Courtesy of NBCUniversal/Villanova University

Current co-anchor of NBC’S TODAY show, Craig Melvin, will deliver Villanova University’s 2026 commencement address on Tuesday, May 19, University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D., revealed to The Villanovan on Wednesday.

Honoring tradition, The Villanovan is privileged to be the first to break this news to the community. 

Melvin is an Emmy award-winning journalist with 25 years of professional experience. In addition to anchoring the TODAY show, he is also co-host of the “3rd Hour of TODAY” as well as host of syndicated “Dateline NBC” broadcasts. He has covered a diverse range of both national and global events, including Republican and Democratic national conventions and three presidential inaugurations.

“I think it’s important that we depend so much on information these days and receiving information,” Fr. Peter said to The Villanovan when asked why he chose Melvin. “I think journalists, whether they be print journalists, television journalists, whatever they might be, however we receive the news from them, they have an important vocation, career in life to bring facts and bring the public information. They do that every day on the Today Show.

“They capture the essence of world news that happened the day before, at the beginning of that broadcast every day. So, I think it’s important that as we look at how we go forward as a University, and particularly as we send our graduates off, the importance that each one of them have of telling the truth. We believe so much in truth here. And I think that there’s no better example of it than people that share the news with us.”

Since joining NBC News and MSNBC in 2011, Melvin has interviewed notable high-profile figures, such as former President Bill Clinton, then-Vice President Joe Biden, former Ambassador Nikki Haley and former Secretaries of State John Kerry, Mike Pompeo and Condoleezza Rice. In addition to his coverage of national news stories, Melvin has covered six Olympic Games and six Super Bowls. He has also authored two books, “Pops: Learning to Be a Son and a Father” and the children’s book, “I’m Proud of You.” 

Melvin brings valuable insight into higher education and has served on the board of trustees for Wofford College, his alma mater. He is also active in several charitable organizations, including the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, in honor of his brother Lawrence Meadows, who passed away in 2020 after a years-long battle with stage 4 colon cancer.   

Fr. Peter first met Melvin in May 2025 when he made an appearance on the TODAY show to speak about the election of Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova alumnus.

“When Pope Leo was elected, the TODAY show was the first national broadcast that reached out to Villanova University and asked me to come and be interviewed,” Fr. Peter said to The Villanovan. “And they were so excited about the fact that Villanova University had a Pope and wanted to know all about the University and all about Pope Leo and what kind of a man he was and what kind of school Villanova was and what we did. So, I thought when we were looking for a speaker for this year’s graduation, since [the TODAY show] showed so much interest in who and what Villanova was all about, that they would be a good candidate.”

Melvin joins a list of notable Villanova commencement speakers, including his co-worker and former NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt (2023), Philadelphia Archbishop Reverend Nelson Pérez (2024), former Villanova men’s basketball head coach Jay Wright (2022)Michael Bloomberg (2017), then-Second Lady of the United States Jill Biden (2014), U.S. Senator Patrick Toomey (2013) and former NBC Nightly News host Brian Williams (2003).

The University is set to host the Baccalaureate Mass and Bachelor’s Degree Commencement and Recognition Ceremony on Tuesday, May 19, at Villanova Stadium. In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors in the Finneran Pavilion.