Celebrity journalists Al Roker and Deborah Roberts to deliver Fisk's commencement address

Fisk University booked two of the biggest names in television news to deliver this year's commencement address: Al Roker, longtime co-host and weatherman for NBC's "Today Show," and Deborah Roberts, the Emmy-winning co-anchor of ABC's "20/20."

The two veteran journalists have been married since 1995. Together they wrote "Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times."

Fisk University President Agenia Clark said Roker and Roberts are excellent role models for graduates.

"Deborah and Al are more than just media icons. They are now cherished friends of Fisk University, and their dedication to excellence and social responsibility mirror our core values," said Clark, who was appointed president of the 158-year-old historically Black university this fall.

This year Fisk celebrates its 150th commencement.

Roker has been a fixture of television news for decades since he became a regular on NBC's popular morning show in 1996. The always jovial Roker also hosts NBC's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, missing only one year since he took on that role in 1995.

Roberts has won numerous Emmy Awards. She also received the prestigious Peabody Award for her "20/20" special: "Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor."

Annual commencement addresses honoring the graduates at Nashville's numerous universities often attract big names and major celebrities. Previous Fisk commencement speakers include basketball legend Grant Hill, civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton and U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi. At Tennessee State University, vice president Kamala Harris delivered the commencement address in 2022 followed in 2023 by Oprah Winfrey, a 1986 graduate of the historically Black public university.

This year, TSU's commencement address will be delivered by its president, Glenda Glover, who is retiring after a decade leading the school. Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock will address the school's graduate students.

Vanderbilt University's commencement does not feature a guest speaker, but the day before New York Times columnist and best-selling author David Brooks will speak at the school's Graduates Day ceremony.

The Fisk University commencement will held May 6. For more information, visit www.Fisk.edu.

Todd A. Price is a regional reporter in the South for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at taprice@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Fisk books TV news VIPs Al Roker and Deborah Roberts for commencement