Radio legend Tom Joyner, singer Janelle Monae, ESPN’s Jay Harris and political strategist Donna Brazile are among those who will inspire this year’s HBCU grads. See who else made the list below.
List of 2017 HBCU Commencement Speakers
Alabama State University – Rep. John F. Knight, Jr.
Albany State University- Bárbara Rivera Holmes and Karol Mason
Alcorn State University – ESPN’s ‘Sports Center’ anchor Jay Harris
Central State University – Widow of South Carolina Senator Clementa Pinckney, Jennifer Benjamin Pinckney
Bennett College- Congresswoman Alma Adams
Bethune -Cookman University -United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos
Claflin – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II & Dr. Eddie S. Glaude Jr.
Delaware State University – U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester
Dillard University – Entertainer, actress Janelle Monaé
Fayetteville State University (FSU): FSU Chancellor James A. Anderson
Florida A&M University – Carnival CEO Arnold Donald
Florida Memorial University – Comedienne Sheryl Underwood
Fort Valley State University – Actress Karan Kendrick
Grambling State University – Marc Morial , President & CEO of National Urban League
Hampton University – Iconic mathematician, inspiration for ‘Hidden Figures’ Katherine Johnson
Howard University – United States Senator Kamala Harris
Jackson State University – Demarco Morgan
Jarvis Christian College- Reverend Frederick Haynes III
Kentucky State University – Pastor, social activist Otis Moss III
Meharry Medical College – Radio personality Tom Joyner
Miles College – Veteran Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile
Morgan State University – Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden
Morehouse College – Political Pundit Van Jones
North Carolina A&T University- Television Personality & Professional Boxer – Laila Ali
North Carolina Central University – Former NASA Astronaut Joan Higginbotham
Oakwood University – Dr. Leon Wilson, Interim President, Alabama State University
Savannah State University – Entertainment executive Traci Adams
Shaw University – Radio personality Tom Joyner
Spelman College – Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett
Tennessee State University –Radio personality Tom Joyner
Tuskegee University – ESPN President John Skipper
University of the Virgin Islands – Motivational speaker, author Iyanla Vanzant
Virginia State University – Political commentator Jeff Johnson
Virginia Union University – Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe
Voorhees College – Actress, director and dancer, Jasmine Guy
Winston-Salem State University – Political Analyst Bakari Sellers
XULA – U.S. Congressman Cedric L. Richmond