By Jatavian Walker & William H. Kelly III
(JACKSON, Miss.) – Jackson State University (JSU) held its Spring 2026 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies on Saturday, May 2. Over 600 scholars received their bachelor’s degrees in the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center (AAC), for two ceremonies that honored legacy and inspired trailblazing.
JSU’s 14th President Denise Jones Gregory, Ph.D., extended a warm welcome and gratitude to guests, recognizing the faculty, staff, and loved ones who poured into each graduate leading up to this special moment.
“To the class of 2026—congratulations on this tremendous milestone in your life and a major step in your career. We have prepared a joyous ceremony in your honor and we are excited to celebrate you, each of you, for your hard work, persistence, and your accomplishments,” said Gregory.
JSU alumni Tramell Tillman and Jasmin Searcy-Pate, Ph.D., served as commencement speakers for both ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. Tillman was the keynote speaker for graduates in the College of Liberal Arts (COLA) and the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), while Searcy-Pate addressed the College of Health Sciences (COHS), the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET), and the College of Business (COB).
“For those of you that have ears to hear and a heart to receive, if you are ever in a place of uncertainty, if you are unsure of your future, it’s okay. You are right where you are supposed to be. And if you believe, and if you work hard to do the work, you will get where you want to be,” said Tillman.
The Emmy award-winning actor, widely known for his role as Seth Milchick in the Apple TV+ series “Severance,” encouraged graduates to follow their gut, moisturize frequently, go to therapy, and trust they are aligned with their dreams despite the fears or anxiety that may arise along the way.
“There are times where you’re going to be in rooms where there are people that don’t look like you, that don’t love like you, and that don’t move like you. What you do with that is your choice,” said Tillman. “You can allow the stipulation to stop you from moving forward, or you can tap into your gifts and your talents and tap into the community that you have within you to propel you forward.”
Tillman’s Broadway, television, and film credits continue to expand. In 2025, he starred opposite Tom Cruise in “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” and will join Tom Holland and Zendaya in the upcoming “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” scheduled for release on July 31. 2026. The 2008 JSU graduate recently wrapped filming for Paramount’s “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol,” starring Johnny Depp and Ian McKellen.
He was welcomed to the stage by his former teacher and mentor, Mark G. Henderson, Ph.D., who serves as the chair of the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre and is the founder of MADDRAMA Performance Troupe. Tillman is in the MADDRAMA hall of fame.
“There are few moments in a teacher’s life that feel as sacred as this one. Not the grading, not the rehearsals, not even opening night, but witnessing a student step fully into who they were always meant to be,” said Henderson.
The celebration continued with Searcy-Pate as the keynote for the second undergraduate ceremony.
The licensed clinical psychologist, associate director of the Office of Applied Psychological Services, and assistant director of Clinical Training at the University of Illinois Chicago, shared that she is among the less than 4% of Black licensed clinical psychologists in the United States, assuring the rising professionals that they are more than statistics.
“I am proof that the forecast is not the destination and that resilience is what happens when you refuse to be reduced to your circumstances. So again, the numbers were not in my favor, and I vow to change that math anyway, and some of you sitting here today have already done so as well,” said Searcy-Pate, also a 2008 JSU graduate and former Miss Jackson State University.
“There will be moments when you question everything. Moments when it doesn’t make sense. Moments when it feels like the answer is no and that you’re not supposed to be doing whatever it is that you are designed and called to do. When that voice whispers, and if it comes up, ‘you don’t belong here,’ look that voice in the eye and say, ‘I have my degree, I have my training, I have my faith, I have everything I need.’ Because the breakthrough is on the other side of the moment you almost stopped.”
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Media Contact: William H. Kelly III, william.h.kelly@jsums.edu