My Account | All guests are required to present a ticket to receive entry to the satellite viewing locations. - 8:00 PM, 7:30 AM Upon entering the main gymnasium,all graduates shouldlook for theirrespective school or collegebanner to sit with their fellow graduates. Concessions will be available to guests throughout the Burr Gymnasium concourse. Howard University's 155th Commencement Convocation will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Cotton, an NC State alum and commander at United States Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Mariam Naficy, the founder and chairman of Minted, Isabel Wilkerson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Shirley Malcom, the senior advisor and director of the SEA Change initiative at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Denny Kellington, an Oklahoma State alum and assistant athletic trainer for the Buffalo Bills, Dr. Charity Dean, an Oregon State alum, internal medicine specialist, and CEO of The Public Health Company, Nadia Murad, the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient and founder and president of Nadia's Initiative, a nonprofit advocating for survivors of sexual violence, Sherrilyn Ifill, a civil rights lawyer, and Penny Lee Dean, a Pomona alum and Hall of Fame swimmer, Kraig Kraft, a Reed alum and Asia & Africa director at World Coffee Research, Nikki R. Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and former ambassador to the United Nations, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary and assistant to the president, Sheryl Lee Ralph, a Rutgers alum and actor and author, Jay Bellissimo, a Saint Michael's alum and chief operating officer at Vonage, Mark Murphy, the Green Bay Packers president and CEO, Bill Lawrence, the television producer, director, and writer, Kelly McCreary, an actress and voting rights advocate, Doug Baldwin, the former professional football player and founder and CEO of Vault 89 Ventures, undergraduate ceremony; Viet Thanh Nguyen, the author and professor of English, American studies and ethnicity, and comparative literature at the University of Southern California, graduate ceremony, Mary Schmidt Campbell, an author and art historian, and Frederick M. Lawrence, scholar and civil rights attorney, Reshma Saujani, an activist and founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First, John McEnroe, the tennis legend and television personality, Catherine Pierce, the poet laureate of Mississippi and professor of English and co-director of the creative writing program at Mississippi State University, Oprah Winfrey, a Tennessee State alum and philanthropist, producer, actress and author, undergraduate ceremony; Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), graduate ceremony, Amina J. Mohammed, the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, University of California, Los Angeles June 16, Randall Park, a UCLA alum and actor, comedian, and writer, University of the District of Columbia May 13, Erin Jackson, a University of Florida alum and a U.S. Olympic gold medalist speedskater, Leah Brown, a University of Georgia alum, orthopedic surgeon, and national gymnastics champion, undergraduate ceremony; Charles S. Bullock, university professor of public and international affairs, graduate ceremony, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, the six-time Olympic medalist, Anne Hall, a Maine alum and retired U.S. ambassador, undergraduate ceremonies; Suzanne Ortega, president of the Council of Graduate Schools, graduate ceremony, Gayle King, a Maryland alum and broadcast journalist, Tim Tebow, a Heisman Trophy winner, author, motivational speaker, and college football analyst for ESPN, Bryan Stevenson, the public interest lawyer and author, Juan Manuel Santos, the former Colombian president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Idina Menzel, an award-winning singer, actress, and songwriter, Greg Morrisett, a Richmond alum and dean and vice provost of Cornell Tech, Josh Shapiro, a Rochester alum and governor of Pennsylvania, James M. Murray II, a Scranton alum, chief security officer for Snap, Inc., and former director of the United States Secret Service, University of Southern California May 12, Kevin Feige, a producer and president of Marvel Studios, Hayes Barnard, the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of GoodLeap, Tim Shriver, the Special Olympics international chair and Dignity Index co-creator, Sethuraman Panchanathan, the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation, Eric H. Holder Jr., the former U.S. Attorney General, K. Killian Noe, a Wake Forest alum and author, pastor, and founder of Recovery Caf and the Recovery Caf Network, Washington University in St. Louis May 15, Sterling K. Brown, the award-winning actor and producer, Jocelyn Benson, a Wellesley alum and Michigans secretary of state, Annette Gordon-Reed, a professor of history at Harvard University, Marlene Wall, the president of LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania, Albert Bryan Jr., a Wittenberg alum and governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Howard University will confer upon Henson the honorary doctorate of humane letters, President Wayne A.I. Graduate School master's diploma cover & certificate holder pick-up (doctoral diploma covers will be provided to doctoral candidates during Main Commencement on the 13th as you walk across the stage). speeches. Relocating Commencement requires that accommodations typically made for more than 20,000 people be quickly condensed for just over 2,500. was the university's commencement speaker in . On May 7th, Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Nashville to give the commencement