Thousands of college students are expected to receive degrees in the coming weeks. Here is a list of commencement ceremonies and speakers for metro Atlanta’s major colleges, universities and technical schools.
Hank Huckaby, chancellor, University System of Georgia, was the speaker at the University of West Georgia’s commencement ceremony on Saturday at the UWG Coliseum.
Friday, May 3
Atlanta Metropolitan State College
Speaker: Atlanta City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell
10:15 a.m., Physical Education Complex
Brenau University
Women’s College
Speaker: Anne-Marie Slaughter, former U.S. State Department director of policy planning
4:30 p.m., Brenau University Front Lawn, Gainesville
Georgia College & State University
Graduate ceremony
Speaker: Hank Huckaby, chancellor, University System of Georgia
7 p.m., Front Lawn, Main Campus
Georgia Perimeter College
Speaker: Jerry Wilson, former global chief customer and commercial officer, the Coca-Cola Company
10:30 a.m., Atlanta Civic Center
Mercer University, Macon
School of Medicine
Speaker: Dr. Jean R. Sumner, 1986 charter class member, School of Medicine
1 p.m., Hawkins Arena, University Center
Saturday, May 4
Brenau University
Graduate and Undergraduate
Speaker: Eleanor Clift, political reporter, television commentator and author
9:30 a.m., Brenau University Front Lawn, Gainesville
Clayton State University
College of Business; College of Health; College of Information and Mathematical Sciences
Speaker: Gov. Nathan Deal
9 a.m., Athletic & Fitness Center
Clayton State University
College of Arts & Sciences
Speaker: Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall
Noon, Athletic & Fitness Center
Georgia College & State University
Undergraduate ceremony
No speaker
9 a.m., Front Lawn, Main Campus
Georgia Institute of Technology
College of Computing; Ivan Allen College (Computational Media; International Affairs & Modern Languages; International Affairs; Economics & International Affairs; Global Economics & Modern Languages Economics); College of Architecture (Building Construction; Industrial Design); College of Sciences (Biochemistry; Discrete Mathematics; Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; Biology); College of Engineering (Environmental Engineering; Biomedical Engineering; Material Science and Engineering; Nuclear and Radiological Engineering; Industrial Engineering; Aerospace Engineering; Civil Engineering)
Speaker: Tom Fanning, chairman, president and CEO, Southern Company
9 a.m., McCamish Pavilion
Georgia Institute of Technology
Ivan Allen College (Applied Languages; Public Policy; History, Technology, and Society; Science, Technology, and Culture); College of Architecture; Scheller College of Business; College of Sciences (Psychology; Applied Mathematics; Applied Physics; Physics; Chemistry); College of Engineering (Computer Engineering; Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering; Polymer & Fiber Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering)
Speaker: Kevin Riley, editor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3 p.m., McCamish Pavilion
Georgia Institute of Technology
Ph.D. and Master’s ceremony
Speaker: Dr. Ruth Simmons, 18th president of Brown University and the first black president of an Ivy League institution.
7 p.m., McCamish Pavilion
Mercer University, Savannah
School of Medicine
Speaker: Dr. William J. Hoskins, executive director of surgical activities, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
1 p.m., Savannah Arts Academy
Young Harris College
Speaker: Monica Kaufman Pearson, former WSB-TV anchor
11 a.m., Recreation and Fitness Center, Young Harris
Friday, May 10
Georgia Regents University
Speaker: TBD
2 p.m., James Brown Arena
Georgia Southern University
Graduate Ceremony
Speaker: Michio Kaku, Ph.D., author
1 p.m., Hanner Fieldhouse
Georgia State University
Ph.D. Ceremony
7 p.m., Rialto Center for the Arts
University of Georgia
Undergraduate Ceremony
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss
7 p.m., Sanford Stadium
Graduate Ceremony
Speaker: Stephen L. Hajduk, professor and department head, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
10 a.m., Stegeman Coliseum
Saturday, May 11
Agnes Scott College
Speaker: Soledad O'Brien, television news corespondent
9:30 a.m., Presser Quadrangle
Berry College
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson
9:30 a.m., South Lawn, Evans Hall
Georgia Southern University
Undergraduate Ceremony
Speaker: Luis Aguilar, U.S. Securities and Exchange commissioner
9 a.m., Allen E. Paulson Stadium
Georgia State University
Speaker: Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook; editor-in-chief and publisher, The New Republic
2 p.m., Georgia Dome
The Interdenominational Theological Center
Speaker: Charles R. Stith, ITC alumnus ambassador
8 a.m., King International Chapel, Morehouse College
Mercer University
Atlanta
Speaker: John Seffrin, CEO, American Cancer Society, Inc.
