Commencement

Dr. David Childs, MA, MAT, D.D., Ph.D. ’00
Professor, Filmmaker, Author, CEO, Minister
Northern Kentucky University, Historic Antioch Baptist Church (Est. 1882).
Mount St. Joseph University, Class of 2026 Alumni Commencement Speaker.

Dr. David Childs is Director of Black Studies, and Associate Professor of Social Studies Education and History at Northern Kentucky University (NKU). Dr. Childs was the first African American in the College of Education to earn tenure at NKU. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Mount Saint Joseph University. He earned two Masters’ degrees from Miami University of Ohio. Dr. Childs also earned his Ph.D. at Miami and received his Doctorate of Divinity (Honorary) in theological studies from Temple Bible College and Seminary in Cincinnati.

He is the site lead for National Geographic’s 2892 Miles to go project. In addition he is Vice President of the Sweet Blackberry Foundation, an organization founded by Fresh Prince of Bel Air actor Karyn Parsons. Dr. Childs is senior pastor of First Antioch Baptist Church. Their 501c3 First Antioch Ministries, focuses on food insecurity, addiction, homelessness and arts education. He is founder and CEO of Cultural Diversity Consultants and Studios.

Dr. Childs is an international scholar and has done work in Washington, DC, San Francisco, California, Mexico City, Vancouver, Canada, Oxfordshire, England, Liberia, Africa, South Africa and Paris, France. In 2026 Dr. Childs was named a Research Fellow in the United Kingdom at the Queens Foundation for Theological Education.

He is a prolific writer and author, having published over 200 articles in academic journals, books, blogs, and encyclopedias. Dr. Childs wrote a historical fiction novel entitled Escaping from Home: A Novel about Slavery and Freedom in 2021 and has written extensively for NPR/ WVXU’s Democracy and Me project. Dr. Childs appears regularly on television and radio news shows and podcasts across the nation. He was executive producer of a documentary entitled “Underground: Freedom Stories Along the Borderlands” that aired on PBS in fall of 2025. The work is a collaboration with George Clooney and his father Nick Clooney. His most recent animated film screened in 2026. The film project is a partnership with National Geographic, Black Monarch Entertainment and Cultural Diversity Studios. He has also worked with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Cincinnati Museum Center and the Smithsonian Institute.    

Dr. Childs is an award winning scholar having received multiple NAACP Awards, a research and scholarship award from NKU, an educational and community award from the Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky and was a part of an Emmy award nominated news story with Local 12 News. Most of all, he enjoys spending time with his wife Alundra Childs, Ed.D. Candidate (A Spanish educator and classical pianist) and their children Symone, David, Hannah, Gabriella and Madison.

Sister Monica Gundler, SC, is a native of Hamilton, Ohio, and a graduate of Badin High School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, cum laude, in 1983 from what was then the College of Mount St. Joseph (now Mount St. Joseph University). During her time there, she served as a Resident Assistant and student leader, ultimately serving as Student Government President during her senior year. She later earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver.

After beginning her professional career in social work with Reading Youth Services, Sister Monica discerned a deeper call to service and entered the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati in 1986. Her ministry has consistently centered on accompanying young people and nurturing faith communities. She has facilitated support groups for children of divorce and offered grief work for families.

Sister Monica has served in parishes, high schools, and universities in Colorado Springs, El Paso, and Ohio, including the University of Dayton and her alma mater, Mount St. Joseph University, where she served for seven years as Mission Coordinator and Director of Campus Ministry. During her time at the Mount, she received both the Sister Maria Corona Leadership Award and the Elizabeth Seton Mission Award. She also served the Sisters of Charity in vocation and formation ministries.

Sister Monica’s leadership extended to the Gulf Coast following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. She was instrumental in founding the House of Charity in New Orleans, a Sisters of Charity Federation community that welcomed volunteers and Sisters for more than thirteen years. Through prayer, service, and shared community life, countless students, faculty, and staff participated in rebuilding efforts while deepening their commitment to solidarity and justice. Her leadership in “Nuns Build” earned recognition, including honors from the St. Bernard Project in Louisiana.

In the aftermath of the BP oil spill, Sister Monica served affected communities through Catholic Charities. During her years in Louisiana, she also became a licensed massage therapist, offering healing support to individuals experiencing trauma and homelessness.

Elected to the Leadership Council of the Sisters of Charity in 2019, Sister Monica was elected president of the congregation in 2023. Across every chapter of her life and ministry, she has demonstrated a profound commitment to healing, building community, and creating spaces where seekers encounter God and one another in compassionate service.

To order your cap and gown, please visit Josten's Regalia link here for details.

Mount St. Joseph University
Fifth Third Dining Hall, Seton Center
5701 Delhi Pike
Cincinnati, Ohio 45233

Graduates, family and guests who plan to attend the graduation brunch in Fifth Third Dining Hall on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Please visit the Graduation Brunch page here to register.

Please line up in the Harrington Auxiliary Gym.

Graduate/Doctoral line-up begins at 9 a.m.

Undergraduates line-up begins at 1:30 p.m.

Doors open for guests at 9 a.m. for Graduate/Doctoral Ceremony.

Doors open for guests at 1:30 p.m. for Undergraduate Ceremony.

Graduate Ceremony, 9 tickets per graduate

Undergraduate Ceremony, 6 tickets per graduate

Need additional tickets? Complete this Additional Ticket Request form for additional tickets

• Tickets will be electronic this year for the first time ever at the Mount. You will be receiving an email from info@booktix.com with a unique redemption code for your tickets in your MSJ email.  *Please check Spam if you do not see this email by Thursday, April 2, 2026.
• Commencement Ceremony tickets are required for all guests (including young children attending the ceremony).
  Guests without tickets will be able to sit in the overflow seating in the University Theatre. If you do not redeem your code in time or your guests arrive to the event without tickets, they will be seated in the overflow seating.

Seating is Bleacher seating.

We will have a live stream of the ceremony for overflow seating in the MSJ Theatre, for those who don’t have a ticket or not able to do bleacher seating.

Should anyone in your party require wheelchair or accessibility seating, please request this when redeeming your unique ticket code sent from info@booktix.com.

Limited handicapped parking will be available and will be first-come, first-served. A handicap drop off area will be located in the circle drive by the old Children's Center.

Those attending graduation will primarily park in the West Lot. Once the West Lot is full, overflow parking will move to the Parking Garage and the Upper East Lot.

Direction and Campus Map

Right-click and open the image below to enlargen the map.

For anyone who is unable to attend the ceremony in person, we're pleased to offer a live stream of the event on the day of the ceremony. You can celebrate from wherever you are! 

Visit our Commencement Livestream link here.