Commencement Speaker Rainn Wilson
Weber State is proud to host emmy-nominated actor and comedian Rainn Wilson, who will speak to graduates and their families during WSU’s general commencement ceremonies. Wilson is best known for his role as Dwight Schrute on NBC’s hit show The Office. Please be advised, there will be indoor pyrotechnics, similar to fireworks, at this event.
- Friday, April 26
- 7 - 8:30 p.m.
- Dee Events Center, 4444 Event Center Dr., Ogden, UT
Tickets
If you're having trouble getting your ticket, stop by the Ticket Office in the Dee Events Center or contact the Ticket Office via phone or email: 801-626-8500 ticketoffice@weber.edu
Graduates
Graduating students need a ticket for graduate area seating on the arena floor during commencement. Students should wear their cap and gown to sit in this area.
Graduating students can get a free ticket at weber.evenue.net.
Faculty & Staff
Faculty and staff can also obtain tickets for special seating for commencement. While tickets are not required, they are highly encouraged to make sure we have enough seats available.
All faculty and staff are encouraged to attend and wear regalia.
Get a free ticket at weber.evenue.net.
General Public
No tickets are required. General admission seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, while space is available. Families of graduates are encouraged to arrive early.
General public space is also open to Weber State graduates, faculty and staff without regalia.
Rainn Wilson
As one of the co-founders of SoulPancake, Rainn Wilson has spent years exploring the ways we all seek connection, hope, truth, identity, and purpose. Dedicated to stimulating your brain, sparking your soul, and figuring out what it means to be human, Wilson and the SoulPancake team oversaw the creation of a decade-plus of award-winning content spanning digital, television, branded, and live engagements, until its acquisition by Participant Media in 2016. Wilson has continued on in the spirit of SoulPancake's mission in the years since, urging audiences to dig deep into life's biggest questions — of philosophy, creativity, spirituality, love, truth, science, mental health and so much more — with humor and honesty.
Rainn is an Emmy-nominated and SAG award-winning actor best known for playing the inimitable “Dwight Schrute” for nine seasons on NBC’s The Office. He recently wrapped Lessons in Chemistry with Brie Larson for Apple TV+ and the unscripted travel series Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss, which aired on Peacock in May of 2023.
He stars in Jerry & Marge Go Large, with Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening; Utopia for Amazon; Roger Michell's Blackbird, opposite Kate Winslet; The Meg alongside Jason Statham; Star Trek: Discovery; Hesher, opposite Natalie Portman and Joseph Gordon-Levitt; James Gunn’s Super, with Kevin Bacon and Elliot Page; Cooties opposite Elijah Wood; Juno; Galaxy Quest; and Almost Famous.
He has an MFA from NYU’s Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts and spent 10 years doing theatre in NYC before moving to LA. He was on Broadway in The Tempest with Patrick Stewart, and the Tony nominated London Assurance. Rainn performed the critically acclaimed one-person monologue Thom Pain (Based on Nothing) at The Geffen; and was the lead role in the political farce The Doppelganger at Steppenwolf Theater.
Rainn founded the digital media company, Soul Pancake (3.5 million subscribers on YouTube). He is the author of The Bassoon King and the NYT best-selling SoulPancake: Chew on Life’s Big Questions. His newest book — another NYT best-seller — Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution, was released in April 2023.
Commencement Speaker Press Release
There will be no meet and greet or autograph opportunities at the event.
Common Questions
What’s the difference between convocation and commencement?
Convocations are just for graduates in your college. This is where your name will be called as you walk across the stage. These events will be held on Friday or Saturday depending on your college.
Commencement is a large celebration in the evening for all of our graduates across all colleges. We will have space for our graduates to sit in a reserved section on the floor to be recognized as a group.
How early should graduates get to commencement & convocations? And where should they go?
We recommend you get to commencement or convocations approximately 30 minutes early. See convocation times and locations for your college.
For commencement, you will line up in the lobby/concourse that circles the inside of the Dee Events Center. You will line up in the order of your arrival and are welcome to line up with any of your fellow graduates.
Do my family and friends of graduates need a ticket too?
They do not! They can sit anywhere in the stands that they would like. We encourage folks to arrive early for good seats.
What if I’m having trouble getting my tickets?
We first recommend that you clear your browser history if you’re having challenges with weber.evenue.net. If you still have trouble getting your ticket, stop by the Ticket Office in the Dee Events Center or contact the Ticket Office via phone or email: 801-626-8500 ticketoffice@weber.edu
This event will have ASL interpretation.