Knox College has named Justin Hartley — born in Knoxville and now one of the biggest names on network television — as its 2026 commencement speaker.
Hartley, who stars in and executive produces CBS’s hit drama Tracker, will speak and receive an honorary degree at Knox College’s commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 7 on the South Lawn of Old Main. The event is free and open to the public.
Tracker is currently in its third season and has drawn more than 80 million viewers since its debut following the Super Bowl in February 2024, making it the most-watched entertainment series on network television. Hartley previously starred in NBC’s This Is Us, which earned more than 230 award nominations and 50 wins during its run.
Knox College President C. Andrew McGadney said the Illinois connection made the announcement particularly meaningful.
“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,” McGadney said. “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 was born in Knoxville and raised in Orland Park. He studied history and theatre at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the University of Illinois at Chicago before moving to Los Angeles, where he launched his acting career.
In addition to Tracker and This Is Us, his film credits include Netflix’s The Noel Diary, which debuted at No. 1 globally on the platform, and several other studio and independent productions. He has also made his directorial debut and continues to develop projects through his production company, ChangeUp Productions.
Honorary degrees
Two additional honorary degrees will be presented at the ceremony.
Deborah F. Rutter is an arts executive with more than four decades of experience leading 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. She now serves as vice provost for the arts at Duke University. She previously led the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and the Seattle Symphony.
Dorothy Tucker is an Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter whose work has exposed systemic discriminatory practices and prompted legislative action. Tucker has earned multiple Emmy Awards and Edward R. Murrow Awards for her reporting and has served in leadership roles within the National Association of Black Journalists, including as president. She continues to work in Chicago media.
Knox College’s 2026 commencement will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 7 on the South Lawn of Old Main on the Knox College campus in Galesburg. Admission is free. More information is available at knox.edu/commencement.
