Mixed reactions followed Utah Valley University’s announcement last month that “America’s Government Teacher,” Sharon McMahon, would be the 2026 commencement speaker.
McMahon was criticized by conservatives for her reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and some on campus feel she wasn’t the right choice to speak to the school this year.
Since news of McMahon’s participation in the commencement for what will be the university’s largest graduating class in its history was posted, UVU spokesperson Sharon Turner told the Deseret News, “The responses to her speaking for commencement have been overwhelmingly positive,” and that McMahon spoke on campus previously and was “well-received.”
“She focuses on a nonpartisan approach to history and civics, which is consistent with our standards as a university,” Turner added.
As a New York Times-bestselling author, award-winning educator and podcaster, McMahon has a notable platform that focuses on political issues, both current and historical. She often makes guest appearances on news platforms and podcasts.
“Sharon McMahon is an original. She is a force of nature and a force for good. As a former history teacher, she understands that education can inform, inspire, and instigate courageous action,” UVU President Astrid Tuminez said in a press release. “She underlines how each of us can contribute to a vibrant democracy and how strength comes from knowledge, kindness, and collective action.”
Her website also touts her as a source for “nonpartisan insight that makes sense of the news, unpacks misinformation, and connects the dots from history to today. My goal is simple: tell the truth, explain it clearly, and help you understand how our system works — so together, we can make it work better."
But not all students at UVU were delighted with the news that McMahon was returning to the school, specifically because of comments she made about Kirk, the conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder who was killed last September on UVU’s campus.
Comments on a social media post by UVU announcing McMahon’s participation in commencement were mostly positive, but others found the selection “tone deaf,” a decision “only good for liberals, not conservatives,” and “disgraceful.”
Less than a week after thousands, including children, witnessed the assassination of Kirk in the opening moments of his “American Comeback Tour” on Sept. 10, 2025, McMahon posted on Instagram about Kirk, a post she has since deleted.
However, the thread remains online, and others reposted it to rebut McMahon’s claims, with one critic calling her post “vile.”
UVU’s Turning Point USA chapter president, Caleb Chilcutt, told the Deseret News that her now-deleted post was a “series of out-of-context quotes from Charlie in an effort to tarnish his name and minimize the tragedy, rather than offering condolences or condemning political violence.”
“While universities should welcome diverse viewpoints, platforming someone who treated a historic and tragic political assassination, not as a moment to grieve, but as an opportunity to create content, is tone-deaf and disrespectful to those still affected, especially on this campus,” he continued. “There are countless better alternatives, and the fact the university is choosing McMahon is entirely disappointing to all of us still reeling from his loss. I couldn’t be more disappointed in this university at such a hurtful and calloused decision.”