Renowned Human Rights Attorney Bryan Stevenson to Deliver Morgan State University’s 149th Spring Commencement Address

Equal Justice Initiative Founder to Receive Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree, More Than 1,200 Morgan Students Anticipated to Graduate

BALTIMORE — Morgan State University President David K. Wilson announced today that acclaimed public interest lawyer, author, and social justice advocate Bryan Stevenson will serve as the keynote speaker for the University’s 149th Spring Commencement Exercises. Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), will also be conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of his transformative contributions to justice, equity and human rights.

The undergraduate commencement ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 16, at 10:00 a.m. at W.A.C. Hughes Memorial Stadium on Morgan’s campus. Stevenson will address more than 600 graduates along with faculty, administrators, and guests at one of the University’s most time-honored academic traditions and ceremonial rites of scholarship.

“Bryan Stevenson stands as one of the most consequential voices of our time in the fight for justice, equality, and human dignity,” said President Wilson. “His life’s work challenges us to confront injustice with courage and compassion. As our graduates prepare to step into a world that demands both leadership and moral clarity, Mr. Stevenson’s message will serve as a powerful call to action—reminding them that their education is not only a personal achievement but a responsibility to uplift others and advance the cause of justice, echoing a celebrated legacy  Morgan students and alumni have exercised throughout history.”

Widely regarded as a leading advocate for criminal justice reform, Stevenson has dedicated his career to confronting systemic inequities within the legal system. Through the Equal Justice Initiative, which he founded in Montgomery, Alabama, Stevenson has led groundbreaking legal efforts to eliminate excessive and unfair sentencing, protect the rights of the incarcerated and mentally ill, and challenge the prosecution of children as adults.

Stevenson has argued and won multiple landmark cases before the United States Supreme Court, including a 2012 decision banning mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles and a 2019 ruling protecting individuals with dementia from execution. Under his leadership, EJI has secured the release or relief of more than 140 wrongly condemned individuals on death row and aided hundreds of others who were unjustly convicted or unfairly sentenced.

Beyond the courtroom, Stevenson’s work has reshaped the national conversation on race, history and justice. He spearheaded the creation of EJI’s Legacy Sites—the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park—powerful cultural institutions and destinations of interest. Stevenson is also the author of the New York Times bestselling novel “Just Mercy,” which chronicled his experiences defending the wrongly convicted, drawing both critical acclaim and an Emmy Award-winning motion picture documentary. His work has earned him numerous honors, including the MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Grant, the American Bar Association Medal, the National Humanities Medal, and international recognition for advancing human rights.

Stevenson’s selection as keynote speaker reflects Morgan’s longstanding commitment to cultivating graduates who are not only academically accomplished but also socially conscious and driven to effect meaningful change.

“Commencement marks new beginnings, but is also both a celebration and a charge,” President Wilson added. “In Bryan Stevenson, our graduates will hear from a leader who has consistently answered the call to serve, to challenge injustice, and to bridge the chasm where those whose voices too often go unheard. Our graduates will be inspired to pursue lives of purpose, integrity and impact by his presence—and most importantly, by his words.”

In addition to delivering the keynote address, Stevenson will join a distinguished group of individuals recognized by the University with honorary degrees, underscoring Morgan’s tradition of honoring those whose professions and/or passions embody excellence, serve humanity, and are catalysts of impact and change.

Morgan will host its Graduate School Spring Commencement on Thursday, May 14, where more than 400 master’s and doctoral students will receive their degrees, followed by the undergraduate ceremony on Saturday, May 16. For more information about Morgan’s Spring Commencement Exercises, visit the official commencement website.

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu. 

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Media Contacts:

Larry Jones, Dell Jackson or Cheryl Stewart for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022