The following is a list of the 2025 Commencement activities for Undergraduates [Traditional & Non-Traditional] & Graduates. Following the list are details on each event that you will find helpful as you prepare to celebrate your graduation from Johnson C. Smith University.
Sheryl Underwood is a multi-faceted media personality and philanthropist. She is best known as a co-host of the Emmy Award-winning The Talk on CBS. A U.S. Air Force veteran and proud HBCU advocate, she brings humor, wisdom, and inspiration to every platform she touches. Underwood is also the Founder & CEO of Pack Rat Productions, Inc. and the Pack Rat Foundation for Education, which supports underserved students and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
A sought-after entertainer and public speaker, Underwood has co-hosted the Daytime Emmy Awards multiple years, including a solo hosting role in 2021. She is widely recognized as one of today’s most brilliant contemporary humorists. She put her comedic skills into action on Freeform television’s holiday series “Wrap Battle.” In addition, Underwood is the host of Sheryl Underwood Radio, which airs on over 585 affiliates nationwide. Underwood’s life story was the subject of the TV One bio-documentary UNSUNG Hollywood: Sheryl Underwood. She has been featured in Ebony, ESSENCE, Entertainment Weekly, and more.
Sheryl Underwood is a membership ambassador for the NAACP, co-chair of Taste of Soul in Los Angeles, and founder of Black Radio Solidarity, a collective of influential media properties and talent. She is the visionary behind Black Radio Solidarity: Driving Souls To The Polls town halls, an initiative that harnesses the power, energy, and influence of radio to encourage individuals and organizations to get involved in civic activity.
Sheryl Underwood is an astute businesswoman and entrepreneur. She serves as an inspiration for a myriad of individuals who embrace their passions to capitalize on opportunities in the marketplace. A lifetime member and former International President and National Executive Board Chair of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Underwood is the only entertainer to occupy the sorority’s top job. Underwood’s civic journey displays a commitment to education, community engagement, and holistic health and wellness. She is an advocate for social justice and the advancement of Black communities across the nation.
Underwood is a proud alumna of the University of Illinois at Chicago and holds honorary doctorates from Benedict College, South Carolina State University, Voorhees College, and the University of Illinois at Chicago—her alma mater.
Sheryl Underwood’s dynamic career and commitment to service reflect the very best of leadership, resilience, and purpose. We celebrate her as a trailblazer and an inspiration to the Class of 2025. Johnson C. Smith University is proud to confer upon her an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Bojangles’ Coliseum
2700 E. Independence Blvd
Charlotte, North Carolina 28205
11 a.m. (Doors will open at 9 a.m.)
Dress pants or dress skirts that show below the hem of the robe must be dark in color.
Collared shirts that show above the neckline of the robe must be white.
Ties must be dark in color.
Dress shoes must be appropriately formal and dark in color.
Religious headwear, if worn, must be dark in color.
Earrings must be small (i.e. pearl or other studs). No dangling jewelry (earrings, bracelets, etc.)
Bojangles’ Coliseum strongly encourages those needing accessible seating to arrive early. All accessible seating will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Every effort will be made on the day of an event to accommodate those needing accessibility seats, but this is based on availability.
Shuttle service will be provided for any graduate or student who does not have transportation. Shuttle service from campus to Bojangles will begin at 7 am in front of the Music Building Annex and will run until 7:30 am for graduates and 9:00 am for all other students. Departure service from Bojangles Coliseum back to campus will start at 1:00 pm and go on until 3:00pm.
NOTE: Graduates must assemble at 9:00 a.m. in Bojangles for graduate check-in.
Johnson C. Smith University's Commencement exercises will be professionally photographed and videotaped. Family members and guests will not be allowed to access the coliseum floor area during the program.
Graduates and family members can order photos directly from Grad Images. After graduation, order online at www.gradimages.com or call 800.261.2576.
Licensed First Aid Technicians/EMT’s are on staff for the event. If you need first aid assistance, contact the nearest Usher, Security Guard or Police Officer. The Bojangles’ Coliseum First Aid station is located on the lower level. In the event of an emergency, please follow the directions of the emergency personnel and staff.
Johnson C. Smith University has negotiated special rates for our guests at area hotels just a short drive from campus. Please visit http://jcsuevents.com/lodging for a list of participating hotels.
For any questions, please contact Tenessa Moore, Conference and Event Services Manager at 704.330.1495 or Tavia Smith, Event Services Coordinator at 704.330.1438.
When Purity Gumede walks across the stage as the 2025 Valedictorian of Johnson C. Smith University she will embody a dream born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Read more
Elton Muchadeyi Mombeshora, an international student from West Africa, graduates as the 2025 Salutatorian of Johnson C. Smith University, standing out as a top scholar, student leader, and advocate for experiential learning and community engagement.
Read more
As a leader, Kameron Sanders uplifts his fellow students with positivity and caring to create a culture where others feel cared for.
Read more
New York native Sean Carter calls himself a “secret weapon,” someone with a large impact and a low profile.
Read more
Tinotenda “Tino” Musingarimi walks across the stage to collect his degree in Information Systems Engineering, knowing he is a leader among his peers who has had to overcome adversity.
Read more
Justin Nixon, a proud member of the Johnson C. Smith University Class of 2025, has left an indelible mark on the campus community. As the JCSU's 80th Student Government Association president, Nixon has led with vision, humility and a deep commitment to service.
Read more
For Sydney Randall, the road to Johnson C. Smith University’s 2025 Commencement has been rich with purpose, persistence and personal growth. As Senior Class Vice President, Randall has emerged as a compassionate leader and driven scholar whose commitment to service and scholarship defines her legacy.
Read more
Sha’Monique Smith didn’t just earn her Master of Social Work degree for herself; she did it for her 10-year-old son.
Read more