May 2019 Commencement

The University of Memphis awarded 2,517 degrees at its spring Commencement Saturday, May 4, at FedExForum. The degrees, conferred in three ceremonies, included 1,742 bachelor's, 556 master's, 86 law, 69 doctoral and 64 graduate certificates.

At the 10:00 a.m. Commencement ceremony, degrees were presented to students in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management, Loewenberg College of Nursing, School of Health Studies, School of Public Health and College of Communication and Fine Arts.

At the 1:30 p.m. Commencement ceremony, students in Fogelman College of Business & Economics, University College and Herff College of Engineering received degrees.

At the 5:00 p.m. Commencement ceremony, degrees were awarded to students in the College of Arts & Sciences and College of Education.

The featured speaker was Vice Admiral Walter E. "Ted" Carter Jr. He also received an honorary doctor of letters degree at the 10:00  a.m. ceremony.  Carter was appointed superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy in 2014. He graduated from the Academy in 1981, was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1982 and graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School, "Top Gun," in 1985. He completed the Air Command and Staff College course and the Armed Forces Staff College. In 2001, he completed the Navy's Nuclear Power Program.

Carter's career as an aviator includes extensive time at sea, deploying around the globe in the F-4 Phantom and the F-14 Tomcat. He has landed on 19 different aircraft carriers, including all 10 of the Nimitz Class carriers. He commanded the VF-14 "Tophatters" as well as both USS Camden and USS Carl Vinson. His most recent fleet command assignment was as commander of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group during its final combat deployment as a 51-year-old aircraft carrier in 2012. Prior to Annapolis, he served as president of the U.S. Naval War College.