Knox College Announces 2026 Commencement Speaker Justin Hartley, Western Illinois-Born Star of CBS’ Tracker
Knox College introduced at present that Western Illinois-born award-winning actor, producer, and star of CBS’s tracker Justin Hartley would be the speaker and obtain an honorary diploma at his 2026 Commencement workouts this June. Hartley shall be joined by internationally revered American arts govt and cultural chief Deborah F. Rutter and award-winning investigative reporter Dorothy Tucker, who may even obtain honorary levels throughout the ceremony.
Justin Hartley presently stars in and govt produces CBS’ hit drama sequence trackernow in its third season and persevering with its reign because the most-watched leisure sequence on community tv. Since its record-shattering post-Super Bowl debut in February 2024, tracker has amassed over 80 million viewers and counting, rapidly changing into a cornerstone of CBS’ primetime slate. He beforehand starred in NBC’s critically acclaimed, award-winning drama This Is Uswhich earned greater than 230 award nominations and 50 wins throughout its celebrated run.
“It’s not often that Knox gets to welcome a native of the Illinois prairie as his Commencement speaker, which makes awarding an honorary degree to Justin Hartley this June truly meaningful,” mentioned Knox College President C. Andrew McGadney. “With a career that spans more than 20 years as an actor, producer, and director, Justin’s outstanding work in television and film sets a noteworthy example of artistic achievement and personal accomplishment for the Class of 2026.”
Hartley obtained a number of Critics Choice Award nominations for his efficiency as Kevin Pearson in This is Us and, alongside his forged mates, received consecutive SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. He additionally made his directorial debut on the sequence, helming the emotionally acclaimed episode “A Hell of a Week: Part Three.”
On the movie entrance, Hartley’s credit embody Bride Hard; Netflix’s vacation hit The Christmas Diarywhich debuted at #1 globally on the platform; Netflix’s comedy Senior Year; the indie characteristic A Lot of Nothing; Universal Pictures’ The Hunt and Little; STX’s A Bad Moms Christmas; Another Timewhich he additionally govt produced; and Spring Breakdown. Beyond his on-screen work, Hartley has additionally lent his voice to high-profile tasks, together with the narrative podcast Harley Quinn & The Joker: Sound Mind. As a producer, Hartley continues to develop premium tasks by means of his manufacturing firm, ChangeUp Productions. The firm just lately secured a script dedication at ABC for the drama sequence No Good Deed.
Born in Knoxville, Illinois, and raised in Orland Park, Hartley developed an early ardour for storytelling and pursued performing whereas finding out historical past and theater at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the University of Illinois at Chicago. After shifting to Los Angeles, he landed his first sequence common function on the daytime drama Passionsin the end main him to primetime tv and movie.
In addition to Hartley, Deborah F. Rutter, internationally revered American artwork govt and cultural chief, and Dorothy Tucker, Emmy-winning investigative reporter, may even obtain honorary levels throughout the ceremony.
Deborah Rutter
Deborah F. Rutter is an American artwork govt and cultural chief with greater than 4 many years of expertise guiding main performing-arts establishments. She served as president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from 2014 to 2025, changing into the primary girl to carry the function and overseeing vital creative enlargement, together with the opening of The REACH campus. Known for her collaborative, artist-centered method and dedication to entry and innovation within the arts, she now serves as vice provost for the humanities at Duke University. Previously, she was president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and govt director of the Seattle Symphony, the place she led the event of Benaroya Hall, and held earlier management roles with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Dorothy Tucker
Dorothy Tucker is a revered investigative reporter whose work has uncovered systemic discriminatory practices and prompted the institution of process forces to handle inequities or immediate legislative actions. Tucker has constructed a profession overlaying points that influence on a regular basis residents, together with public security, training, and social justice. She has produced a number of sequence on shopper fraud which have resulted within the incarceration of infamous rip-off artists. Tucker has earned a number of Emmy Awards, Edward R. Murrow Awards, and nationwide journalism honors for her in-depth reporting and storytelling, and she or he has held management roles throughout the National Association of Black Journalists, together with serving as president. Recognized for her dedication to moral journalism and neighborhood engagement, she continues to be a outstanding voice in Chicago media and a mentor to rising journalists.
The 2026 Knox College Commencement shall be held on Sunday, June 7, at 10:00 am on the South Lawn of Old Main on the Knox College campus. It is free and open to the general public. More info may be discovered at www.knox.edu/commencement.
