Walter M. Kimbrough

Some students walked out on Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s commencement speech at Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2024. The Washington Post via Getty Images

May 17, 2024

I served as a college president for nearly two decades – I know choosing the right commencement speaker can be fraught with risks

Walter M. Kimbrough, University of Southern California

The right commencement speaker can create a memorable experience, generate favorable media coverage for the school and inspire donors. So why do colleges miss the mark on this once-a-year decision?

COVID-19 has altered nearly every aspect of higher education. Gerald Herbert/AP

July 2, 2020

Presidents’ panel: How COVID‑19 will change higher education

Walter M. Kimbrough, Dillard University; Ana Mari Cauce, University of Washington, and Samuel L. Stanley, Michigan State University

From graduation ceremonies and sports to research and instruction, COVID-19 is changing the face of higher education. Here, three university presidents share their thoughts on what the future holds.

Entertainer and entrepreneur Sean Combs gives Howard University’s commencement speech in 2014.

April 19, 2018

Rap and gown: Hip‑hop artists as commencement speakers

Walter M. Kimbrough, Dillard University

While hip-hop is often viewed through its problematic elements, Dillard University President Walter Kimbrough explains why rap artists are ideal commencement speakers.

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I served as a college president for nearly two decades – I know choosing the right commencement speaker can be fraught with risks

Presidents’ panel: How COVID‑19 will change higher education

Rap and gown: Hip‑hop artists as commencement speakers

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