Mariah Calagione, former University of Delaware Trustee and co-founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, will deliver the 2026 Commencement address on Saturday, May 23.

Dogfish Head co-founder Mariah Calagione to speak at Commencement

Article by UDaily Staff Photo courtesy of Mariah Calagione | Video produced by Ally Quinn and Sam Kmiec April 24, 2026

Class of 2026 ceremony set for May 23 in Delaware Stadium

Mariah Calagione, former University of Delaware Trustee and co-founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, will deliver the 2026 Commencement address on Saturday, May 23.

A video announcement was posted on the University’s Instagram and Facebook pages on April 23, and featured Calagione as well as Student Government Association President Katherine Slough and Graduate Student Government President Stephanie Kuntz-McAllister.

"We are thrilled to welcome back to UD such an entrepreneur, community builder and champion of purpose-driven leadership to address our graduates," said President Laura Carlson. “As a former UD Trustee, Mariah knows what it means to be a Blue Hen, and she stands as an example for us all of vision, grit, and commitment to others .”

A native of Milford, Delaware, Calagione, alongside her husband, Sam Calagione, helped grow Dogfish Head from a small, coastal brewpub in Rehoboth Beach into a nationally recognized company celebrated for quality and social responsibility.

“I’m deeply honored to serve as Commencement speaker for the University of Delaware, an institution that represents the heart, resilience and promise of our state,” said Calagione. “Delaware has always been home, and it’s where I’ve seen firsthand how creativity and community can come together to build something meaningful. I look forward to celebrating this incredible milestone, honoring the Class of 2026.”

The Commencement ceremony, scheduled for 9:15 a.m. on May 23 in Delaware Stadium on the University’s Newark campus, is a ticketed event open only to graduating students and up to four guests. An estimated 4,000 graduates are expected to attend, with approximately 16,000 family and friends. The ceremony will also be livestreamed.

University of Delaware Commencement 2026 Speaker Announcement: youtube.com/watch?v=8ZuIwGjCdsU

About Mariah Calagione

Best known as the co-founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Calagione has played a pivotal role in shaping one of the most influential craft beer brands in the United States. She also captained the company’s grassroots marketing, public relations, and social media efforts, as well as its charitable giving arm, Beer and Benevolence.

With a background in communications and hospitality, she has been instrumental in developing the brand’s identity, customer experience and philanthropic initiatives. Following Dogfish Head’s 2019 merger with Boston Beer Company, Calagione continued to advocate for preserving craft culture while embracing strategic growth. As part of the Boston Beer Company, she established and led the organization’s Social Impact Team, focusing on cause marketing for its brands, volunteering program and community engagement.

Calagione has served on numerous boards and advisory groups, including the University of Delaware Board of Trustees, as well as The Nature Conservancy, Rehoboth Beach Film Society and Northfield Mount Hermon School. She currently serves on the board of the Delaware Community Foundation and her family’s business, Draper Media. She also directs two family foundations, the Red Wagon Foundation and the Draper Holdings Charitable Foundation.

Recognized nationally for her entrepreneurial spirit and civic contributions, she has led efforts in community engagement, employee culture and sustainability, ensuring that business success aligns with broader social impact.

She and her husband have two grown children and two ornery Labrador retrievers. They live in coastal Delaware and spend time in Dogfish Head, Maine.

For more information on UD’s Commencement ceremony, visit udel.edu/commencement.