HILLSDALE, Mich. – Hillsdale College announced that Erika Kirk will deliver the address at its 174th commencement ceremony in May 2026.
Kirk is the CEO and chair of Turning Point USA and the widow of its founder, Charlie Kirk. She was appointed to the position after her husband’s assassination in September 2025.
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“It is a great honor to be invited to speak at the Hillsdale College graduation ceremony on May 9,” Kirk said. “Charlie loved Hillsdale deeply and was often a grateful student of its online courses, learning from Dr. Larry Arnn and the remarkable faculty, who are so committed to truth and the pursuit of wisdom. Hillsdale represents something rare in our time — a steadfast devotion to faith, learning, and the principles that sustain a free nation. I am sincerely grateful for the invitation and look forward to being there with all of you. God bless you.”
Kirk received a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from Arizona State University and a Juris Master in American legal studies from Liberty University.
Her professional work includes nonprofit and entrepreneurial ventures and hosting the “Midweek Rise Up” podcast and leading PROCLAIM x BIBLEin365, a clothing and lifestyle company.
“Charlie Kirk became a national and international sensation, and he built something amazing. At his memorial service were the great, the near-great, and tens of millions watching. But that isn’t why we loved him. We loved him because he was, at heart, a student who worked hard to get it right,” Larry Arnn, Hillsdale College president, said. “Erika Kirk, brave and widowed, intends to carry on. And we will help her.
The ceremony is closed to the public, but it will be available to view on a livestream video.