To submit an event, email Special Events here.
Commencement Public Safety Clear Bag Policy
Florida A&M University has implemented a clear bag policy for Commencement to provide a safer environment for the public and expedite entry into the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium. This policy limits the size and types of bags permitted. Items must be carried or fit into a permissible clear plastic bag or a small clutch (no larger than 4.5” x 6.5’). All persons, approved bags and permitted items are subject to search upon entry and may be subject to additional search within the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium. Anyone possessing prohibited items will be asked to return them to their vehicle or dispose of them at the entrance doors.
FAMU has the authority to prohibit any items deemed to be a security or safety risk. This policy is subject to change without notice.
The Florida A&M University Summer Commencement is scheduled for Friday, August 2, 2019
6 p.m.
Alfred Lawson Multipurpose Teaching Gym
Speaker: AME Church Senior Bishop Adam Richardson Jr. will be Summer Commencement Speaker
Newly elevated African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Senior Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr., will address Florida A&M University (FAMU) graduates as the Summer Commencement speaker on Aug. 2.
The commencement ceremony for graduates from all schools and colleges will be held at 6 p.m. in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium, 1800 Wahnish Way, Tallahassee. More than 300 degrees will be conferred during the ceremony.
Bishop Richardson said he is excited about speaking since this year has a special significance in his relationship with the University.
“This is my 50th year out of FAMU. It’s quite an honor,” said Richardson. “I look forward to sharing whatever insights and wisdom I have gained over these five decades.”
This will be Richardson’s third return as a speaker at FAMU. He plans to savor it.
“I don’t expect to have another one,” he said. “I am really grateful for this one.”
Richardson, who studied philosophy and religion and was the head drum major in the FAMU Marching “100,” was named senior bishop during the AME Church’s Annual Council of Bishops and General Board Meeting Worship Service on June 26, 2019, in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Senior Bishop is the active bishop with the longest tenure of service in the AME Church and is first in order of precedence among the Council of Bishops.
The former pastor of Tallahassee’s Bethel AME Church, Richardson obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from FAMU in 1969. He earned his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Sacred Theology degrees at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta.
Before being elected as the 115th AME Bishop in 1996, for 18 years, Richardson served as pastor of Bethel AME, which is located near the FAMU campus.
As a bishop, Richardson’s ministry has had a global reach. He served churches in West Africa, including Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, Cote D’Ivoire, Togo and Benin, South Africa, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Florida and the Bahamas. The AME Church has more than two million members in 40 countries across five continents.
Richardson will serve as senior bishop until his retirement in 2024. At his consecration, reflecting on his time as a FAMU drum major, Richardson said, “There are quite a few steps (literally and figuratively) between the Patch (the practice field) and Senior Bishop!”
He and his wife, Connie Speights Richardson, are the parents of two adult children: son, Trey, a certified hospital radiographer and professional saxophone player, and daughter, Leon County Judge Monique Richardson, who is also a FAMU alum.
FAMU Virtual Spring Commencement 2020
Saturday, May 9 @ 10 a.m.
Florida A&M University (FAMU) will hold its first-ever virtual commencement at 10 a.m. May 9, as the University continues to adhere to social distancing guidelines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commencement Speaker: Angela Robinson, Alumna and Actress
How to watch the ceremony https://florida-am.stageclip.com/
“Graduates will have the opportunity to share photos, special gratitude messages and memories about their college experience prior to the virtual ceremony,” Boston said.
While COVID-19 may have changed our plans for a traditional ceremony, one thing that hasn’t changed – we want to celebrate the Class of 2020. Florida A&M University will host a close-captioned virtual ceremony for Spring 2020 graduates on Saturday, May 9 at 10 a.m. Graduates will receive an email from the vendor on how to submit their headshot and information.
During the ceremony, each graduate’s name will be called, and the photo/information submitted will be displayed.
Plans are still being made to celebrate graduates in a traditional ceremony, at a later date that has not been determined.
For more information, visit the Commencement page.
Email questions to commencement@famu.edu
The Florida A&M University Summer Virtual Commencement Ceremony
August 1, 2020
Time: 10 A.M.
Location: Via Zoom
Tune in to celebrate the Summer Class of 2020 during the Virtual Commencement Ceremony August 1 at 10 a.m. on FAMU’s YouTube page – FAMUTube1887.
For more information: www.famu.edu/.commencement
Commencement Regalia for students: herffjones.com
Once on the page select Graduation and type in Florida A & M to search for school.
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter III Is FAMU Summer Commencement Speaker
Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumnus and St. Paul, Minnesota Mayor Melvin Carter III will be the keynote speaker for the University’s virtual Summer Commencement ceremony 10 a.m. August 1.
The celebration for 400 graduates will be aired live on the FAMU Facebook page and YouTube channel.
“FAMU helped shape my life and leadership,” Carter said. “I am honored to speak at this year’s summer commencement.”
Carter was elected as Minnesota capital city’s 46th and first African American mayor in 2018. Since taking office, his accomplishments include raising the city’s minimum wage to $15/hour; tripling free program in recreation centers; eliminating late fines in public libraries; reestablishing an Affordable Housing Trust Fund; expanding immigrant and refugee support resources and launching an Office of Financial Empowerment.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Carter launched the St. Paul Bridge Fund to provide emergency relief to St. Paul’s lowest-income families and small businesses most vulnerable to the economic impact of the pandemic. The fund provided more than $4 million of direct aid between April and June. He has also been in demand on national media in the wake of protests following a Minneapolis police officer’s killing of George Floyd.
