Commencement Speakers for 2024
Senior Higher Education Analyst
Editor & Writer
Senior Higher Education Analyst
Editor & Writer
Colleges and universities have begun naming their commencement speakers for 2024. Here's a running list of announcements, including ceremony dates.
Stay tuned for continual updates throughout the spring.
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Adrian College — May 5
Riley Gaines, an anti-trans rights activist
Albany State University — May 4
Sen. Reverend Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA)
Alcorn State University — May 11
Montell Jordan, the author, pastor, and singer
Averett University — May 4
Gregory L. Robinson, an Averett alum and retired deputy associate administrator for programs at the NASA Science Mission Directorate
Ball State University — May 4
Stedman Graham, a Ball State alum, author, and chairman and CEO of S. Graham and Associates
Barnard College — May 15
Ruth Simmons, president's distinguished fellow at Rice University and senior adviser to the president of Harvard University on HBCU initiatives
Bentley University — May 17-18
Joe Preston, president and CEO of New Balance, undergraduate ceremony; Karan Dyson, vice president of global grooming process & engineering at Procter & Gamble-Gillette, graduate ceremony
Bethany College — May 10
Republican United States Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia
Boston College — May 20
Cardinal Stephen Chow, the bishop of Hong Kong
Boston University — May 19
David Grann, a BU alum and author
Bowie State University — May 24
Wanda Durant, mother of NBA player Kevin Durant and president of the Durant Family Charitable Foundation
Brandeis University — May 19
Ken Burns, documentary filmmaker, undergraduate ceremony; Ruth Simmons, president's distinguished fellow at Rice University and senior advisor to the president of Harvard University on historically Black college and university (HBCU) initiatives, graduate ceremony
Meredith Woo, the former president of Sweet Briar College; and Claudia Goldin, a professor of economics at Harvard University
Bryant University — May 16, 18
Karen S. Lynch, president and CEO of CVS Health, undergraduate ceremony; Edmund Shallcross III, president and CEO of Amica Mutual Insurance Company, graduate ceremony
Bucknell University — May 12
Nadia Sasso, Bucknell alum, creative producer, and digital storyteller
Buena Vista University — May 4
Jeff Anderson, a Buena Vista alum and executive vice president and chief communications officer for the Minnesota Vikings
California Institute of Technology — June 14
Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA
The Catholic University of America — May 11
Jonathan Roumie, professional actor and voice artist
Centre College — May 19
Matthew Barzun, a business leader, author, and former U.S. ambassador
Champlain College — May 11
Marcelle Leahy, a nurse and humanitarian
Chapman University — May 17
Bill Hader, the comedian, actor, writer and director
Colby College — May 26
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Colby alum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and presidential historian
Colgate University — May 19
Bill Browder, founder and CEO of Hermitage Capital Management, head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, and author
Colorado College — May 19
Frieda Ekotto, a Colorado College alum and professor of Afro-American and African studies, comparative literature, and Francophone studies at the University of Michigan
Connecticut College — May 19
Laura Coates, CNN's chief legal analyst and anchor of "Laura Coates Live"
Coppin State University — May 17
Linda L. Singh, founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope Affect LLC
Dartmouth College — June 9
Roger Federer, the tennis champion and philanthropist
Denison University — May 11
Philip A. Glotzbach, president emeritus of Skidmore College
Dillard University — May 11
Ayo Davis, a Dillard alum and president of Disney Branded Television
Duke University — May 12
Jerry Seinfeld, comedian, actor, writer, and producer
D'Youville University — May 11
Sophia, an artificial intelligence robot created by Hanson Robotics
East Carolina University — May 3
Ronnie Barnes, an East Carolina alum and vice president of medical services for the National Football League and head athletic trainer for the New York Giants
Elon University — May 24
Ginna Claire Mason, Elon alum and actress
Emmanuel College — May 18
Jack Connors Jr., founding partner of Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos and philanthropist
Emory University — May 13
Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and CEO of the Morehouse School of Medicine
Fairleigh Dickinson University — May 15
Stephen K. Klasko, an author, executive-in-residence at General Catalyst, and chief medical officer of Abundant Venture Partners
