Commencement
Commencement 2026
Saturday, May 9, 2026
10:00 a.m.
David J. Prior Convocation Center
Commencement Speaker
Tyler Roberts is the President and Chief Financial Officer of The Mina Group, a $350 million restaurant management company whose luxury dining offerings span across the U.S. in addition to Dubai and Riyadh. Founded by renowned chef, Michael Mina, the business develops and operates more than 35 restaurants under the flagship brands of Bourbon Steak, StripSteak, Orla and Aqua Bistecca.
As the senior executive responsible for strategy, performance and growth, Tyler oversees finance, operations, IT, capital strategy and investor relations. He sets and executes the company’s long-term vision with an eye toward market expansion, building resilient, successful teams, and a balance of adoption of developing technologies and embracing efficient best practices.
Tyler has applied his UVA Wise education in various roles in financial planning and operations with VIVA Creative, the Jose Andres Group and Lidl. In May 2017, he was recognized as a Top Accounting Executive by Recognize D.C. After graduating from UVA Wise in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, Roberts earned his Master of Business Administration degree from King University.
He says he is most grateful to UVA Wise for teaching me how to learn. Tyler says the University set him up to think deeply, push the boundaries of what is possible, and take learning beyond the classroom. He adds that he has made enduring friendships and lifelong memories here.
For his Commencement remarks, Tyler will draw not only on his experiences at the College, but also from working with Boards of Directors, investors, luxury hotel brands and alongside Chef Mina. He points out that individuals come to a restaurant for a great meal, but what makes them come back is how restaurant staff make them feel. That, he says, makes a difference.
His advice to graduates will center around a tried and true value of the College and region where he grew up: trust, reputation, and success.
Honorary Class Speaker
Nina Erickson is a senior health and wellness major in the UVA Wise Army ROTC program. A native of Loudoun County, Virginia, Erickson has served in several leadership roles within the program, from public affairs officer to battalion executive officer.
Erickson comes from a military family, with several members having served before her, including her brother, UVA Wise alumnus Russell Erickson ’25, who commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps last year. Originally planning to play basketball, Erickson said she had always believed that was the path she would follow until a campus tour arranged by her father introduced her to the ROTC program, where she quickly found her footing and never looked back.
From there, she began taking on a range of opportunities within the program, including positions in communications, cadet leadership and staff operations. She completed a Master Fitness Trainer internship, where she logged 300 hours training cadets physically, applying what she has learned in her health and wellness studies. She has also completed events including memorial rucks, half and full marathons, and recently made history as the first female from UVA Wise to graduate from Air Assault School.
After commissioning, Erickson plans to head to Arizona to begin her military career, where she will branch in military intelligence, becoming the first in the UVA Wise program to branch directly into that field. From there, she hopes to end up in a tight-knit community overseas, ideally in Europe, working with special forces or human intelligence units in an environment that mirrors the small, dedicated community she has found in UVA Wise Army ROTC.