Speakers announced for 2026 FSB Commencement Ceremony
2002 alum, marketing major to speak at graduation weekend event
Speakers announced for 2026 FSB Commencement Ceremony
2002 alum, marketing major to speak at graduation weekend event
The speakers for the 2026 Farmer School of Business commencement have been selected. Alex O’Brien, CEO of the Cardinal Group Companies and 2002 Finance alum, will be the keynote speaker, while Marketing major Nikki White will be the student speaker.
O’Brien grew up in Dayton, OH, and is a graduate of Archbishop Alter High School. While attending Miami, he was a member of the Naval ROTC unit and the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps. He deployed on two tours, including one in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, ultimately earning the rank of Captain. He received his BS in Finance from Miami and his master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
O’Brien is a co-founder and the CEO of Cardinal Group Companies. Since its founding in 2006, Cardinal has become a national leader in multifamily real estate. Cardinal Group provides housing to over 120,000 students across the country and is the only real estate company to be recognized multiple times as GlassDoor’s best place to work for large companies with over 1,000 employees. Alex proudly leads the over 2,500 team members of Cardinal on a Mission to “be the best place to work, in any industry, for anyone.”
“I’m humbled by the opportunity to say a few words to future business leaders that are embarking on their careers at one the most interesting and exciting points in history,” O’Brien said. “Oxford in May is always buzzing with energy, and I can’t wait for the nostalgia of walking down High Street and throughout campus.”
Nikki White is from Barrington, IL. She is president of The Levant Group, a student‑run marketing firm inside the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. White is also a member of the FSB Business Student Advisory Council.
“I've watched a lot of graduation speeches, and some are good, some are not so good. The best ones are either funny or motivational. And I'm not funny, so I have to be motivational,” White laughed. “I think there's something so powerful about bringing people together. I have such a passion for speaking to people and inspiring them, getting people excited and motivated. I think this is such a moment to do that.”
The Farmer School of Business commencement ceremony will take place Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m. in Millett Hall.