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.
Johnson C. Smith University President Valerie Kinloch, Ph.D. ’96 is honored to announce that the Honorable Wes Moore, 63rd Governor of the State of Maryland, will serve as JCSU’s 153rd Commencement Speaker. Moore is Maryland’s first Black Governor in the state’s 246-year history and is just the third African American elected Governor in the history of the United States.
Moore is a proud graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy and College where he received an Associate’s degree in 1998 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Economics from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. During his undergraduate years, Moore served as intern in the office of former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke. Moore graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was the first Black Rhodes Scholar in the history of Johns Hopkins University. As a Rhodes Scholar, he earned a Master’s in International Relations from Wolfson College at Oxford.
In 2005, Moore deployed to Afghanistan as a lieutenant with the 82nd Airborne Division, leading soldiers in combat. Immediately upon returning home, Moore served as a White House Fellow, advising on issues of national security and international relations.
In 2010, he wrote The Other Wes Moore, a story about the fragile nature of opportunity in America, which became a perennial New York Times bestseller. He went on to write other best-selling books on race, equity, and opportunity. His latest book, Five Days, tells the story of Baltimore in the days that followed the 2015 death of Freddie Gray.
Moore has had a rich career in both public and private sectors. He founded the Baltimore-based college success startup BridgeEdU, later acquired by Edquity in 2018. The business reinvented freshman year of college for underserved students to increase their likelihood of long-term success. Moore went on to serve four years as CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, overseeing more than $600M in anti-poverty investments. Also, he has worked in finance with Deutsche Bank in London and with Citigroup in New York. He and his wife, first lady Dawn Flythe Moore, have two children, Mia and James, and a dog, Tucker Balti.
Johnson C. Smith University looks forward to welcoming Moore to campus to inspire the Class of 2026 as the JCSU scholars prepare to lead in a rapidly changing world.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
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.