Ave Maria University is excited to announce that Michael Knowles, the celebrated host of The Michael Knowles Show, produced by the Daily Wire, will deliver this year’s commencement address, held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Tom Golisano Field House.  

Knowles, who is a devout Catholic, will be presented with an honorary doctorate. In addition to this recognition, Knowles has received numerous honors, including the Fr. Benedict Groeschel Award from Good Counsel Homes, the Conservative Mind Award from The American Conservative magazine, and the Courage Under Fire Award from Regina Caeli Academy. In addition to podcasts and radio, Knowles appears regularly on television, and his writing has been featured in the Daily Wire, the Claremont Reviews of Books, the American Conservative, the American Mind and Fox News, among other outlets. He is a graduate of Yale University and has lectured at universities and research institutes around the world.

In early 2020, Knowles teamed up with Senator Ted Cruz to launch Verdict, which quickly rose to the top spot on the charts across all podcasts. Later that year, after an appearance guest-hosting “The Rush Limbaugh Program,” his daily podcast became syndicated to terrestrial radio. Also that year, he was named a Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute.

“We are thrilled and honored to have Michael Knowles serve as Ave Maria University’s 2025 commencement speaker,” said Mark Middendorf, president of Ave Maria University. “As a renowned thought leader and communicator, Michael’s insightful commentary and writings have educated and inspired countless Americans. What makes his witness especially compelling is the way he lives out his Catholic faith — with conviction and integrity — both at home and in the public square. We look forward to the message he will share with our graduating class.”  

Ave Maria University’s commencement exercises, including Knowles’ address, will be closed to the public in order to accommodate the friends and families of the AMU Class of 2025. However, the ceremonies, including Knowles’ address, will be livestreamed on the University’s website: www.avemaria.edu