St. Edward’s University to Welcome Tony Award Winner Tyler Mount as Keynote for the May 2025 Commencement

April 21, 2025

AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward’s University will celebrate the achievements of more than 646 students earning their doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees at its Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 10. This year’s keynote speaker is Tyler Mount ‘13 — a Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning theatrical producer and entrepreneur — who returns to the hilltop to inspire the next generation of changemakers.

“It’s an honor to return to my alma mater to share words of encouragement, inspiration, and celebration with the graduating class of May 2025. Journeying from the Broadway stage to the commencement stage as this year’s speaker is a true full-circle moment for me,” said Mount. “My decision to transfer to St. Edward’s was fueled by my passion for theater, and the university’s Theater Arts program — along with its close-knit community — provided me with a transformative education and lifelong connections with mentors who have had a profoundly positive impact on my life.”

After earning his BA in Theater Arts from St. Edward’s, Mount has become one of Broadway’s most noted theatrical producers. Over the course of his career, he has earned three Tony Awards, a Grammy Award, an Olivier Award, a GLAAD Media Award, and numerous other honors. With his work spanning from Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional theater, he has played a pivotal role in bringing critically acclaimed productions to the stage. His Tony Award for Once on This Island (Best Revival of a Musical) established his place in history as one of the youngest producers ever to receive the honor. He made history again in October 2020 as the youngest individual producer to receive Tony Award nominations in all four major production categories: Best Play, Best Musical, Best Revival of a Play, and Best Revival of a Musical.

In addition to his career as a producer, Mount is a leading expert in real estate branding and marketing, having served as a consultant to nearly 1,000 businesses across 14 countries. As founder and CEO of Henry Street Creative, a New York City-based branding agency, Mount and his team specialize in brand strategy, content creation, and web development for real estate developers, national brokerages, and both residential and commercial agents.

Beyond his entrepreneurial pursuits, Mount is dedicated to philanthropy. He serves on the boards of Rise Above Arts, The Houston Children’s Chorus, and most recently the Johnny Joe Trillayes Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of his late friend from the St. Edward’s University Class of 2012. Additionally, Mount sits on the Arts and Humanities Advisory Board at St. Edward’s University, where he was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award in 2023.

About St. Edward’s University May 2025 Commencement 

St. Edward’s will host two separate commencement ceremonies at the Recreation and Athletic Center (RAC), one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Guests will be required to present a ticket for entry. Following each ceremony, graduates and their families will join a celebratory toast and take part in the beloved Hilltopper tradition— the Legacy Walk.

Morning Ceremony: 10 a.m.

Afternoon Ceremony: 3 p.m.

Guests who do not have tickets may watch the livestream for both commencement ceremonies on a first come, first served basis in Jones Auditorium (Robert and Pearle Ragsdale Center) and Carter Auditorium (John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center–South). Both ceremonies will also be available to stream on the university’s YouTube channel.

About St. Edward’s University

St. Edward’s University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,000 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 50 undergraduate, seven master’s degree programs and a doctorate program. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 22 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2025 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s ranked #5 in the Best Regional Universities in the West. The American Council on Education and Carnegie Foundation designated St. Edward’s research university status in 2025.