West Virginia University will mark Commencement Weekend in Morgantown with 14 ceremonies over three days — May 12-14.
As many as 4,500 spring graduates, President Gordon Gee, Provost Maryanne Reed, Chancellor Dr. Clay Marsh, other university officials will participate in ceremonies planned at the WVU Coliseum and WVU Canady Creative Arts Center.
The schedule
May 12
- Reed College of Media, 9 a.m., Coliseum
- College of Law, 9:30 a.m., Canady Creative Arts Center
- School of Medicine Professional and Undergraduate Programs, noon, Coliseum
- College of Creative Arts, 12:30 p.m., Canady Creative Arts Center
- Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, 3:30 p.m., Coliseum
- School of Public Health, 4 p.m., Canady Creative Arts Center
- School of Medicine MD, PhD, master’s (Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences and Clinical and Translational Science), 7 p.m., Canady Creative Arts Center
May 13
- College of Applied Human Sciences, 9 a.m., Coliseum
- School of Dentistry, 9:30 a.m., Canady Creative Arts Center
- Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, 12:30 p.m., Coliseum
- School of Pharmacy, 1 p.m., Canady Creative Arts Center
- John Chambers College of Business and Economics, 4 p.m., Coliseum
- School of Nursing, 4:30 p.m., Canady Creative Arts Center
May 14
- Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, 11 a.m., Coliseum
Seven commencement speakers will receive honorary degrees.
Scott Widmeyer, a Martinsburg native, WVU alumnus and founder of Widmeyer Communications, has provided strategic counsel to leading decision makers — from presidents and governors to CEOs and college presidents — during his career. Widmeyer will address Reed College graduates on May 12.
Dr. Michael Apuzzo, one of the world’s best known and respected neurosurgeons, is a faculty member in the Department of Neurosurgery at both Yale Medical School and Weill/Cornell Medical College. Apuzzo will address School of Medicine MD, PhD and master’s graduates on May 12.
Carolyn Long, the immediate past president of WVU Institute of Technology, is an educator at heart. After starting her career as a teacher, Long went on to serve as superintendent for Braxton County Schools and chair of the WVU Board of Governors. Long will address graduates of the College of Applied Human Sciences on May 13.
Joel Newman, a WVU alumnus, has been a visionary leader in the field of food safety and enhanced sustainability of animal food production throughout his 48-year career. He recently retired as president and CEO of the American Feed Industry Association. He will speak to Davis College graduates on May 13.
Richard Adams, a Parkersburg native and WVU alumnus, serves as executive chairman of the board for United Bankshares and United Bank, and is a member of the Bank Policy Institute and the World President’s Organization. He will address Chambers College graduates on May 13.
Diana Lewis Jackson, a Clarksburg native, is CEO of Action Facilities Management, a company based in Morgantown which specializes in integrated facilities solutions for federal agencies across the United States. She will address Chambers College graduates on May 13.
Noel Doheny, a WVU alumnus, has worked throughout his career as an executive in medical diagnostics, introducing novel medical testing devices and products to markets. He served as CEO of Epigenomics, Inc., the first company to develop a blood-based colorectal cancer screening method designed to increase screening participation. He will address Eberly College graduates on May 14.
Venue information
Tickets are not required. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. The university’s clear bag policy is in effect at both the Coliseum and Canady Creative Arts Center.
For those who cannot attend in person, each ceremony will be livestreamed with broadcasts beginning a few minutes prior to scheduled event starts. After the ceremonies, archive recordings will be available. Find those links here: graduation.wvu.edu/may-commencement
Free ceremony parking is available at the Coliseum and the Canady Creative Arts Center with shuttle service. Limited handicap accessible parking is available at each venue. A valid ADA placard must be displayed.
The PRT closes for the summer Saturday and will not be an option for transportation to and from Commencement Weekend ceremonies.
Additional events
As part of Commencement Weekend, the Army ROTC Mountaineer Battalion will conduct the annual Spring Commissioning Ceremony at 10 a.m. on May 11 in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.
The Honors College will host two recognition ceremonies — the Foundations Recognition Ceremony from 4-6 p.m. May 11 at the Canady Creative Arts Center, and the EXCEL and Laureate Breakfast from 9-10:30 a.m. May 12 at the Morgantown Marriott.
