Commencement

Commencement 2026

Friday, May 15, at The Cabot

Montserrat College of Art is pleased to announce that Dan Santat, renowned illustrator and writer, served as Commencement Speaker at the College’s Commencement Ceremony on May 15, 2026, at the historic Cabot Theater.

Santat is a major voice in illustration today. Creator of The Replacements, which aired on the Disney Channel from 2006–2009, he is a #1 NYT Bestselling author and winner of both the Caldecott Medal and the National Book Award. In recognition of his achievements, the Montserrat Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to award Santat the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa, upon his address to the Class of 2026.

“The list of commencement speakers Montserrat has had in our 55-year history is truly remarkable. Dan Santat is another great example,” said Brian Pellinen, Montserrat’s president. “As an institution, we hope that our speakers inspire our students as they head out into a very competitive creative marketplace. Mr Santat ‘s success is already an inspiring story. But his path is one that can inspire us all.”

Born in the United States to Thai immigrant parents, Santat was raised in California and first studied microbiology at the University of California, San Diego. Following graduation, he pursued a visual arts education at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, graduating in 2001 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration. Over the next decade, he wrote and illustrated his own books – including such celebrated titles as The Guild of Geniuses (2004) and Sidekicks (2011) – while also illustrating works by Rhea Perlman, Nancy Star, Dav Pilkey, and Mac Barnett.

In 2014, Santat achieved widespread acclaim for his book The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, which garnered the 2015 Caldecott Medal, awarded annually to “the most distinguished American picture book for children.” Inspired by Santat’s eldest son, The Adventures of Beekle poignantly explores the life of an imaginary friend in search of a companion.

In 2023, Santat published his graphic novel-memoir, A First Time for Everything, which was awarded that year’s National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. His other books include After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again (2017), which picks up where that nursery rhyme ends; The Aquanaut (2022); and, most recently, A Fishboy Named…Sashimi, which will be released this spring.

Santat lives in California with his wife and two children.

Faculty Speaker: Elizabeth Alexander, Associate Professor and Sculpture Department Coordinator

Student Speaker: Lynx S. Fabian