PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Oct. 30, 2023) – The 28th Fall Commencement for undergraduate and graduate candidates is Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the William “Billy” J. Nicks, Sr. Building (Baby Dome). Graduating students will be allotted ten (10) tickets, which will be distributed through each College and School beginning November 27, 2023. For friends, families, and guests unable to attend Commencement in person, the University will stream the event live at www.pvamu.edu/stream and www.youtube.com/pvamu.
Candidates for graduation and the faculty should report to the Baby Dome by 7:30 a.m. The processional will begin at 8:30 a.m. Faculty will lead the processional wearing full regalia. Commencement rehearsal is Friday, December 8, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in the Baby Dome.
The speaker for this 28th Fall Commencement is Dr. Dietra Trent. Dr. Trent is the new executive director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This initiative was founded in 1980 as the White House Initiative on HBCUs to “achieve a significant increase in the participation by historically Black colleges and universities in federally sponsored programs.” The initiative is now charged with “advancing educational equity, excellence, and economic opportunity through HBCUs, in partnership with HBCU leaders, representatives, students, and alumni.”
Dr. Trent earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminal justice from Hampton University and completed her master’s and doctoral degrees in public administration and policy from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has over 25 years of experience working to advance equity for Virginia’s most disadvantaged populations.
Most recently, she served in several leadership positions at George Mason University, including chief of staff and interim VP for Compliance, Diversity, and Ethics. In 2016, Dr. Trent was appointed as Virginia’s Secretary of Education. Prior to her appointment, she served as Deputy Secretary of Education, a position she also held during the administration of then-Governor Tim Kaine. Having served in the Administrations of three former Governors (including Mark Warner), as well as the Office of Congressman Bobby Scott, she has a wealth of federal, state, and higher education experience.
For more information about Commencement, please visit www.pvamu.edu/commencement.
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