Jackson State University alumnus DeMarco Morgan, a CBS News correspondent and anchor, will deliver the commencement address to nearly 700 undergraduate degree candidates, and attorney Mike Espy, former U.S. secretary of agriculture and Mississippi congressman, will address 291 honorees receiving advanced degrees during the institution’s 140th spring commencement exercises.
Interim President Rod Paige will preside over the graduate commencement at 6 p.m. Friday, April 28, in the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center on the main campus and over the undergraduate ceremony at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“We applaud our graduates for achieving this significant milestone not only in their academic careers but in their personal lives as well. It is important that we celebrate their accomplishments and let them know they have our well-wishes and ongoing support as they continue to carve out new successes and reach new heights,” said Paige.
“Our undergraduate speaker, DeMarco Morgan, is proof of the value of a Jackson State University degree. He has accomplished much in a short span of time, and we know our students can relate to a fellow alum and will learn from what he has to share,” Paige added.
Morgan received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Jackson State with honors in 2001 and went on to earn a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York. He joined CBS News in 2015 after working at stations in Jackson, Miss., Milwaukee, Miami, Atlanta and New York. “Jackson State gave me so much confidence, which I still rely on today when I get discouraged,” Morgan said of his time at the university in a recent magazine article.
“Mississippi native Mike Espy likewise demonstrates that place of origin has no limit on success. His role as a member of the United States cabinet under former President Bill Clinton should encourage our students to reach out and embrace public service as they push forward into the workplace,” Paige said.
Born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Espy received a law degree from Santa Clara Law School, California, in 1978 and then joined Central Mississippi Legal Services as managing attorney. Espy was first elected to Congress in 1986 and served on the Agriculture and Budget committees. He was appointed secretary of agriculture on Jan. 22, 1993, and is the first person of African-American descent to hold the office.
Commencement ceremonies will be open to the public. In addition, Livestream webcast will provide viewing of the ceremony at www.livestream.com/jacksonstateu. For more information, contact University Communications at 601-979-2272.