Tag: Commencement Speakers

Opinion

Rethinking Commencement

“What we call the beginning is often the end; and to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” Twenty-five years ago this week, I used those words from T.S. Eliot’s “Little Gidding” to start my high school commencement speech.

June 2, 2019

News Roundup

Marc H. Morial to Give Grambling Commencement Keynote Address

Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League and president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, will be the keynote speaker at the Grambling State University commencement at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. Morial is well known for his work as former mayor of New Orleans, a tenure that included developing […]

May 6, 2019

HBCUs

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to Serve as Spelman Commencement Speaker

Keisha Lance Bottoms, the 60th Mayor of Atlanta, will serve as Spelman College’s commencement speaker on Sunday, May 19. During the class of 2019’s commencement ceremony, Bottoms will address the 474 graduating seniors at the all-women’s, historically Black college, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. She will also receive the National Community Service Award. Other award recipients […]

April 23, 2019

News Roundup

Political Strategist Angela Rye to Deliver Commencement Speech at Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University has announced that Angela Rye, a CNN commentator will deliver the keynote address during its spring 2019 commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 18. A nationally-known political strategist, Rye has more than 10 years of experience working in the following industries: government contracting, civil rights, higher education political fundraising, homeland security, strategic communications […]

April 17, 2019

News Roundup

Loretta Lynch Named Tuskegee University Commencement Speaker

Tuskegee University has announced that Loretta Lynch, the first female African-American U.S. attorney general, will deliver the keynote address during the university’s 134th spring commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11. In April 2015, Lynch was appointed the 83rd U.S. attorney general by President Barack Obama and served in the role until January 2017, in addition […]

April 15, 2019

News Roundup

Wellesley College Class of 2019 Selects Anita Hill as Commencement Speaker

Civil and women’s rights activist Anita Hill, whose voice has been widely used in academia, politics and in the media regarding gender, race and equality, has been named the commencement speaker for Wellesley College’s 141st commencement ceremony. Hill, a professor of social policy, law and women’s, gender and sexuality studies at Brandeis University, is known […]

April 14, 2019

News Roundup

Rev. Al Sharpton Named Fisk University Commencement Speaker

Fisk University has announced that civil rights activist the Reverend Al Sharpton will be the commencement speaker for its 145th commencement ceremony scheduled on Monday, May 6 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Nashville. “It is an honor and privilege for the Fisk community to have Rev. Al Sharpton delivering remarks to our 2019 graduating […]

April 13, 2019

News Roundup

Dr. Sumun L. Pendakur to Deliver Address at University of Michigan-Flint Commencement Speaker

Dr. Sumun L. Pendakur, chief learning officer and director of the Equity Institutes within the USC Race and Equity Center, will be the University of Michigan-Flint campus’ commencement speaker during its 2019 spring graduation ceremony. “It’s a tremendous honor to serve as commencement speaker for the University of Michigan-Flint,” said Pendakur, whose work focuses on […]

April 11, 2019

News Roundup

Bakari Sellers to Speak at Paine College’s Spring 2019 Commencement Speaker

Paine College has announced that U.S. Attorney, former politician and CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers will deliver the college’s spring 2019 commencement address on May 5. “We are pleased that Bakari Sellers will address the 2019 graduating class,” said Paine president Dr. Jerry L. Hardee. “Bakari Sellers has emerged as the ‘voice’ for his generation. […]

April 8, 2019

MSIs

Middlebury Institute Announces Benjamin Jealous as Spring Commencement Speaker

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies has announced that former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Benjamin Jealous will be the commencement speaker for the 2019 Spring Commencement Ceremony. In 2008, Jealous became the youngest person to hold the title as president of the organization. Before his time at […]

April 3, 2019

News Roundup

Congressman Elijah Cummings Slated to Speak at Morgan State University’s Commencement

Maryland Congressman Elijah E. Cummings will be the commencement speaker at Morgan State University’s 143rd Spring Commencement ceremony on May 18, the university recently announced. Cummings, a member of Morgan’s Board of Regents, will deliver his address to the university’s Spring 2019 class consisting of almost 800 students at the Hughes Memorial Stadium. This marks […]

March 29, 2019

News Roundup

SC State University Announce Sen. Cory Booker as Commencement Speaker

South Carolina State University (SCSU) administrators have announced the New Jersey senator and 2020 presidential candidate Cory Booker will be the commencement speaker for the school’s spring 2019 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 10 at the Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. “I am honored to have the opportunity to address the graduating class at South Carolina […]

March 26, 2019