It’s tassel-turning time once again. Thousands of metro Atlanta college students are expected to receive their degrees in the coming weeks. Next stop: the job market, graduate school or a spot in their parents' basement. Oh, the places they will go! Here’s the 411 on metro area commencement ceremonies and speakers.
Saturday, April 28
University of West Georgia
Speaker: Hank Huckaby, Chancellor, University System of Georgia
College of Arts and Humanities; College of Education; School of Nursing
9:30 a.m., UWG Coliseum
Richards College of Business; College of Science and Mathematics; College of Social Sciences
2 p.m., UWG Coliseum
Friday, May 4
Brenau University (Women's College)
Speaker: Dr. Kent M. Keith, chief executive officer, Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership
6 p.m., Georgia Mountains Center
Georgia College & State University
Graduate Ceremony
Speaker: Lieutenant General Charles E. Stenner Jr.
7 p.m., Front lawn of Main Campus
Georgia Institute of Technology
Ph.D. and Master's Ceremony
Speaker: Dr. Charles Vest, president, National Academy of Engineering
7 p.m., Georgia Dome
Georgia Perimeter College
Speaker: Dr. Anthony S. Tricoli, president, Georgia Perimeter College
Business Administration, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Dental Hygiene, Engineering, Fire Science Mgmt., Geology, Health Sciences (all concentrations), Mathematics, Nursing, Physics, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Pharmacy
10 a.m., Gymnasium, Clarkston Campus
Anthropology, Art, Communication, Criminal Justice, Education (all concentrations), English, Film, Foreign Language, General Studies, Health & Physical Education, History, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Journalism, Library and Information Science, Medical Assisting (Georgia Piedmont Tech), Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Radiologic Technology (DeKalb Medical), Sign Language Interpreting, Social Work, Sociology, Sport Management, Theatre
2 p.m., Gymnasium, Clarkston Campus
Mercer University
School of Medicine, Macon
Speaker: Dr. Darrell G. Kirch, president and CEO, Association of American Medical Colleges
3 p.m., University Center, Macon Campus
Saturday, May 5
Berry College
Speaker: Bert Clark, Berry College Board of Trustees Member
10 a.m., South Lawn of Evans Hall
Inclement weather: Cage Center
Brenau University
Speaker: Dr. Kent M. Keith, chief executive officer, Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership
Undergraduate and graduate ceremony
10 a.m., Georgia Mountains Center
Clayton State University
Speaker: Ambassador Andrew Young, Former Atlanta Mayor
College of Business, College of Health, and College of Information and Mathematical Sciences
9 a.m., Athletics & Fitness Center
College of Arts & Sciences
Noon, Athletics & Fitness Center
Georgia College & State University
Undergraduate Ceremony
Speaker: Sandra Deal, First Lady of Georgia
9 a.m., Front Lawn of Main Campus
Georgia Institute of Technology
Undergraduate Ceremony
Speaker: Nathan Deal, Governor of Georgia
9 a.m., Georgia Dome
Georgia State University
Ph.D. Ceremony
Speaker: Arun Rai, regents' professor and Harkins Chair of Information Systems, Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University
10 a.m., Rialto Center for the Arts
Mercer University
School of Medicine, Savannah
Speaker: Dr. Darrell G. Kirch, president and CEO, Association of American Medical Colleges
1 p.m., Savannah Arts Academy, Savannah
Young Harris College
Speaker: Senator Johnny Isakson
11 a.m. Recreation and Fitness Center
Sunday, May 6
Georgia State University
Undergraduate, Graduate and Specialist Ceremony
Speaker: Vicki B. Escarra, president and CEO, Feeding America
2 p.m., Georgia Dome
Tuesday, May 8
Kennesaw State University
College of the Arts; College of Science and Mathematics; University College
Speaker: TBA
2 p.m., Convocation Center
Doctorate, Specialist, and Graduate Ceremony
Speaker: TBA
7 p.m., Convocation Center
Wednesday, May 9
Kennesaw State University
Michael J. Coles College of Business
Speaker: Margaret DeFrancisco, president and CEO, Georgia Lottery Corporation
9 a.m., Convocation Center
Thursday, May 10
Chattahoochee Technical College