address at Tennessee State University. However, there are more significant names that are looking to address the HBCU class of 2022. Guest SeatingPlease be advised that all guests are now required to view theCommencement Convocation from simulcast viewing locations across campus. All Rights Reserved. Kay Ivey: The Opposite Of Woke Is Ignorance, Life After The White House: Sasha Obama Will Graduate From College This Year, Tennessee Republicans Heard In Leaked Audio Crying About Being Called 'Racist'. Students who submitted a graduation application after February 10, 2023 may not appear on this page. Speeches. Andrew Skerritt. The mayor will also speak at Georgia Tech on May 5, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported. By Valerie Strauss August 29, 2020 at 12:41 a.m. EDT Actor Chadwick Boseman. Howard University. In her address, Henson shared intimately about her early experiences in Hollywood as a single-mother and an undervalued Black actress. So its vital to always seek out ways to fill your creative cup, but its also important to know when to pour from it. Henson will give her commencement speech to the graduating class on May . The Departments of Communication and Culture, Journalism, and Radio-Television-Film offer the Bachelor of Arts degree in ten specializations. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations Join Us! - 1:00 PM, 1:30 PM The real challenge in being a commencement speaker is figuring out how long to speak. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced two Schwarzman Scholars, four Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. President Swygert, trustees, distinguished guests, my fellow honorees, my shero Dr. Dorothy Height, graduates, parents, friendswhat a deep honor to be here today for me. John Macclian, Facing Tomorrow's World May 27, 1943: Frank J. Bruno, The Price of Freedom May 25, 1944: Frederick Arnold Middlebush, The Burning of the Books June 13, 1946: Charles Allen Thomas, Crossroads Entry Requirements Commencement will be livestreamed onthe Howard University YouTube Channel,WHUR-FM Radio 96.3 MHz and WHUT-TV, Channel 32 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. An encore airing of Commencement will be broadcast this Sunday, May 8 at 9:30 a.m. Howard also produces more on-campus African American PhD. No parking permit will be required. Projections indicate thunderstorm activity, combined with wind gusts and a high-temperature mark of 57 degrees. Copyright 2021 The Hilltop: The Student Voice of Howard University. The more than 200 graduates and school officials are pretty happy about Chance blessing them with his presence and words. Recently, Henson, along with basketball player Chris Paul, were appointed to the White House HBCU Initiative advisory board by President Joe Biden. > After Beyonchonored the nations historically Black colleges and universities with her Coachella performance Saturday, the schools are getting ready to honor its students with upcoming commencement ceremonies. more. Shuttle service will be provided at the following parking locations: Parking for individual school ceremonies. Back to Home; College of Engineering and Architecture Recognition and Awards Ceremony College of Engineering and Architecture Recognition and Awards Ceremony News. See, what Howard University instilled in me, Hollywood could never take away, she said. - 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM See, what Howard University instilled in me, Hollywood could never take away.. Today, we are taking a look at the top 10 HBCU commencement speakers, including Harris and Woodfin, that will be on campuses at these historic institutions over the next couple of weeks. Howard University PresidentDr.Wayne A. I. Frederickhailed the graduating class for withstanding a global pandemic, cyberattacks, bomb threats, and a nation-wide U.S. racial justice awakening. This is not a decision we take lightly. Howard University Commencement Address - May 12, 2007. The Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts celebrated its first class of graduates as a re-instated college. Each school finds a special way to uplift and provide #inspo to its graduating class. Doors to the simulcast viewing locations will open at 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 PM. Award-winning actress and alumnae Taraji P. Henson delivers remarks at the 2022 Howard Commencement. Check out our hand-picked selection of commencement addresses, going back to 1774. Henson was conferred an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, just beforedelivering remarks. Florida A&M University (FAMU) announces three speakers for its spring commencement ceremonies at the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium, 1800 Wahnish Way, Tallahassee. I am honored and humbled to be returning to my Alma Mater, Howard University, to deliver this years Commencement address to the graduating Class of 2022 and their families. Recommended Citation University, Howard, "1969 - Howard University Commencement Program" (1969). Award-winning actress Taraji P. Henson (BFA '95) served as Commencement speaker. Lets take a look at the successful bosses who will be speaking truth to power at forthcoming commencements: The acclaimed Black Panther actor will deliver the keynote speech at Howard, which is his alma mater. You know I did my homework., No matter how many stumbling blocks were thrown in my way, I was too grounded in who I am and whose I am to ever be knocked off my path. Reserved tickets will only be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis at our satellite locations. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced two Schwarzman Scholars, four Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. We care about your data. Henson spoke about how she was paid only $100,000 for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a $167 million film project. 2:00 PM The Commencement Convocation location is now Burr Gymnasium, located at 6th Street and Girard Street NW, Washington DC 20059. - 6:00 PM, 6:00 PM He would become the first African American Secretary of State in 2001 under President George W. Bush. We extend our most sincere apologies to the graduates and guests and hope that the following outline of contingencies allow for an enjoyable Commencement experience. But as we consider the conditions that could compromise both the solemnity and joy that this occasion is designed to provide, the administration believes that the spirit of Commencement and the memories it will create are better served without weather as a distraction or potential hazard. Several speakers' names are missing from this list, particularly for Newark and Delaware Colleges. Listening to a great commencement speech is a right of passage. For HBCU students especially, graduation can be one of the most rewarding and special times for these young black men and women. By Jeremy Bowers, Emily Davis, Danny DeBelius, Christopher Groskopf, Anya Kamenetz, Meredith Rizzo, Sami Yenigun. We are excited to have the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, and Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham, two trailblazers, and history makers, deliver the keynote address for our commencement ceremonies, said Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover in a statement. Famous actor Malik Yoba will address Livingstone Colleges graduating class on May 14th. She loved big even though she was living in the Jim Crow South, barely 50 years after the end of slavery. Vice President Harris and Mayor Woodfin are some of the most noteworthy figures to grace commencement stages at HBCUs this year. Discipline and consistency are two things in this life that are completely in our control, he said, noting that those were two things Boseman held dear in his own work. Complimentary water will be provided for guests at stations throughout the gym. Tim Ryan, a Babson alum and U.S. chair and senior partner at PwC, undergraduate ceremony; Dr. Reshma Kewalramani, CEO and president at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, graduate ceremony, Lena Waithe, an Emmy Award-winning writer, creator, producer, actor, and founder of Hillman Grad, Leonard Leo, the chairman of CRC Advisors and co-chairman of the Federalist Society, Charlie Baker, president of the NCAA and former Massachusetts Governor, undergraduate ceremony; Steve Kaufer, co-founder and former CEO of Tripadvisor, graduate ceremony, Carla Harris, a senior client advisor at Morgan Stanley, Oksana Markarova, Ukraines ambassador to the United States, Marie A. Bernard, a Bryn Mawr alum and National Institute of Health's chief officer for scientific workforce diversity, undergraduate ceremony; Anne Thompson, a Bryn Mawr alum and senior scientist emerita at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, graduate ceremony, Jay Wright, a Bucknell alum, CBS Sports college basketball analyst, and former Villanova University men's basketball coach, Jonathan Capehart, a Carleton alum and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Michael Osterholm, the infectious disease researcher and author, The Catholic University of America May 13, Arthur C. Brooks, the author and professor at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Business School, John Robert Greene, a professor emeritus at the college, Angela Bassett, the award-winning actress, director and executive producer, Robert Putnam, the author and former dean of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Wynton Marsalis, the managing and artistic director of jazz at Lincoln Center, director of jazz studies at The Juilliard School, and president of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Patton Oswalt, a William & Mary alum and comedian and actor, Kurt Russell, a College of Wooster alum and National Teacher of the Year, Liz Cheney, a Colorado College alum and former U.S. representative, Sally Susman, a Connecticut College alum and executive vice president and chief corporate affairs officer at Pfizer, Mark Malloch-Brown, the president of Open Society Foundations and former deputy secretary general of the United Nations, Adam Silver, a Duke alum and commissioner of the National Basketball Association, Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president emeritus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, LaRuby May, an Eckerd alum and lawyer, entrepreneur, and teacher, Ashton Newhall, an Elon alum and partner of the StepStone group, a global private market firm, Anthony Ray Hinton, the activist, writer, and justice advocate, Kenneth Cole, the activist and global fashion designer, Sarita Brown and Deborah Santiago, the co-founders of Excelencia in Education, Bryan Stevenson, the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, Anna Deavere Smith, the playwright, actor, and educator, Ham Serunjogi, a Grinnell alum and co-founder and CEO of Chipper Cash, Michelle J. Howard, a retired Navy admiral and the first woman to become a four-star admiral, Tom Hanks, the Oscar-winning actor, writer, and filmmaker, Sheila Katz, an Ithaca alum and chief executive officer of the National Council of Jewish Women, Colette Pichon Battle, a Kenyon alum and climate activist and lawyer, Julianne Sitch, the first woman in NCAA history to lead a men's team to a national championship, Erik Weihenmayer, a Lesley alum and blind adventurer and motivational speaker, John Feinstein, a Washington Post