Fordham University — May 18
Joseph Patrick Kennedy III, the U.S. special envoy to Northern Ireland for economic affairs and former congressman
Gardner-Webb University — May 2
Crystal L. Hill, Gardner-Webb alum and superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
George Washington University — May 19
Jen Psaki, the host of "Inside with Jen Psaki"
Gonzaga University — May 11 and 12
Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of undergraduate academic affairs at the University of Washington, undergraduate ceremony; Angelique Albert, CEO of the Native Forward Scholars Fund, graduate ceremony; Robert Gates, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, law school ceremony
Grand View University — May 6
Michelle L. Book, president & CEO of the Food Bank of Iowa
Greenville University — May 10-11
John Inazu, a professor of law and religion at Washington University in St. Louis
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Hampshire College — May 18
Chelsea E. Manning, an advocate for queer and transgender rights
Hampton University — May 12
Howard-John Wesley, pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church
Harvard University — May 23
Maria A. Ressa, journalist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient
High Point University — May 2 and 4
Glenn Stearns, businessman and star of "Undercover Billionaire," undergraduate ceremony; Vincent Price, president of Duke University, graduate ceremony
Hillsdale College — May 11
Pat Sajak, host of "Wheel of Fortune"
Hiram College — May 11
Adam Hickman, a Hiram alum and vice president of organizational and cast development at Partners
Hobart and William Smith Colleges — May 19
Carol Spahn, director of the Peace Corps
Hofstra University — May 19
Vanessa Baird-Streeter, president and CEO of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, and Margaret Hoover, host of "Firing Line with Margaret Hoover," undergraduate ceremony; Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of "Science," graduate ceremony
Hood College — May 18
U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-MD
Howard University — May 11
Thasunda Brown Duckett, president and CEO of TIAA
Ithaca College — May 19
Jason DeLand, an Ithaca alum and co-founder of the advertising agency Anomaly
Johns Hopkins University — May 23
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT)
Kean University — May 14, 16
Neil deGrasse Tyson, the astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium, undergraduate ceremony; Abby Phillip, anchor of "NewsNight with Abby Phillip," graduate ceremony
Lehigh University — May 19
Scott Willoughby, a Lehigh alum and senior vice president of performance excellence at Northrop Grumman's space systems sector, undergraduate ceremony; Stephen S. Tang, a Lehigh alum and principal at Tangent2Cogent, graduate ceremony
Lesley University — May 18
Sy Montgomery, the author and naturalist
Liberty University — May 10
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)
Lincoln University — May 5
Bryan Stevenson, founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative
Lynn University — May 7
Jon Robertson, dean of the Lynn Conservatory of Music
Macalester College — May 11
Laura Coates, CNN's chief legal analyst and anchor of "Laura Coates Live"
Maine College of Art & Design — May 10
Rebecca Sugar, an animator, director, singer and songwriter
Marietta College — May 4
Brendan Adkinson, a Marietta alum and medical student at Yale University
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts — May 11
Shannon Holsey, president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians and president of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council
Massachusetts Institute of Technology — May 30
Noubar Afeyan, MIT alum, entrepreneur, and biochemical engineer
McDaniel College — May 18
Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president emeritus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, undergraduate ceremony; Mona Kerby, a professor at McDaniel, graduate ceremony
Molloy University — May 20
Matt Higgins, CEO and co-founder of RSE Ventures
Montana State University-Northern — May 4
Flint Rasmussen, a former professional rodeo clown and senior vice president of fan engagement for the Professional Bull Riders
Morehouse College — May 19
United States President Joseph Biden
Mount St. Joseph University — May 11
Sister Helen Prejean, the social justice advocate and author
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New Jersey City University — May 15
Bettina L. Love, an author and professor at Teachers College, Columbia University
New York University — May 15
Martha Minow, a professor at Harvard University and former dean of Harvard Law School
