Morain to Address Baccalaureate

Graceland is delighted to announce that Michael Morain, a distinguished alumnus from the Class of 2001, will serve as the Baccalaureate speaker for the Class of 2025. The service is scheduled for tomorrow evening, Friday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the Shaw Center on the Lamoni campus. The theme for this year’s Baccalaureate is “Light for Our Journey.”

Morain is the editor of dsm and ia magazines, where he leads storytelling that celebrates the people, culture, and creativity of Iowa. His career in journalism and public service includes roles at the Des Moines Register, where he covered arts and culture, and at the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, where he managed communications for several divisions, including the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council .

“I’m honored to celebrate the new class of Graceland grads as they head out into a world that really needs them,” Morain said. “I know from experience that some of the lessons they’ve learned here will help them in ways they don’t yet realize.”

A fifth-generation Iowan, Morain grew up in Ames and has deep roots in Greene County. He earned a degree in international studies from Graceland University and a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. His professional journey has taken him from Washington, D.C., to New Delhi, and back to Iowa, where he continues to contribute to the state’s cultural landscape.

Morain remains actively involved with Graceland, having founded the university’s alumni RAGBRAI team, Team Yellowjacket. He is also an elder in the Community of Christ congregation in West Des Moines. He and his husband, Heath Smith, reside in downtown Des Moines with their cat, Eleanor Roosevelt.

The Baccalaureate ceremony is a cherished tradition that offers reflection and inspiration to graduating students as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives. Graceland also awards the Student Life Award during the ceremony and acknowledges members of the InSpire program. Morain’s address is expected to resonate with the values of community, curiosity, and creativity that define the Graceland experience.

For more information about Commencement Weekend, please visit graceland.edu/commencement.