8:30 a.m., Upper Field Atlanta Campus
Mercer University
Walter F. George School of Law
Speaker: Steve Berry, author
10:00 a.m., Hawkins Arena, University Center
Mercer University
Macon
Speaker: Claude M. Kicklighter, General, U.S. Army (Ret.)
3:30 p.m., Hawkins Arena, University Center
Southern Polytechnic State University
School of Arts and Sciences; School of Engineering Technology and Management
Speaker: Dr. Helmuth Ludwig, CEO, North American Industry Sector of Siemens
10 a.m., Gymnasium
Southern Polytechnic State University
School of Architecture and Construction Management; School of Computing and Software Engineering; School of Engineering
Speaker: Dr. Helmuth Ludwig, CEO, North American Industry Sector of Siemens
2 p.m., Gymnasium
Monday, May 13
Chattahoochee Technical College
Speaker: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle
10 a.m., Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Emory University
Speaker: Rita Dove, Commonwealth Professor of English, University of Virginia, former United States poet laureate
8 a.m., The Quadrangle
Tuesday, May 14
Gwinnett Technical College
Speaker: TBD
7 p.m. Gwinnett Arena
Wednesday, May 15
Kennesaw State University
Coles College of Business; College of Science and Mathematics
Speaker: Dr. Shealynn Buck, executive director, Corporate Health and Wellness, DeKalb Medical Center
2 p.m., Convocation Center
Kennesaw State University
Doctorate, Specialist, and Master’s Degrees
Speaker: Ed Baker, Publisher, Atlanta Business Chronicle
7 p.m., Convocation Center
Thursday, May 16
Kennesaw State University
College of the Arts; University College; Bagwell College of Education; WellStar College of Health & Human Services
Speaker: TBD
10 a.m., Convocation Center
Kennesaw State University
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Speaker: Sam Olens, Georgia Attorney General
3 p.m., Convocation Center
Friday, May 17
Atlanta Technical College
Speaker: Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves
11 a.m., Atlanta Civic Center
Georgia Gwinnett College
Speaker: Andrew Young, former civil rights leader, congressman, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Atlanta mayor
10 a.m., Georgia Gwinnett College Quad
Saturday, May 18
Morris Brown College
Speaker: William J. Taggart, president and CEO, Atlanta Life Financial Group
4 p.m. at Big Bethel AME Church, 220 Auburn Avenue
Morehouse School of Medicine
Speaker: Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
9 a.m., Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
Oglethorpe University
Speaker: TBD
9 a.m., Academic Quadrangle
Strayer University
Speaker: TBD
10 a.m., Georgia Dome
Sunday, May 19
Morehouse College
Speaker: President Barack Obama
8 a.m., Century Campus
Spelman College
Speaker: Regina Benjamin, U.S. Surgeon General
3 p.m., Georgia International Convention Center
Monday, May 20
Clark Atlanta University
Speaker: Valerie B. Jarrett, senior advisor to President Barack Obama
8 a.m., Panther Stadium
Saturday, June 1
Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Speaker: DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis,
10 a.m., Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church, Decatur
Savannah College of Art and Design
Atlanta
All degrees and majors
Speaker: TBD
6 p.m., Georgia World Congress Center
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