PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (July 21, 2025) – Prairie View A&M University is gearing up to celebrate the achievements of an estimated 281 degree candidates during its 114th Summer Commencement Convocation. The ceremony is set to take place Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the William “Billy” J. Nicks, Sr. Building (Baby Dome).
This summer’s graduating class currently includes 191 undergraduates, 68 graduate students, and 22 doctoral candidates.
Melonie D. Parker
Melonie D. Parker, vice president for Googler Engagement at Google, will be the keynote speaker. Parker is a nationally respected executive who has spent over three decades advancing workforce and leadership strategies in some of the world’s most complex industries.
Known for her mantra, “Add In instead of Fit In,” Parker has helped organizations think differently about how teams thrive, connecting individuals to a shared sense of purpose and creating environments where excellence can take root.
Parker drives global initiatives at Google that strengthen employee experience and organizational culture. Before joining the tech giant, she held senior leadership positions at Sandia National Laboratories and Lockheed Martin, where she led efforts in human resources, employee relations, benefits, outreach, and executive communications. She is also a graduate of Lockheed Martin’s prestigious Executive Assessment & Development Program.
Parker’s dedication to leadership and education continues through her service on the Board of Trustees at Hampton University, her alma mater, and the Board of Directors for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. She also advises Villanova University’s graduate programs in human resources, where she earned her master’s degree.
Her many accolades include the United Negro College Fund President’s Award, HR Professional of the Year from the New Mexico Society for Human Resource Management, and recognition by The Root 100 as one of the most influential Black Americans. She has also been honored by AfroTech, Rolling Out UrbanStyle Weekly, Girls Inc., and other organizations for her impact and innovation in the field.
As graduates prepare to mark this tremendous milestone in their personal and professional journeys, Parker’s perspective, shaped by decades of executive leadership and a passion for purpose, offers a powerful message to launch the next chapter.
Visit pvamu.edu/commencement to learn more.
-PVAMU-