Florida State University will celebrate remembrance, resilience and achievement as its largest graduating class in history receives degrees during Spring 2025 commencement, just days after a campus shooting that claimed two lives and injured six others. Six ceremonies will take place at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee on May 2 and 3.
President Richard McCullough will preside over five commencement ceremonies and a doctoral hooding ceremony for Ph.D. graduates from all disciplines. About 7,183 students are expected to take part in the six events over two days.
FSU expects to award 8,926 degrees to 8,690 students May 2-4. That includes 6,862 bachelor’s degrees, 1,558 master’s and specialist degrees and 247 doctoral degrees. The College of Law will confer 259 degrees May 4.
In addition, the College of Medicine will confer 113 degrees May 17.
In the wake of the April 17 campus shooting, the university has increased security measures for all commencement events. Additional police and security personnel will be present to ensure the safety of graduates, families, and guests as our community comes together in both remembrance and celebration.
Here’s a look at the speaker lineup for each ceremony:
FRIDAY, MAY 2
9 a.m. – Doctoral Hooding Ceremony
2 p.m. – College of Business
Speaker: Ash Williams
Ash Williams, vice chair for J.P. Morgan Asset Management, is an expert in investment management and longtime leader of the Florida State Board of Administration, where he managed about $195 billion in assets. He is a two-time FSU graduate and serves on the FSU Foundation Board of Trustees. Williams is also a recipient of the FSU Faculty Senate’s Mores Torch Award, which celebrates those who uphold the university’s traditions.
7 p.m. – College of Arts & Sciences
Speaker: Ken Jones
Ken Jones, a member of the Florida Board of Governors and FSU alumnus, is founder and managing partner of Third Lake Partners, a global investment firm. His career spans law, business and public service — from advising U.S. Senate leadership to leading the 2012 Republican National Convention. He also serves on the boards of the National Football Foundation, the Florida Council of 100 and Tampa’s Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
SATURDAY, MAY 3
9 a.m. – Dedman College of Hospitality, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, College of Applied Studies, College of Medicine, College of Motion Picture Arts, College of Social Sciences & Public Policy
Speaker: Mel Stith
Mel Stith is a former FSU College of Business dean and helped launch the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship. He is known for mentoring students, building strong donor partnerships, and supporting veterans and underrepresented scholars. After leaving FSU, he went on to lead Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management and later served as interim president of Norfolk State University. He currently serves on the board of The Jim Moran Foundation at FSU.
2 p.m. – FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, College of Nursing, Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Speaker: Ricky Polston
Ricky Polston is a former Florida Supreme Court justice and chief justice, who is now a partner at Shutts & Bowen LLP. He served on Florida’s highest court for more than 14 years and helped modernize the state court system. Polston taught law at Florida State for 20 years, covering topics like insurance law, appellate practice and accounting for lawyers. Polston earned both his accounting and law degrees from FSU.
7 p.m. – College of Fine Arts, College of Communication & Information, College of Criminology & Criminal Justice, College of Social Work, College of Music
Speaker: Cecile Reynaud
Cecile Reynaud, FSU Hall of Famer and longtime head coach of Seminole Volleyball, led the program from 1976 to 2001 with 635 career wins. Her teams made 13 national tournament appearances and won multiple conference titles. She served as deputy competition manager at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and now serves as vice president for volleyball operations for the Pro Volleyball Federation. Reynaud earned her master’s and Ph.D. from Florida State.
Florida State University Panama City will hold its spring commencement ceremony at 6:30 p.m. CT Sunday, May 4, at Tommy Oliver Stadium in Panama City. John Barnhill, FSU associate vice president of Enrollment Management, will address the graduates.
For more information on FSU’s spring commencement and live-streaming links, visit commencement.fsu.edu.