The speaker for the Ohio University 2026 Spring Commencement is Larry Connor. Connor, an OU graduate, is an entrepreneur and a private astronaut with a net worth of $2.1 billion, according to Forbes.
Connor was part of the Axiom Space Ax-1 mission that traveled to the International Space Station in 2022. He is also the head of the Connor Group, a real estate investment firm out of Miamisburg, Ohio.
Samantha Pelham, a university spokesperson, said Connor was asked to speak at commencement before but was previously unable to do so. She added that he will be receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the university.
In an interview with Forbes in 2024, Connor said, “You’ve got to be willing to take calculated risk, not stupid risk.” Connor has also participated in deep-sea expeditions, including a planned dive to the Titanic wreckage in 2024 and a dive to the Mariana Trench.
“My time in Athens was transformative,” Connor said in an OHIO News article. “I learned much from my college experience, both in the classroom and outside. My message to students will be to value and cherish the extraordinary experience Ohio University provided you.”
Pelham said Connor was selected intentionally to speak at commencement.
“Commencement speakers are selected through a thoughtful process that involves university leadership and is guided by a desire to bring meaningful, relevant voices to our graduates,” Pelham wrote in an email.
OU President Lori Stewart Gonzalez said in an OHIO News article that she is proud to award Connor with the honorary degree.
“As a business leader and explorer, he has pushed beyond traditional boundaries while demonstrating the power of perseverance and purpose,” Gonzalez said. “Through his work in business and in the community, he continues to make a meaningful impact. We are proud to recognize his achievements with an honorary degree and honored to welcome him back to inspire our graduates.”
Jackie Rees Ulmer, the Dean of the College of Business, said she learned Connor would be giving the commencement speech at the same time as everyone else and was thrilled about the university’s selection.
“Connor is what we would call a serial entrepreneur,” Ulmer said. “It kind of bites you, and you can't help but keep starting new things, and he is quite adventurous, being interested in deep sea exploration, and also was a private astronaut. We shouldn't be surprised, right? Because Bobcats can do anything they put their mind to.”
The university selected Connor because he understands the student experience. During his time at OU, Connor double majored in history and English.
“We often look to accomplished alumni who can reflect the values of Ohio University and speak to the experiences our students are about to enter,” Pelham wrote. “University leadership is engaged in identifying and inviting individuals whose professional achievements and personal journeys will resonate with our graduates.”
Ulmer said Connor was able to start from square one and build himself up, adding that the same could be true for the future “astronauts, serial entrepreneurs and philanthropists” currently at OU or about to graduate.
“We are excited, and we believe, even if you're not a business Bobcat in your undergraduate journey, that all leads lead through business,” Ulmer said. “We're really excited for his speech, and the great lessons he's going to impart on all of us.”