columnist, undergraduate ceremony; Kirk Cox, an educator and Republican legislator in the Virginia General Assembly, graduate ceremony, Martin Sheen, the actor and social justice activist, undergraduate ceremony; Ginni Rometty, the former chairman, president, and CEO of IBM, graduate ceremony, Chris Lowney, the author and business leader, Sharran Srivatsaa, a Luther College alum and president of Real, the fastest-growing publicly traded real estate brokerage in the world, Joel Podolny, the founding dean of Apple University, Faith Abiodun, the executive director of United World Colleges International, Jeff Kinney, the author and cartoonist, undergraduate ceremony; Jerome Pickett, a Marist alum, former special agent with the U.S. Secret Service, and executive vice president and chief security officer for the National Basketball Association, adult undergraduate and graduate student ceremony, Marlee Matlin, the Academy Award-winning actress, undergraduate ceremony; John Gurda, an author, graduate ceremony, John Donahoe, the president and CEO of Nike, Massachusetts Institute of Technology June 1, Mark Rober, the YouTuber, engineer, and inventor, Bob Woodward, the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, undergraduate ceremony; Sharon Love, a McDaniel alum and founder of the One Love Foundation, Uki Maroshek-Klarman, the executive director of the Adam Institute of Democracy and Peace in Israel, Cyrus Ben, the tribal chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Wes Moore, the first Black governor of Maryland, Lan Cao, a Mount Holyoke alum, author, and professor; Imani Perry, an author and scholar; and Nancy Welker, a Mount Holyoke alum and physicist, Ron Chernow, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Sanna Marin, the Prime Minister of Finland, Gen. Anthony J. On May 14, 1994, however, Powell most important task of the day was as commencement speaker at Howard University in Washington, D.C. His address appears below. HOWARDIANA About | 2023 Howard University. Temple, Drexel and University of the Arts scored some big names for graduation this year. Henson will give her commencement speech to the graduating class on May 7th. See our privacy policy. The actress and The Talk co-host will be the keynote speaker at Voorhees 121st Commencement on May 5. 2023 Graduate School Commencement WeekMonday, May 8 - Saturday, May 13, 2023. Year Ceremony Degree/Award HU Degree Received; 2003, 2006: Charter Day (Speaker) 2003, Commencement (Speaker) 2006: LL.D., Special Citation of Achievement See our privacy policy. Henson, who has become one of the most notable actresses in the entertainment industry, was once a student herself at the DC-based HBCU. Joyner will also speak on that day at Morris Brown and will also go to Concordia, according to his foundation website. Hes the artist that your grandmother would love, university president Walter Kimbrough said to WAFB. 2023 Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. Please navigate to https://commencement.howard.edu/ for all updates on this years commencement activities including: Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 14 schools and colleges. 58 . A former columnist for The Chronicle Darlene Earnest is a copy editor for BestColleges. In 2018, she founded the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF), a non-profit named after her father, a Vietnam War veteran. - 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM The lineup for spring 2023 commencement speakers includes Nobel Prize winners, politicians, activists, academics, authors, actors, musicians, motivational speakers, and business leaders. I learned everything from data and analytics to growing and building a team, strategy and partnerships, how to scale. Search over 350 speeches by name, school, date or theme and find out what they have in common with pop songs on our blog: n.pr/ed. The 83rd U.S. attorney general will be the keynote speaker at FAMU College Of Lawannual hooding ceremony on May 12. HBCU commencement speakers continues and hopefully, more young brilliant minds can be moved. . She had a big heart. Thank you for your patience and flexibility. Sunny Hostin will give the speech on May 14th as North Carolina A&T graduates a record number of students in their spring commencement. Allyson Felix . The main commencement ceremony was held in Burr Gymnasium due to rain. FAQ | Graduation season is such a memorable time for so many families across the country. Despite the rain, Howard University graduated the Class of 2022, moving the ceremony inside to Burr Gymnasium in a return to the full-sized event for the first time since 2019 after it was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic and limited in 2021 following a year of virtual learning. For the comfort and safety of our graduates and guests who will convene to celebrate in the Universitys finest hour, we are implementing ourinclement weather plan and moving Commencement indoors. The most notable HBCU commencement speaker for the class of 2022 is Vice President Kamala Harris. > It was one of the most inspirational speeches on all of the internet. Reset Search, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, New York University Tisch School of the Arts, The Art Institute of California, Sunnyvale, Jeremy Bowers, Emily Davis, Danny DeBelius, Christopher Groskopf, Anya Kamenetz, Meredith Rizzo, Sami Yenigun. She was no-nonsense. - 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM [Queenie] was three-dimensional. Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D., is a senior writer with BestColleges. Howard University Commencement Speaker Kasim Reed encouraged the graduates to pursue their dreams without delay. In 2018, before he passed, the late Chadwick Boseman delivered Howard Universitys 150th commencement. NAACP National President and CEO Derrick Johnson will be the featured speaker during the commencement at Tougaloo College inTougaloo, Mississippi on May 6. The challenges you faced over the course of your Howard careers brought out the very best in you, Dr. Frederick said. Good morning! Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the University was forced to cancel in-person activities and shift to a virtual format. 4th Floor, HUARCHIVES Howard University. It was one of the most inspirational speeches on all of the . Abrams will give her commencement address on May 15th. Bottoms will bless graduates on May 4 at Tennessee U. Thomas,a nationally known orator, will address undergraduates on May 5. All Rights Reserved. Howard University recently announced that critically acclaimed actress and alumna Taraji P. Henson will speak at the spring 2022 commencement ceremony. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. HBCU students may also hear from Roland Martin at Texas Southern University. This is not a decision we take lightly. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate . WASHINGTON - Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, president of Howard University, announced today that alumna and Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress, filmmaker, philanthropist and entrepreneur Taraji P. Henson will serve as the 2022 Commencement orator during the 154th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 7, 2022. WASHINGTON Howard University is pleased to announce the 155th Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 10 a.m. Scroll to continue reading. We are vessels, were all vessels that are to be poured into and poured out of. Students received diplomas and recognition at each of the individual school and college ceremonies held throughout the week, some for the first time in person since the pandemic. At the Cathy Hughes School of Communications ceremony, Kendra Desrosiers (BA 10), senior director, global head of strategic programs and culture at Twitch, talked about launching 25 Magazine, which has since spread to 40 colleges and universities nationwide and what she gained from the experience. Famous actor Malik Yoba will address Livingstone Colleges graduating class on May 14th. American and Howard universities hosted in-person events for the Class of 2021 on Saturday. Here's a running list of announcements, including ceremony dates. Yoba has appeared in a plethora of movies including Tyler Perrys W. The National Weather Service has issued an advisory for intermittent storms on Saturday, May 7 in the Washington Metropolitan area. As many already know, Harris graduated from another HBCU, Howard University, so her return back to HBCU culture will be noteworthy. Degree candidates shouldstill plan to assemble in theBurr Gymnasium. We are excited to salute all candidates who completed their degree and financial requirements as of Summer 2021, December 2021 and May 2022, and welcome parents, friends and alumni to campus for Howard Universitys 154th Commencement Convocation! Youve got to create room so you can be refilled.. The most notable HBCU commencement speaker for the class of 2022 is Vice President Kamala Harris. addressed graduates on April 29 and Disneyland Resort Vice President for Marketing and Commercial Strategy Sybil Crum addressed students on April 30. FAMU Announces Spring 2023 Commencement Speakers. All Rights Reserved. Howard University Commencement Programs Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. The law school welcomed Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice, as its keynote speaker. And in honoring Queenie, I honored all of our ancestors and sheroes who dreamed of a better future for themselves and then led lives of dignity, grace, and determination, so fiercely that it made our present possible., For the performance, Henson was nominated for an Academy Award in 2008 for best supporting actress, and led to Tyler Perry casting her as the lead in I Can Do Bad All By Myself.. Changemakers: Student Profiles in Excellence, Hawthorne Dissertation Research Fellowship, Sasakawa Peace Foundation Fellowship Program, Edward Alexander Bouchet Doctoral Scholars Fellowship, Ernest E. Just-Percy L. Julian Graduate Research Assistantship, Institutional Review Board (IRB) Exclusion, Instructions for Graduate School Ceremony, Each graduating doctoral student who has met the academic and financial clearance obligations required by the University, Each graduating master's or certificate student who has met the academic and financial clearance obligations required by the University, All Graduates Information Session for Commencement Participation (Prospective graduates and marshals are all expected to attend). - 10:00 AM, 8:00 AM ParkingAccommodations No matter how many stumbling blocks were thrown in my way, I was too grounded in who I am and whose I am to ever be knocked off my path. Listening to a great commencement speech is a right of passage. - 3:30 PM, 2:30 PM Henson spoke about how she used all of her energy to build the character Queenie in the movie. print. The following lots will be open to the public starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 7. Philadelphia-area commencement speakers include Questlove, President Biden, Dawn Staley News Link copied to clipboard Who's speaking at Philly-area commencement ceremonies? The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers the Bachelor . Award-winning actress Taraji P. Henson (BFA 95) served as Commencement speaker. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu. Howard Community College Leader Wins .