UofM to Hold Commencement Dec. 11 at FedExForum
Dec. 9, 2022 — The University of Memphis will recognize 1,744 graduates from fall 2022 with two commencement ceremonies at noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday at FedExForum. The Honorable Justice Holly Kirby, who became the first graduate of the University of Memphis to serve on the Tennessee Supreme Court, will be the commencement speaker. She was the first woman in Tennessee history to serve on the Tennessee Court of Appeals at the age of 38 in 1995.
All graduates and guests must arrive one hour prior for lineup. It is encouraged to arrive in the parking areas 90 minutes before each ceremony to help with traffic flow.
The noon commencement includes the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Education, College of Professional & Liberal Studies, Loewenberg College of Nursing and Doctoral and Master Candidates from these groups. Doors open at 11 a.m. for graduates and guests.
The 4 p.m. commencement includes College of Communication and Fine Arts (CCFA), College of Health Sciences, Fogelman College of Business & Economics, Herff College of Engineering, Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management, School of Public Health and Doctoral and Master Candidates from these groups. Doors open at 3 p.m. for graduates and guests.
No tickets are required, and the event is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the FedExForum Garage on a first-come, first-served basis for $10. It must be paid via credit card ONLY. Guests will need to have a credit card to pay for parking in the FedExForum Garage.
Of the 1,744 degrees to be awarded, 1,143 are Bachelor’s, 96 Graduate Certificates, one Law, 24 Doctoral and 480 Master’s.
Kirby was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2014 after serving on the intermediate appellate court for almost 19 years. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Memphis with high honors in mechanical engineering, and then graduated from the UofM School of Law with high honors.
After law school, she clerked for Judge Harry Wellford on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Kirby then joined the Memphis law firm of Burch, Porter & Johnson, and in 1990 she became the firm’s first female partner. Since her appointment to the bench, Kirby has won six statewide retention elections.
Kirby has been recognized as an Outstanding Young Alumna by the University of Memphis, Outstanding Alumna by the UofM College of Engineering and Special Distinguished Alumna by the UofM School of Law. She has received the Marion Griffin-Frances Loring Award from the Memphis Association for Women Attorneys, the Distinguished Leadership Award from Women in Numbers and was named Community Mother of the Year by the Tennessee Justice Center.
Watch Commencement Live: www.memphis.edu/commencement/live