Victoria Adjetey, a graduate student earning a Master of Arts in the Diederich College of Communication with a specialization in communication and media studies, has been selected as the 2026 graduate student Commencement speaker.
Adjetey’s research focuses on the intersection of media, identity and social justice. Her work explores how identity is shaped in digital spaces, how power operates in media representations, and how marginalized voices, particularly survivors of gender-based violence, can be amplified through digital platforms.
Adjetey, a native of Accra, Ghana, notes her work is deeply personal and informed by her experience growing up in a patriarchal community where opportunities for girls were often limited. Through her research, Adjetey aims to translate theory into action, helping empower young women around the world to find their voice, access resources and overcome systemic barriers.
Adjetey will graduate with a 4.0 GPA and has been recognized as a recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student and Assistant of the Year Award in the Diederich College of Communication. She has held multiple leadership roles, serving as chairperson of the Graduate Student Organization’s Committee for Diversity and Equity and as secretary for the Communication Graduate Club during the 2024–25 academic year.
She has presented her research at several national and international conferences, including the International Association for Media and Communication Research Conference 2025 in Singapore; International Communication Association Oceania 2025; and National Communication Association 2025 in Denver. Following graduation, Adjetey will continue her academic journey as a Presidential Fellow in Temple University’s Media and Communication doctoral program. She also plans to volunteer with an organization dedicated to empowering young women from underprivileged communities, serving as a mentor and advocate.
Marquette’s 145th Commencement ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 9, at Fiserv Forum, located at 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave., Milwaukee. The undergraduate ceremony will be at 1 p.m.; the Graduate School and Graduate School of Management ceremony will be later that day at 5 p.m. The School of Dentistry, Law School and College of Health Sciences’ professional programs will hold separate ceremonies and will not be part of the Fiserv Forum ceremonies.
Guest tickets are required for entry into the undergraduate Commencement ceremony; all guests will need to provide a digital ticket. For easy access to digital tickets, download the Ticketmaster app. For more information on how to utilize digital ticketing, please reference the Marquette Digital Ticketing video.
More information is available on the Commencement website.