North Carolina State University — May 4
David W. C. MacMillan, the Nobel Prize-winning chemist and professor at Princeton University
Northeastern University — May 5
David A. Thomas, president of Morehouse College, undergraduate ceremony; Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the National Science Foundation, graduate ceremony
Northwestern University — June 9
Kathryn Hahn, Northwestern alum and actress
Norwich University — April 27
Lori Robinson, retired U.S. Air Force general
Occidental College — May 19
Lindy West, an Occidental alum and author, cultural critic, and screenwriter
Ohio Northern University — May 19
Gregory V. Palmer, a bishop in the United Methodist Church
Oral Roberts University — May 4
Rick Warren, author and spiritual leader
Oregon State University — June 15
Steven Jackson, Oregon State alum and former NFL running back
Pitzer College — May 11
Jim Obergefell, marriage equality activist
Pomona College — May 12
Tani Cantil-Sakauye, former chief justice of California; Cecilia Conrad, economist and nonprofit leader; Harry Elam, president of Occidental College; and Emil Kakkis, Pomona alum and medical geneticist
Princeton University — May 27
Sam Waterston, the actor, will speak at class day
Regent University — May 4
Jason S. Miyares, attorney general of Virginia
Rice University — May 4
Peggy Whitson, Rice alum and astronaut
Ripon College — May 12
Jason Felts, serial entrepreneur, Fortune 500 brand advisor, philanthropist, and film producer
Rutgers University — May 12
Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president emeritus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Saint Anselm College — May 18
Lauren Chooljian, Saint Anselm alum and senior reporter and producer for New Hampshire Public Radio
Saint Michael's College — May 12
Ansel Augustine, an author, ministry leader, and advocate for cultural diversity in the Catholic Church
St. John's University — May 17
Jim Ziolkowski, founder, president, and CEO of buildOn
Saint Vincent College — May 11
Susan Baker Shipley, president of the Pennsylvania, Ohio Valley, and Mahoning Region for Huntington Bank
Saint Xavier University — May 4
Candace N. Ramírez, a Saint Xavier alum and grants manager for The Allstate Foundation
Santa Clara University — June 15
Martin J. Jenkins, a Santa Clara alum and an associate justice of the California Supreme Court
Seton Hall University — May 21
Gary Cohen, an announcer for the New York Mets
Shippensburg University — May 11
James Saxton, a Shippensburg alum and CEO of Saxton & Stump
Simmons University — May 17
Meredith Woo, the former president of Sweet Briar College; and Claudia Goldin, a professor of economics at Harvard University
Skidmore College — May 18
Luis A. Miranda Jr., a community activist and political consultant, and Luz Towns-Miranda, a psychologist and psychoanalyst
Smith College — May 19
María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado, poet laureate and feminist intersectional educator; Ruth E. Carter, Academy Award-winning film costume designer; Ertharin Cousin, CEO and managing director of Food Systems for the Future; Jill Lepore, academic, journalist, and writer; and Reeta Roy, CEO of Mastercard Foundation
Southwestern University — May 11
Adam Winkler, Southwestern alum and television journalist
Spelman College — May 19
Angela Bassett, the actress, director, and producer
Springfield College — May 11-12
Martin Dobrow, professor of communications at Springfield, undergraduate ceremony; Rep. Richard E. Neal (D-MA), a Springfield alum, graduate ceremony
Spring Hill College — May 11
Tania Tetlow, president of Fordham University
Stanford University — June 16
Melinda French Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and founder of Pivotal Ventures
State University of New York at Old Westbury — May 22
Ruth Simmons, president's distinguished fellow at Rice University and senior adviser to the president of Harvard University on HBCU initiatives
Stonehill College — May 19
Ed Cooley, a Stonehill alum and head basketball coach at Georgetown University
Sweet Briar College — May 18
Tori Murden McClure, a noted explorer and president of Spalding University
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Temple University — May 8
Quinta Brunson, a Temple alum and actress, writer, and producer
Tufts University — May 19
Fiona Hill, the chancellor of Durham University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution
Tulane University — May 18
Jon Meacham, the author and historian
United States Air Force Academy — May 30
United States Vice President Kamala Harris
University of California San Diego — June 15
Former United States Vice President Al Gore
University of Colorado Boulder — May 9
Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and a technology entrepreneur
