Knox College Announces 2026 Commencement Speaker Justin Hartley, Western Illinois-Born Star of CBS’ Tracker

Knox College announced today that Western Illinois-born award winning-actor, producer, and star of CBS’s Tracker Justin Hartley will be the speaker and receive an honorary degree at its 2026 Commencement exercises this June. Hartley will be joined by internationally respected American arts executive and cultural leader Deborah F. Rutter and award-winning investigative reporter and community advocate Dorothy Tucker, who will also receive honorary degrees during the ceremony.

Justin Hartley currently stars in and executive produces CBS’ hit drama series Tracker, now in its third season and continuing its reign as the most-watched entertainment series on network television. Since its record-shattering post-Super Bowl debut in February 2024, Tracker has amassed over 80 million viewers and counting, quickly becoming a cornerstone of CBS’ primetime slate. He previously starred in NBC’s critically acclaimed, award-winning drama This Is Us, which earned more than 230 award nominations and 50 wins during its celebrated run.

“It’s not often that Knox gets to welcome a native of the Illinois prairie as its Commencement speaker, which makes awarding an honorary degree to Justin Hartley this June truly meaningful,” said Knox College President C. Andrew McGadney. “With a career that spans more than 20 years as an actor, producer, and director, Justin’s outstanding work in television and film sets a noteworthy example of artistic achievement and personal accomplishment for the Class of 2026.”

Hartley received multiple Critics Choice Award nominations for his performance as Kevin Pearson in This is Us and, alongside his cast mates, won consecutive SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. He also made his directorial debut on the series, helming the emotionally acclaimed episode “A Hell of a Week: Part Three.”

On the film front, Hartley’s credits include Bride Hard; Netflix’s holiday hit The Noel Diary, which debuted at #1 globally on the platform; Netflix’s comedy Senior Year; the indie feature A Lot of Nothing; Universal Pictures’ The Hunt and Little; STX’s A Bad Moms Christmas; Another Time, which he also executive produced; and Spring Breakdown. Beyond his on-screen work, Hartley has also lent his voice to high-profile projects, including the narrative podcast Harley Quinn & The Joker: Sound Mind. As a producer, Hartley continues to develop premium projects through his production company, ChangeUp Productions. The company recently secured a script commitment at ABC for the drama series No Good Deed.

Born in Knoxville, Illinois, and raised in Orland Park, Hartley developed an early passion for storytelling and pursued acting while studying history and theatre at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the University of Illinois at Chicago. After moving to Los Angeles, he landed his first series regular role on the daytime drama Passions, ultimately leading him to primetime television and film.

In addition to Hartley, Deborah F. Rutter, internationally respected American art executive and cultural leader, and Dorothy Tucker, Emmy-winning investigative reporter and community advocate, will also receive honorary degrees during the ceremony.

Deborah Rutter

Deborah F. Rutter is an American art executive and cultural leader with more than four decades of experience guiding major performing-arts institutions. She served as president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from 2014 to 2025, becoming the first woman to hold the role and overseeing significant artistic expansion, including the opening of The REACH campus. Known for her collaborative, artist-centered approach and commitment to access and innovation in the arts, she now serves as vice provost for the arts at Duke University. Previously, she was president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and executive director of the Seattle Symphony, where she led the development of Benaroya Hall, and held earlier leadership roles with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Dorothy Tucker

Dorothy Tucker is a respected investigative reporter whose work has exposed systemic discriminatory practices and prompted the establishment of task forces to address inequities or prompt legislative actions. Tucker has built a career covering issues that impact everyday residents, including public safety, education, and social justice. She has produced several series on consumer fraud that have resulted in the incarceration of notorious scam artists. Tucker has earned multiple Emmy Awards, Edward R. Murrow Awards, and national journalism honors for her in-depth reporting and storytelling, and she has held leadership roles within the National Association of Black Journalists, including serving as president. Recognized for her commitment to ethical journalism and community engagement, she continues to be a prominent voice in Chicago media and a mentor to emerging journalists.

The 2026 Knox College Commencement will be held on Sunday, June 7, at 10:00 a.m. on the South Lawn of Old Main on the Knox College campus. It is free and open to the public. More information can be found at www.knox.edu/commencement. 

Published on April 02, 2026