Academy Award-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson will serve as the keynote speaker for Spelman College’s 138th commencement ceremony on May 18.
The event will take place on Sunday, May 18, at the Georgia International Convention Center, where Henson will address a record-breaking class of 694 graduates.
The announcement was made Tuesday by Spelman College Interim President Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, who praised Henson’s dual impact as a performer and advocate.
“Spelman College is deeply honored to welcome acclaimed actress and proud HBCU alumna Taraji P. Henson as the commencement speaker for the Class of 2025,” said Brewer. “Her brilliance on screen is matched by her commitment to advocacy and empowerment, making her a powerful role model for our graduating students as they prepare to step into the world and lead in their own extraordinary ways.”
Henson is a decorated actress and mental health advocate, known for her roles in “Hidden Figures,” “Empire,” and her advocacy work through the Boris L. Henson Foundation. She is no stranger to Georgia, having appeared in projects such as “Acrimony,” “The Family That Preys,” “No Good Deed,” “Hidden Figures,” “What Men Want” and most recently, “Fight Night,” all of which were filmed in the state.
The day before the commencement, author, minister and Pepperdine University professor of psychology, Dr. Thema Bryant, will address graduate students during the baccalaureate ceremony, also held at the Georgia International Convention Center.
Spelman’s Class of 2025 is the largest in its history, with graduates earning 446 Bachelor of Arts degrees and 248 Bachelor of Science degrees. The college maintains one of the highest graduation rates in the country at 76%.