College graduation season is upon us as students across the country prepare to embark on the next stages of their young lives.
From wading into the waters of a young career to preparing to continue their studies in graduate school and more, these students will be donning their caps and gowns to formally earn diplomas as families, friends and loved ones attend commencement ceremonies.
NewsOne is paying particular attention to the commencement exercises that are taking place at the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as the next generation of future Black leaders moves forward with their academic and professional lives to help continue the legacy that these great institutions have established for more than a century.
While HBCUs are known for producing the best in Black talents, they also routinely feature high-profile speakers to deliver the keynote addresses at historically Black college graduations.
Keep reading to find a list of HBCU commencement speakers this year.
And while those are some of the better known HBCUs, there are dozens and dozens of others who don’t get the same amount of attention while they stay churning out top-notch Black talent who have also have widely recognized individuals delivering their commencement speeches.
The same is very much true this year.
The legacy of Black excellence delivering keynote addresses at HBCU graduations is in good hands this year, as evidenced by the below list of luminaries scheduled to speak to historically Black college graduates this year.
The following list is in alphabetical order by names of the HBCUs. Any HBCUs missing from this list means their commencement speaker information hasn’t yet been made available. If you have information about the commencement speakers for any of the HBCUs that are missing from this list, please alert NewsOne via email at NewsOne-Core@interactiveone.com.
Until then, please enjoy getting to know more about this year’s impressive group of keynote graduation speakers during HBCU commencement ceremonies.
2. Alabama State University
Catherine Coleman Flowers, environmental justice and climate justice activist and founder of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice, is set to deliver the keynote address to graduates at Alabama State University’s commencement on Friday, May 3.
4. Allen University
Source:Twitter.com/BishopSam
Bishop Samuel Green Sr., the Presiding Prelate of the 7th Episcopal District in South Carolina, is scheduled to give a keynote address to graduates on May 11 at the John Hurst Adams Gymnatorium of Allen University.
5. Alcorn State University
This is how Alcorn State does!
Grammy Award-winning recording artist and minister Montell Jordan is set to deliver the keynote speech at Alcorn State University’s commencement on May 11 in the Davey L. Whitney HPER Complex.
7. Benedict College
UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax is slated to deliver the keynote address to graduates at Benedict College’s commencement ceremony on May 3.
9. Bluefield State University
Fawn Weaver, the first non-celebrity Black American woman to found and lead a billion-dollar enterprise, delivered the commencement address at Bluefield State University‘s 2024 graduation on April 27.
12. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, the youngest lieutenant Governor in the U.S. and the first Black lieutenant governor in state history, will deliver the keynote address to graduates at the Cheyney University of Pennsylvania’s commencement ceremony.
13. Claflin University
Nicole Nelson-Jean, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Associate Administrator for the Office of Infrastructure and a member of the Federal Senior Executive Service, will deliver the keynote address to graduates at Claflin University’s commencement ceremony on May 4.
14. Clark Atlanta University
Dr. Daniel Black, a 30-year professor of African American Studies at Clark Atlanta University and an award-winning novelist, activist, mentor and public speaker, will deliver the keynote address to graduates during Clark Atlanta University’s commencement ceremony on May 18.
15. Clinton College
Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver is slated to give the keynote address at Clinton College’s commencement ceremony on May 3.
16. Coahoma Community College
Dr. Belle Wheelan, President of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, will deliver the keynote speech at Coahoma Community College commencement on May 11.
17. Coppin State University
Dr. Linda L. Singh, a retired major general of the Maryland Army National Guard who was the first woman and first African American adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard, will give the commencement keynote address at Coppin State University on May 17.
18. Delaware State University
Calvin Butler, the President and C.E.O. of Exelon, will address undergraduates on May 10.
20. Dillard University
Ayo Davis, the President of Disney Branded Television, has been selected to deliver the keynote address to graduates at Dillard University’s commencement on May 11.
24. Fayetteville State University
Jacqie McWilliams-Parker, Commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), which is comprised 100% of HBCUs, is set to deliver the keynote speech at Fayetteville State University’s graduation ceremony on May 11.
25. Fisk University
ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts and her husband, Al Roker, weather and feature anchor of NBC News’ TODAY, are set to deliver the keynote speech to graduates at Fisk University’s commencement ceremony on May 6.
27. Florida Memorial University
Larry Quinlan, who directs the boards of multiple Fortune 500 and private equity companies, is scheduled to give the keynote address at Florida Memorial University’s commencement ceremony on May 11.
31. Harris-Stowe State University
Actress, singer and songwriter Dr. Dawnn Lewis will deliver the keynote speech at Harris-Stowe State University’s commencement on May 4.
32. Hood Theological Seminary
Bishop Kenneth Monroe, Presiding Prelate, Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District and the South Atlantic Episcopal District of the AME Zion Church, will deliver the keynote address to graduates at Hood Theological Seminary’s commencement ceremony on May 18.
33. Howard University
Thasunda Brown Duckett, President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA, is the keynote speaker at Howard University’s commencement ceremony on May 11.
34. Huston-Tillotson University
Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, senior leader of the historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, will deliver the keynote speech to graduates at Huston-Tillotson University’s commencement ceremony on May 4.
37. Jarvis Christian University
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, of Mississippi, is slated to deliver the keynote address to graduates at Jarvis Christian University’s commencement ceremony on May 4.
41. Lincoln University of Missouri
Dr. Shaun Harper, a racial equity expert and provost professor at the Rossier School of Education, Marshall School of Business and Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California, will deliver the keynote speech to graduates at Lincoln University of Missouri’s commencement ceremony on May 11.
43. Miles College
Darrin DeWitt Henson, the noted choreographer, dancer, actor and producer, will deliver the keynote address to graduates at Miles College’s commencement ceremony on May 4.
44. Mississippi Valley State University
Archie Tucker, Sr., Area Director for the Southeast Area of the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service in Stoneville, Mississippi, is the keynote speaker at Mississippi Valley State University’s commencement ceremony on May 4.
46. Morehouse School of Medicine
Anthony “Tony” Welters, entrepreneur, business executive, philanthropist and the founder, Chairman & CEO of CINQCARE, will deliver the keynote address to graduates at the Morehouse School of Medicine’s commencement ceremony on May 18.
47. Morgan State University
Source:Getty
Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, chancellor of the University of Cape Coast Ghana and executive chairman of Jonah Capital, will be the keynote speaker at Morgan State University’s commencement ceremony on May 18.
50. Norfolk State University
Don Scott, the House Speaker of the Virginia General Assembly — the first Black speaker in the Virginia House of Delegates’ history — will deliver the keynote address to graduates at Norfolk State University’s commencement ceremony on May 4.
51. North Carolina A&T State University
Stephanie G. Adams, the fifth dean of the University of Texas at Dallas Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and an honors graduate of N.C. A&T, is the keynote speaker for the graduate student ceremony on May 10.
Tamron Hall, the journalist and talk show host, is slated to be the keynote speaker at North Carolina A&T State University’s undergraduate commencement ceremonies on May 11.
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