Spring 2026 Commencement speakers announced

Spring 2026 Commencement speakers announced

Graduates are preparing to participate in Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies at Southern University and A&M College in the F.G. Clark Activity Center. The graduate ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 14 at 2 p.m. and the undergraduate ceremony will be held on Friday, May 15 at 10 a.m.

The speaker for the graduate ceremony is Harry Williams, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), a nonprofit organization that supports students attending publicly funded historically Black colleges and universities and predominantly Black institutions through scholarships, leadership development and career opportunities.

Under Williams' leadership, TMCF has experienced significant growth while strengthening partnerships with major employers and expanding opportunities for HBCU students. He is a former president of Delaware State University with a longstanding commitment to student success and institutional advancement.

The speaker for the undergraduate ceremony is Paula A. Shepherd, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Banner Plans and Networks, a health insurance and care coordination organization affiliated with Banner Health that provides health plans and network services, focusing on aligning insurance coverage with coordinated, patient-centered care across multiple states.

With more than 25 years of experience in healthcare leadership, Shepherd has held executive roles at Blue Cross, overseeing operations that served millions of members. A two-time Southern University alumna, she remains active in community service, ministry and board leadership across Louisiana.

Recording artist Justin Garner, a Southern University alumnus, will perform the national anthem. A native of Plaquemine, Louisiana, Garner is an R&B singer and songwriter who has built an international following and performed for major professional sports teams and national platforms.

Both ceremonies are open to the public. Tickets are not required. For more information, go to subr.edu/sucommencement.