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Tuskegee University announces Dr. David Wilson ‘77, ’79 as Spring 2022 Commencement Speaker

Courtesy of Tuskegee University

Dr. David Wilson, president of Morgan State University and Tuskegee University Alumnus, will deliver the undergraduate commencement address to Tuskegee University’s class of 2022 on May 7 at 9:30 a.m. inside the General Daniel “Chappie” James Arena.

The Spring 2022 Commencement Exercises is the University’s first time returning to campus since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“We are excited and grateful to welcome one of Tuskegee’s own, Dr. Wilson, back to our campus as the undergraduate commencement speaker,” said President Dr. Charlotte P. Morris. “Dr. Wilson has experienced a great upward trajectory during his tenure at Morgan State University. I know that our students will be inspired by his message at this culminating moment in their academic careers.”

Dr. Wilson has served as the President of Morgan State University since 2010; he holds four academic degrees: a B.S. in political science and an M.S. in education from Tuskegee University; an Ed.M. in educational planning and administration from Harvard University; and an Ed.D. in administration, planning and social policy, also from Harvard. Before arriving at Morgan State University, he was chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and the University of Wisconsin–Extension. Before his role, he has held numerous other administrative posts in academia, including vice president for University Outreach and associate provost at Auburn University and associate provost of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Throughout his 30-year career in higher education administration, Wilson has a long record of accomplishments and unprecedented transformation at Morgan State University. As President of Morgan State University, Dr. Wilson has elevated Morgan from a moderate research classification of R3 (a ranking it had held since 2006) to an elevated classification of R2, a status reserved for doctoral universities with high research activity; increased the retention rate above 70% for the past ten consecutive years; and the completion of the University’s $250-million Anniversary Campaign, the largest development effort in Morgan’s history.

In addition, Dr. Wilson has authored two books and more than 20 articles in scholarly journals and other publications. He was also selected by the Baltimore Business Journal as a top 10 CEO in 2019 and was inducted into the Baltimore Sun’s Business Civic Hall of Fame in 2021.

Due to current COVID-19 protocols on campus, we must limit the number of visitors on campus and inside the arena. At this time, each graduate will receive four tickets: two for in-person seating in the Daniel “Chappie” James Arena and two for outdoor seating in the viewing tents. The ceremony will also be live-streamed on the University’s YouTube channel, starting at 9:30 a.m. CT.