SNL senior writer Bryan Tucker ’93 to deliver UNC Hussman 2026 commencement address

UNC Hussman alumnus Bryan Tucker ’93 — senior writer for “Saturday Night Live” — will deliver the commencement address to the school’s Class of 2026 on Saturday, May  9, 2026, at 3 p.m. in Carmichael Arena on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus.  

Tucker has earned 19 Emmy nominations over more than 20 years writing for “Saturday Night Live” and won a 2025 Emmy in the Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special category for his work on the Saturday Night Live Anniversary Special.   

He has also won three Writers Guild awards and two Peabody Awards for his work on SNL. He has written for some of the most influential comedy shows of the 2000s, including “Chappelle’s Show” and “The Chris Rock Show.”   

Before becoming a professional television writer, Tucker studied at UNC Hussman, where he learned to write clearly and concisely and developed a lifelong love of news.  

“Bryan’s career shows the incredible range of opportunities that strong writing skills can unlock,” said Raul Reis, UNC Hussman’s dean and John T. Kerr Distinguished Professor. “From newswriting to comedy writing for one of the most iconic shows in television history, his journey is inspiring for our graduates as they prepare to make their own mark.”  

Tucker’s connection to Carolina remains strong. He and his wife Rachael Knott Tucker — a 1996 Carolina graduate — have supported numerous UNC Hussman students over the years through the Tucker Family scholarship programs they established at the school. The couple always makes time to teach, mentor and meet directly with students.   

“It’s an honor to come back to Carolina and speak to the graduates at UNC Hussman,” Tucker said. “The school not only taught me to become a better writer, it helped me understand that good writing is something that will serve you well anywhere, even writing comedy in Rockefeller Center. I look forward to talking to the students, and I hope they’ll be inspired to learn that someone who once got a score of 40 on the J-school Grammar Test can still go on to have a little success in life.” 

Tucker currently teaches “Elements of Sketch Writing” in UNC’s communications department as part of the Writing for the Stage and Screen program. He created the course himself, and it focuses on the fundamentals of sketch comedy writing for television and digital platforms.  

In 2024, he presented work as part of UNC’s Process Series. “Live from Chapel Hill! A Night of Sketch and Improv Comedy” showcased never-performed sketches and new material alongside UNC alumni comedians and performers from Asian AF, the nation’s premier Asian American comedy troupe.  

As an educator and a celebrated writer, Tucker exemplifies the connection between classroom fundamentals and industry success.  

Tucker’s path underscores the versatility of a UNC Hussman education and the enduring value of clear, compelling writing. His work has shaped cultural conversations through humor and storytelling, proving that the fundamentals of good writing apply everywhere — even in comedy.