University of Delaware — May 25
Joe Flacco, a Delaware alum and National Football League quarterback
University of Florida — May 3
Carlton Ward Jr., a Florida alum and conservation photographer
University of Georgia — May 10
Allison Schmitt, a Georgia alum, Olympic medalist in swimming, and mental health advocate, undergraduate ceremony; Jenna Jambeck, professor of environmental engineering at Georgia, graduate ceremony
University of Hartford — May 12
Sonya Halpern, a Hartford alum and Georgia state senator, undergraduate ceremony; Jay Malave, a Hartford alum and chief financial officer of Lockheed Martin, graduate ceremony
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — May 11
Jeanne Gang, Illinois alum, architect, and founding partner of Studio Gang
University of Maine at Fort Kent — May 8
Kathryn Olmstead, an author and emerita professor at the University of Maine
University of Maryland — May 20
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore
University of Mary Washington — May 11
Mark McClure, a Mary Washington alum and Major League Soccer executive
University of Michigan — May 3
Brad Meltzer, a Michigan alum and author, undergraduate ceremony; Robin Givhan, a Michigan alum and journalist, graduate ceremony
University of Mount Saint Vincent — May 18
Terry Fulmer, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation
University of New England — May 18
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill — May 11
Zena Cardman, UNC alum and astronaut
University of Notre Dame — May 19
The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame alum and president of the university
University of Oregon — June 17
Sarah Mensah, an Oregon alum and the first Black woman to lead Nike's Jordan brand
University of Pennsylvania — May 20
Siddhartha Mukherjee, physician, researcher, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author
University of Pittsburgh — April 28
John P. Surma, non-executive chairman of Marathon Petroleum Corporation
University of Saint Francis — May 4
Greg Erlandson, former editor-in-chief and director of Catholic News Service
University of Texas at Austin — May 11
Retired Maj. Gen. Jeannie M. Leavitt, a Texas alum and the first female fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force
University of Utah — May 2
Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America
University of Wisconsin-Madison — May 11
Meghan Duggan, Wisconsin alum and former captain of the U.S. women's hockey team
Utica University — May 9-10
Amanda Saravia-Butler, a Utica alum and GeneLab project scientist at NASA, undergraduate ceremony; Tennille Haynes, a Utica alum and associate dean for diversity and inclusion at Princeton University, graduate ceremony
Vanderbilt University — May 9
David Brooks, the New York Times columnist
Villanova University — May 17
Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez
Virginia Commonwealth University — May 11
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — May 10
Mehul Sanghani, a Virginia Tech alum and CEO and founder of Octo
Wagner College — May 17
Michael Tadross, a Wagner alum and president of productions at Stampede Ventures
Wake Forest University — May 20
Mandy K. Cohen, director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Washington & Jefferson College — May 17
Elizabeth Kiss, CEO of the Rhodes Trust
Washington University in St. Louis — May 13
Jennifer Coolidge, the actress
Waynesburg University — May 5
John Montgomery, president and CEO of Community Bank
Weber State University — April 26
Rainn Wilson, the actor and comedian
Wells College — May 18
Tina Post, a Wells alum and professor of English literature and language at the University of Chicago
Wesleyan University — May 26
Imani Perry, professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies and of African American studies at Harvard University; Raj Chetty, professor of public economics at Harvard University; and Michael Greenberg, Wesleyan alum and professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School
Western Colorado University — May 4
Camille Dungy, an author and professor at Colorado State University
Western New England University — May 19
Latoyia Edwards, an anchor for NBC10 Boston and NECN, undergraduate ceremony; Ashley E. Randle, a Western New England alum and commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, graduate ceremony
Whitman College — May 19
Cecelia Kang, a Whitman alum and technology reporter for The New York Times
Wittenberg University — May 11
Megan Frost, Wittenberg alum and director of product design at Apple
Worcester Polytechnic Institute — May 9-10
Nancy M. Pimental, a WPI alum and television writer, undergraduate ceremony; Greg Tucker, a WPI alum and founder, vice chairman, and CEO of ProAmpac