“It is an honor to welcome Mayor Carter to address FAMU’s summer graduates. He is one of our own and, furthermore, a Rattler who has been on the frontlines battling racial injustice and speaking truth to the nation in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death,” said President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “He is a seasoned leader of this day and time and will be a voice of inspiration for our graduates.”
The son of a retired St. Paul police officer and a Ramsey County commissioner, Carter graduated from the city’s public schools before entering FAMU. He earned a bachelor’s in business administration from the FAMU School of Business and Industry in 2002 before completing a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Minnesota.
President’s Annual Toy Drive
December 4, 2020
Time: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to drop off their new unwrapped gifts for children of all ages.
Advance donations are being accepted in the Office of Communications Lee Hall
1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 200 and the President’s House 1810 S. Adams Street on
November 19 – December 2 from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
For more information call (850) 599-3413.
Individuals are asked to stay in their cars when dropping of toys. Volunteers will be on site to receive them on the day of the event.
Florida A&M University Spring Commencement 2021
April 23 – April 25, 2021
Location: Bragg Memorial Stadium
Time: See Schedule
For more information: CLICK HERE
FAMU Announces Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III To Headline Lineup of Spring Commencement Speakers
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III will deliver the keynote address at the Florida A&M University (FAMU) in-person Spring 2021 Commencement ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24.
Saturday evening’s ceremony will feature students from the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities. Austin, the first African American to head the Defense Department, will also officiate at the commissioning ceremony for 17 officers, members of FAMU’s largest Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduating class for a single semester in three decades.
“Florida A&M University is honored to have Secretary Austin address our graduates. His life and career have been an inspiration to us all. He is part of an impressive lineup of speakers who have agreed to celebrate our graduates with us,” said President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., referring to the other speakers – former state Senator Arthenia Joyner, Florida Board of Governors Vice Chair Brian Lamb and media entrepreneur Keith Clinkscales. “Commencement is an important ritual in the life of our University. We are delighted to host in-person ceremonies again and urge all attendees and participants to adhere to health guidelines to ensure a safe commencement season.”
Austin, who grew up in Thomasville, Georgia, will headline a group of four speakers for the University’s first in person commencement ceremonies since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 1,000 students have applied for spring graduation.
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Austin retired in 2016 as a four-star Army general after 41 years in uniform. On January 22, 2021, he was sworn in as the 28th secretary of defense.
His four-decade Army career included command at the corps, division, battalion, and brigade levels. Austin was awarded the Silver Star for his leadership of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. In 2010, he became commanding general of U.S. Forces – Iraq, overseeing all combat operations in the country.
After a tour as the Army’s vice chief of staff, Austin concluded his uniformed service as the commander of U.S. Central Command, responsible for all military operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan. In this assignment, he led U.S. and coalition efforts to battle ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Austin graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the infantry. He holds a master’s in counselor education from Auburn University, and a master’s in business management from Webster University. He is also a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.
Commencement ceremonies kick off at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 23, when former state Senator Joyner will address graduates from the School of Allied Health Sciences, School of Environment and the College of Education. Joyner, who received her bachelor’s and law degrees from FAMU, represented Tampa in the Florida Senate for a decade.
At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 24, Board of Governors Vice Chair Brian Lamb will address students graduating from the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health and the School of Business and Industry. Lamb, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of South Florida, is the global head of Diversity & Inclusion at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
At 9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 25, Keith Clinkscales, a FAMU graduate and founder of The ShadowLeague.com (TSL), will address students from the College of Science and Technology, the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology, the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, the College of Engineering and the School of Nursing.
Since founding TSL, a sports and culture website, Clinkscales was CEO of Revolt Media & TV, a company founded by Sean Combs. He was also an ESPN executive.
Commencement ceremonies will be held at Bragg Memorial Stadium. In the event of inclement weather, they may be moved to the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center or the Gaither Gymnasium. Each graduating student is allowed up to four guests for the ticketed events.
The University will adhere to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Board of Governors guidelines during commencement ceremonies to ensure the health and safety of all participants. The FAMU College of Law will hold its commencement ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 10 in Orlando.
For more information, visit the Commencement website at www.famu.edu/commencement.
Florida A&M University Summer
Commencement 2021
VISIT FAMU.EDU/COMMENCEMENT for more details.
FAMU Announces Commencement Schedule for Summer 2021 and 2020 Graduates
Florida A&M University will hold commencement ceremonies for summer 2021 and 2020 graduates the weekend of July 30-August 1.
According to the schedule, a commencement ceremony for all summer 2021 graduates will be held at the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center 6 p.m. Friday, July 30.
The 9 a.m. Saturday, July 31 commencement ceremony will celebrate 2020 School of Business & Industry, College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health, and School of Environment graduates.
A 3 p.m. Saturday, July 31 ceremony will feature College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities 2020 graduates and a military commissioning ceremony.
On Sunday, August 1, at 9 a.m., 2020 graduates from the College of Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, School of Architecture and Electrical Technology, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, School of Nursing, and the College of Engineering will be celebrated.
The final ceremony of the summer commencement season will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, August 1 when 2020 graduates of the College of Education, College of Law and the School of Allied Health Sciences will be celebrated.
Summer 2021 grads need to apply by July 9. All 2020 grads need to register to participate by June 18. 2020 graduates can register at :
https://famu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0UIqbnFfgD0Hw10
PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL TOY DRIVE
Friday, December 3, 2021
President’s House
5 p.m.
Key Details:
Tickets are not required to attend Commencement.
Clear bag policy is strictly enforced.
Strollers, balloons and horns are not permitted in the arena.
The Commencement program is available by scanning the QR code posted throughout the arena.
Learn more here: http://famu.edu/students/commencement/index.php