Tomáš Klvaňa Announced as AAU’s 2026 Commencement Speaker

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As graduation approaches, Anglo-American University is pleased to announce Tomáš Klvaňa as the Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2026.

Klvaňa is the Executive Director of Aspen Institute Central Europe and a senior international consultant specializing in public affairs and strategic communications. Throughout his distinguished career, he has worked at the highest levels of government, diplomacy, and public communication.

He previously served as Spokesman and Senior Adviser to the President of the Czech Republic and as Czech Government Communications Coordinator for the Missile Defense Program, collaborating directly with the White House, U.S. National Security Council, Congress, and the Pentagon. He was also a founding member of Aspen Institute Central Europe, helping establish the organization more than a decade ago.

Klvaňa holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and an M.A. from Charles University in Prague. He was a Shorenstein Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and received the University of Minnesota’s Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals in 2012. Having lived and worked across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium, he brings extensive international experience and a global perspective to this year’s graduating class.

In addition to his work in public affairs and diplomacy, Klvaňa is the author of several books, including Cuba: A Brief History of the End (2024) and The World According to Trump (2024).

As AAU celebrates the achievements of the Class of 2026, we look forward to welcoming Tomáš Klvaňa to Commencement and hearing his reflections on leadership, international affairs, communication, and public service.

The 2026 Graduation Ceremony is only a few weeks away, and we look forward to celebrating this important milestone with our students, families, faculty, alumni, and the wider AAU community!

Revisit last year’s Commencement here, and view the celebration and graduation addresses below: