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Maryland Governor Wes Moore delivered a powerful commencement address to the Johnson C. Smith University Class of 2026 on Sunday, May 17, 2026. He urged graduates to embrace leadership during this defining moment in American history. It was a message of congratulations, commendation and a call to action.

Johnson C. Smith University bestowed an honorary doctorate upon Maryland Governor Wes Moore during the university’s 153rd Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 17 at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. It was a celebration of Governor Moore’s record of service and steadfast commitment to issues of equity, education and opportunity for all.

On a sun-drenched Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, North Carolina, Johnson C. Smith University gathered its Class of 2026 for one of the most sacred traditions in higher education — the Baccalaureate Service. And for the 153rd time in the university's storied history, the moment lived up to its legacy.

Johnson C. Smith University students took center stage April 19, 2026, for the Spring Dance Concert featuring JCSU dancers and the Opera Musical Theater Workshop at Charlotte Ballet in Uptown Charlotte.

Johnson C. Smith University honored its rich history during its annual Founders Day Convocation on April 26, 2026, a culminating event of Founders Week.
 
Held inside the Jane M. Smith Memorial Church, the convocation brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and community leaders to reflect on the university's 159-year legacy and its continued role as a transformative institution in the Historic West Corridor.

On April 24–25, 2026, the Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) Percussion Studio achieved a major milestone with the first-ever “Exchange Masterclass” experience for the JCSU Music Program. Five talented JCSU percussion students traveled to Bowie State University to participate in a collaborative masterclass workshop with Dr. Donnie Johns and the Bowie State University Percussion Ensemble.

Innovation, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving took center stage at Johnson C. Smith University during Community Tech Day on April 23, 2026. The dynamic event brought together students, city leaders, and technology partners to reimagine how Charlotte can work smarter through innovative tech solutions—with students firmly at the center.

Dr. Linda Hill, the Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration at Harvard and Faculty Chair of the Leadership Initiative, was invited to speak on campus by the Charlotte Chapter of the Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Charlotte to share her work on leadership and innovation. 

Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) and the American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), establishing a strategic partnership designed to create expanded pathways for JCSU students to pursue careers in medicine and become practicing physicians.

The rhythm, creativity, and versatility of Johnson C. Smith University’s music program were on full display during the JCSU Percussion Ensemble Spring Concert. Student musicians delivered an energetic performance highlighting contemporary percussion repertoire and diverse percussive sounds.