University of Memphis to Hold Commencement December 15 

Two Ceremonies to be Held at FedEx Forum as 1,668 Poised to Graduate 

Dec. 10, 2024 — A total of 1,668 University of Memphis students will receive degrees in two ceremonies taking place Sunday, Dec. 15, at the FedEx Forum in downtown Memphis.

Of those graduating Sunday, 48 are doctoral students, seven are Juris Doctor, 503 are receiving their master's degree, 1,026 are getting their bachelor's degree and 84 students are earning a certificate. 

Native Memphian and UofM alumnus Fred A. Towler, a graduate of the Fogelman College of Business & Economics, will be the commencement speaker. During his 36-year career with International Paper, Towler held senior leadership roles throughout North America in sales, marketing, manufacturing, distribution, finance, strategy, information technology, supply chain and global sourcing and most recently he was the vice president of global talent management and chief diversity officer before retiring last year. 

Doors open at 11 a.m. for the noon ceremony, when graduating seniors, doctoral candidates and master’s candidates cross the stage to receive their degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Education, College of Professional & Liberal Studies and Loewenberg College of Nursing.  

Doors open at 3 p.m. for the 4 p.m. ceremony, which will see graduating seniors, doctoral candidates and master’s candidates cross the stage to receive their degrees from the College of Communication and Fine Arts, College of Health Sciences, Fogelman College of Business & Economics, Herff College of Engineering, Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management and School of Public Health.  

For guests attending a UofM Commencement ceremony, visit memphis.edu/commencement for information regarding the clear bag policy, security, parking and traffic. 

For those unable to attend the ceremony in person, there will be a livestream available for viewing on the University’s Commencement YouTube channel. 

Student marshals leading their college/school lines at Commencement will be those graduating with the highest undergraduate GPA (overall academic record) for their college or school. They are: 

 College of Arts & Sciences 

• Hema Siva Gayathri Dalavayi 
• Salma Hashmi 
• Jamie Nicole McClain 
• Karma Alicia Santander Rakow 
  
  

College of Communication and Fine Arts 

• Elizabeth Lesley Spence Elder 
  
  

College of Education 

• Maria Janae Polk 
  
  

College of Health Sciences 

• Dana Mohamad El Kharsa 
  
  

College of Professional & Liberal Studies 

• Natalie R. Poorman 
  
  

Herff College of Engineering 

• Hunter J. McWilliams 
• Cooper John Washburn 
  
  

Fogelman College of Business & Economics 

• Charis Elaine Barnes 
• Pierce Douglas Greer 
  
  

Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality  Resort Management 

• Delaney N. Golden 
  
  

Loewenberg College of Nursing 

• Maya S. Smith 
  
  

School of Communication Sciences and Disorders 

• Julio Cesar Manriquez, Jr

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MEDIA CONTACT: 
Jennifer Godwin 
Media and Public Relations 
jennifer.godwin@memphis.edu 
(O) 901.678.4822 (M) 501.529.7482