2026 Commencement Speaker Announced

USU is excited to announce this year's commencement speaker, Annabelle Manalo-Morgan. Annabelle Manalo-Morgan, PhD, a native of Canada, balances life as a scientist, educator, author, and mother of five. She is married to Grammy Award–winning artist Gramps Morgan. An alumna of Dillard University and Eastern Kentucky University, Dr. Annabelle completed NIH clinical trial certification and began her graduate training in Neuroscience at Georgetown University. She earned her doctorate in Cell and Developmental Biology from Vanderbilt University, where her research focused on genetic mutations modeling chemotherapy-associated cardiotoxicity and cardiac development.

In 2016, Dr. Annabelle saved her son’s life by developing a novel cannabinoid-based formulation, inspiring her scientific focus on neuroplasticity, translational medicine, and precision-based therapies. She is the Founder of Mighty Ventures, a translational life sciences group running preclinical and clinical studies in parallel.

She previously served as Chief Scientific Officer of Tikun Olam USA, founded Masaya Medical Inc. in 2019, and served as a Board Director and Lead Scientific Officer for Nasdaq-listed Flora Growth Corp. Dr. Annabelle consults on legislation and leads global clinical trials. She is set to launch NFL-associated concussion and women’s fertility clinical trials in Q1 2026.

Recognized by the U.S. Congress for a scientific breakthrough credited with saving her son’s life, she serves on the Patient First Coalition. Named one of the Most Influential Filipina Women in the World (2022), her ForbesBooks bestseller Mighty Flower was published in 2023. She is also co-founder of BJ’s 38 Foundation with her son BJ Williams, inspired by her son Macario’s extraordinary recovery.

USU is excited to welcome its graduates in San Diego on 9/18 at ten at the San Diego Convention Center. For more information, please click here: https://www.usuniversity.edu/current-students/commencement-information.