What do Michelle Obama, Janet Napolitano and Whoopi Goldberg have in common? They're all coming to Atlanta this spring to speak at area college commencements. Thousands of college students will receive degrees in coming weeks.
Here is the list of graduations and speakers for metro Atlanta's major colleges, universities and technical schools.
Friday, May 6
Brenau University (Women’s College)
Speaker: Art historian/arts patron Barbara Bertozzi Castelli
6 p.m. Georgia Mountains Center, Gainesville
Georgia Institute of Technology
PhD Ceremony
Speaker: Dr. Subra Suresh, Director, National Science Foundation
7 p.m. Ferst Center for the Arts
Saturday, May 7
Berry College
Speaker: State Rep. Katie Dempsey
10 a.m. Memorial Library Lawn
Brenau University
Nonresidential programs (graduate and undergraduate)
Speaker: Michael Shapiro, the Nancy and Holcombe T. Green Jr. Director, High Museum of Art
10 a.m. Georgia Mountains Center, Gainesville
Clayton State University
School of business, College of Health, College of Information and Mathematical Sciences
Speaker: Ron Shipman, Vice President, Environmental Affairs, Georgia Power Company
9 a.m. Athletic & Fitness Center
College of Arts & Sciences–All degrees and majors
Speaker: Ann Cramer, Director, IBM Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs for the Americas
Noon Athletic & Fitness Center
Georgia State University
PhD commencement and hooding ceremony
Speaker: Harold A. McAlister, Regents’ Professor of Astronomy/Director, Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy, Georgia State University
9 a.m. Rialto Center for the Arts
Bachelor, Master and Specialist commencement
Speaker: Former President Jimmy Carter
2 p.m. Georgia Dome
Mercer University (Macon)
School of Medicine
Speaker: Dr. William Rawlings Jr., physician, author and historian
5 p.m. University Center
Oglethorpe University
Speakers: Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed
Dr. Richard Wrangham, Ruth Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology at Harvard University; Director, Kibale Chimpanzee Project
Linda Bierds, award-winning poet and professor of English at University of Washington
9 a.m. Academic Quadrangle
Oxford College
Speaker: Attorney Robert G. Pennington, President and CEO, Willis Investment Counsel
10:00 a.m. College Quadrangle
Southern Polytechnic State University
Speaker: Lockheed Martin General Manager Shan Cooper
School of Arts and Sciences; School of Engineering Technology and Management and Division of Engineering
10 a.m. Campus gymnasium
School of Architecture, Civil Engineering Technology and Construction; School of Computing and Software Engineering
2 p.m. Campus gymnasium
The Interdenominational Theological Center
Speaker: Senior Bishop Thomas Hoyt, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church – Seventh Episcopal District
8 a.m. King International Chapel. Morehouse College Campus
University of West Georgia
Undergraduates from the College of Arts and Humanities; College of Science and Mathematics, College of Social Sciences and the Richards College of Business
Speaker: Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston
9 a.m. UWG Coliseum
Undergraduates from the School of Nursing, and College of Education; Graduate students
Speaker: Sen. Johnny Isakson
2 p.m. UWG Coliseum
Sunday, May 8
Georgia Institute of Technology
Master’s and Bachelor’s Ceremony
Speaker: Michael Duke, President and CEO, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Noon Georgia Dome
Monday, May 9
Atlanta Metropolitan College
Speaker: Erroll B. Davis Jr., Chancellor, University System of Georgia
10:00 a.m. Physical Education Complex
Emory University
Speaker: Janet Napolitano, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary
8 a.m. The Quadrangle
Tuesday, May 10
Kennesaw State University
College of Health and Human Services; College of Science and Mathematics
Speaker: N/A
10 a.m. KSU Convocation Center
Kennesaw State University
Bagwell College of Education; College of the Arts; University College
Speaker: N/A
3 p.m. KSU Convocation Center
Kennesaw State University
Master and Doctorate commencement
Speaker: N/A
7 p.m. KSU Convocation Center
Wednesday, May 11
Kennesaw State University
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Speaker: Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed
10 a.m. KSU Convocation Center
Kennesaw State University
Coles College of Business
Speaker: N/A
3 p.m. KSU Convocation Center
Friday, May 13
Georgia Perimeter College