Speaker: Mark Butler, Georgia Commissioner of Labor
10 a.m., Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Kennesaw State University
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Speaker: TBA
10 a.m., Convocation Center
Bagwell College of Education; Wellstar College of Health and Human Services
Speaker: Beverly Tatum, president, Spelman College
2 p.m., Convocation Center
Friday, May 11
Georgia Gwinnett College
Speaker: TBA
10 a.m., Campus Lawn
Georgia Southern University
Graduate Ceremony
Speaker: Georgia Senator Tommie Williams
1 p.m. Hanner Fieldhouse
University of Georgia
Graduate Ceremony
Speaker: Lindsay R. Boring, director of the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway
10 a.m., Stegeman Coliseum
Undergraduate Ceremony
Speaker: Nathan Deal, Governor of Georgia
7 p.m., Sanford Stadium
Saturday, May 12
Agnes Scott College
Speaker: Kay Krill, CEO, ANN INC., parent company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, Agnes Scott College Alumna
9:30 a.m., Presser Quadrangle
Georgia Southern University
Undergraduate Ceremony
Speaker: Major General Jim Butterworth, Adjutant General, Georgia National Guard
9 a.m., Paulson Stadium
Mercer University
Atlanta
Walter F. George School of Law
Speaker: Jim Petro, Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents
8:30 a.m., Upper Field, Atlanta Campus
Macon
10 a.m., University Center, Macon Campus
Speaker: Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Georgia
3:30 p.m., University Center, Macon Campus
Morris Brown College
Speaker: Ceasar Mitchell, President of Atlanta City Council
4 p.m., Big Bethel AME Church, 220 Auburn Avenue
Oglethorpe University
Speakers: Zhanna Arshanskaya Dawson, accomplished pianist, Holocaust survivor and former faculty at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music; Sue Adcock Frueauff, foundation and community leader; Ted Turner, renowned leader in business and philanthropy
9 a.m., Academic Quadrangle
Inclement weather: Dorough Field House
Strayer University
Speaker: Martin Luther King III
10 a.m. Georgia Dome
The Interdenominational Theological Center
Speaker: Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook
8:30 a.m., King International Chapel, Campus of Morehouse College
Monday, May 14
Emory University
Speaker: Dr. Benjamin S. Carson Sr., director of pediatric neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University
8 a.m., The Quadrangle
Gwinnett Technical College
Speaker: Ron Jackson, commissioner, Technical College System of Georgia
7:30 p.m., Gwinnett Arena
Friday, May 18
Atlanta Technical College
Speaker: Glenda A. Hatchett, Juvenile Court Judge
11 a.m., Atlanta Civic Center
Saturday, May 19
Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Speaker: Ron Jackson, commissioner, Technical College System of Georgia
10 a.m., Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church, Decatur
Morehouse School of Medicine
Speaker: Ambassador Andrew Young, Former Atlanta Mayor
9 a.m., Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel, Morehouse College
Sunday, May 20
Morehouse College
Speaker: Dr. Robert M. Franklin, president, Morehouse College; Tom Joyner, syndicated radio host "Tom Joyner Morning Show"
8 a.m., Century Campus
Spelman College
Speaker: Oprah Winfrey, Global Media Leader and Philanthropist
3 p.m., Georgia International Convention Center
Monday, May 21
Clark Atlanta University
Speaker: Rep. James E. Clyburn, South Carolina
8 a.m., Panther Stadium
Saturday, June 2
Savannah College of Art and Design
Speaker: Robert S. Jepson Jr., chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Jepson Inc.
Savannah
Presidential conferment of degrees
9 a.m., Savannah Civic Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Arena
School of Communication Arts; School of Design; School of Fashion; School of Fine Arts
1 p.m., Savannah Civic Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Arena
School of Building Arts; School of Film; Digital Media and Performing Arts; School of Liberal Arts
4 p.m., Savannah Civic Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Arena
Atlanta
All degrees and majors
6 p.m., Georgia World Congress Center
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