 1999 Campus Drive (just north of Pick-Staiger Concert Hall).

3 p.m. | Pick-Staiger Concert Hall opens to guests of graduates. No tickets are required. Seating is on a first-come basis.

3:15 p.m. | Graduates gather in the McCormick Auditorium in Norris for graduation instructions.

3:55 p.m. | Graduates process from the McCormick Auditorium to Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.

4 p.m. | Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony commences. We anticipate the ceremony will end by 5:30 p.m.

After the Ceremony

Regalia Returns

PhD regalia must be returned immediately after the ceremony to the Norris Bookstore. The bookstore will remain open until 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 14. Master's graduates will keep their regalia.

Ordering Photos

Dynamic Photo Systems is the official photographer at the Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master’s Degree Recognition Ceremony.

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.