Speaker: State Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, House District 85
Business Administration, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Dental Hygiene, Engineering, Fire Science Management, Geology, Health & Physical Education, Health Sciences, Mathematics, Medical Assisting, Medical Laboratory Technology, Nursing, Physics, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Medicine, Sign Language Interpreting
10 a.m. Gymnasium on the Clarkston Campus of Georgia Perimeter College
Anthropology, Art, Communications, Criminal Justice, Teacher Education, English, Film, Foreign Language, General Studies, History, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Journalism, Library and Information Science Technology, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Theatre
2 p.m. Gymnasium on the Clarkston Campus of Georgia Perimeter College
Georgia Southern University
Graduate student commencement
Speaker: Chris Clark, president, Georgia Chamber of Commerce
1 p.m. Hanner Fieldhouse, Georgia Southern University campus
University of Georgia
Speaker: Ray Mabus, United States Secretary of the Navy
7 p.m. Sanford Stadium
Saturday, May 14
Agnes Scott College
Speaker: Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues
9:30 a.m. Presser Quad
Georgia Southern University
Undergraduate student commencement
Speaker: Dan Cathy, president, chief operating officer, Chick-fil-A
9 a.m. Allen E. Paulson Stadium, Georgia Southern University campus
Mercer University (Atlanta)
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics (Atlanta, Henry, Douglas); McAfee School of Theology; Tift College of Education (Atlanta, Douglas, Henry, Newnan); College of Continuing and Professional Studies (Atlanta, Henry, Douglas)
Speaker: R. Kirby Godsey, Mercer University chanceller/author
9 a.m. Upper fields, Atlanta campus
Mercer University (Macon)
Walter F. George School of Law
Speaker: Hon. Karen Nelson Moore, circuit court judge, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
10 a.m. University Center Arena
Mercer University (Macon)
College of Liberal Arts; Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics (Savannah, Macon); School of Engineering; Tift College of Education (Macon, Eastman); Townsend School of Music; College of Continuing and Professional Studies (Macon, Eastman)
Speaker: Alberto Ibarguen, president, chief executive officer, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
3:30 p.m. University Center Arena
Morris Brown College
Speaker: Anton Gunn, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Region 4
4 p.m. Allen Temple AME Church
Sunday, May 15
Morehouse College
Speakers: Charles J. Ogletree, Jesse Climenko Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; Gwen Ifill, moderator/managing editor, “Washington Week”
8 a.m. Century Campus
Spelman College
Speaker: First Lady Michelle Obama
3 p.m. Georgia International Convention Center
Monday, May 16
Clark Atlanta University
Speaker: Susan L. Taylor, editor-in-chief, Essence Magazine
8 a.m. Panther Stadium
Saturday, May 21
Morehouse School of Medicine
Speaker: Reed Tuckson, M.D. Fellow of the American College of Physicians
9 a.m. Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel, Morehouse College
Thursday, June 2
Georgia Gwinnett College
Speaker: Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal
5:30 p.m. Georgia Gwinnett College library lawn
Saturday, June 4
Savannah College of Art and Design
Speaker: Whoopi Goldberg, Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner.
Savannah
School of Building Arts, School of Film, Digital Media and Performing Arts, School of Liberal Arts
1 p.m. Savannah Civic Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Arena
School of Communication Arts, School of Design, School of Fashion, School of Fine Arts
4:00 p.m. Savannah Civic Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Arena
Atlanta
6 p.m. Georgia World Congress Center
Thursday, June 9
Gwinnett Technical College
Speaker: N/A
7:30 p.m. Gwinnett Arena, Duluth
Thursday, June 16
Chattahoochee Technical College
Speaker: Sam Olens, Georgia Attorney General
10 a.m. Cobb Performing Arts Centre
Saturday, June 25
Atlanta Technical College
11 a.m. Atlanta Civic Center
Saturday, July 16
Dekalb Technical College
Speaker: Dr. Belle Wheelan, President, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
10 a.m. Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church, Decatur
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