The University of New Orleans has announced that musician Ivan Neville will serve as the keynote speaker for its Spring 2026 commencement ceremony. He will also receive an honorary degree in recognition of his contributions to music and to the culture of New Orleans.
A New Orleans native, Neville has built a career as a vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the son of Aaron Neville and has performed with The Neville Brothers, as well as on his father’s solo projects.
Neville is the founder of Dumpstaphunk, a band formed in 2003 that has released multiple albums and toured extensively in the United States and internationally. The group has performed at major festivals, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Bonnaroo.
Over the course of his career, Neville has recorded and performed with a range of artists, including The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards and Bonnie Raitt. He has also contributed to recordings by other musicians and worked across multiple genres.
Neville’s work has been recognized with a 2023 GRAMMY Award for Best American Roots Song for “Stomping Ground,” recorded with his father Aaron Neville and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. He has also received multiple OffBeat “Best of the Beat” Awards, including repeated honors as Best Piano/Keyboardist in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2023.
His solo career includes several album releases and a Billboard Hot 100 single, “Not Just Another Girl,” which reached the Top 30. His work has also been featured in film and television, and he has appeared in music documentaries focused on New Orleans and American music traditions.
