From moonshine to kids books, University of Tennessee graduation speakers have done it all
University of Tennessee at Knoxville graduations are almost here. And depending on which commencement ceremony you're attending, the speaker could be a judge or a children's book author or a moonshine CEO.
UT colleges − some hosting solo graduations and some alongside other programs − have lined up speakers who collectively will offer advice to thousands of students throughout the weekend before they pack up their degrees and head out on their own.
The university plans to award roughly 5,455 degrees May 16-19. That's 4,130 undergraduate degrees, 1,115 graduate degrees, 120 law degrees and 90 veterinary degrees − plus 150 graduate certificates, according to a UT news release.
Here are the speakers who have been announced for the 2024 ceremonies.
College of Law - Camille R. McMullen
A 1996 UT graduate, Camille R. McMullen in 2008 became the first African American woman to serve on a Tennessee appellate court. In 2023, she was appointed as presiding judge, becoming the first woman and African American to lead the court.
Graduating student Ronald Young also will speak.
Time: 8:30 a.m. May 16
Herbert College of Agriculture - Joe Baker
Joe Baker is the co-founder of Ole Smokey Moonshine as well as a 2001 UT graduate. His other business endeavors include Yee-Haw Brewing Co. and Ober Gatlinburg.
Time: 12:30 p.m. May 16
College of Architecture and Design - Barry Alan Yoakum
Barry Alan Yoakum is the co-founder and CEO of Archimania, which designed and built the first zero-energy and zero-carbon building. The 1978 graduate also created the Yoakum Zero Carbon Scholarship Endowment for the college.
Time: 4:30 p.m. May 16
College of Communication & Information - Chris Grabenstein
New York Times bestselling author Chris Grabenstein graduated from the college in 1977 and published his first novel in 2005. He has written several children's books and has collaborated with author James Patterson.
Time: 7:30 p.m. May 16
College of Social Work - Caitlin Steele and Jenna Spurlock
Graduating students Caitlin Steele and Jenna Spurlock will speak at the graduation. Steele will represent the bachelor of science in social work class, and Spurlock will represent the master of science in social work class.
Time: 8:30 a.m. May 17
College of Nursing - Alyssa Varness
Graduating student Alyssa Varness will address students.
Time: 12:30 p.m. May 17
College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences and College of Music - Brian Lee
Brian Lee graduated in 1992 and is the director of guest relations at Blackberry Farm, which recently earned a spot on Food & Wine's Global Tastemakers list.
Time: 4:30 p.m. May 17
Tickle College of Engineering - Misty Mayes
Misty Mayes graduated from UT in 1988 and founded Management Solutions in 2002, helping earn her induction into UT's Industrial and Systems Engineering Hall of Fame. She has been honored as a Tickle College of Engineering Alumni Legend and is a UT Service Award winner.
Time: 7:30 p.m. May 17
Graduate Hooding - Jessica Barfield
Doctorate degree recipient Jessica Barfield studied at Dartmouth College as a scholar athlete, attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her master's in marketing and later joined the Ph.D. program at UT's College of Communication & Information.
Time: 9 a.m. May 18
College of Veterinary Medicine - Jeffrey Biskup
Jeffrey Biskup is an assistant professor at Oregon State University’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine and a former UT faculty member.
Time: 10 a.m. May 18
Haslam College of Business - Jeff Abbott
Jeff Abbott graduated in 1993 and became the CEO of IT software company Ivanti in 2021.
Time: 1 p.m. May 18
College of Arts and Sciences - Kelly Rodney Arnold
Kelly Rodney Arnold graduated in 2000 and founded Chattanooga-based bilingual clinic Clínica Médicos in 2015. She is the medical director of the clinic.
Time: 5:30 p.m. May 18
Audiology and Speech Pathology - Randy Boyd
Randy Boyd is the current UT System president and an alumnus of UT. He's been in the position for just over five years and is aiming to complete another five year term.
This ceremony will be held at Thompson-Boling Arena, but the department is a part of the UT Health Science Center.
Time: 10 a.m., May 19
University of Tennessee's ROTC commissioning ceremonies
UT will commission 13 Air Force ROTC cadets and 28 Army ROTC cadets as they transition from students to military officers.
The Army ROTC commissioning ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. May 17 at James R. Cox Auditorium inside the Alumni Memorial Building. Gen. James. J Mingus, vice chief of staff for the Army, will deliver a speech.
The Air Force ROTC commissioning ceremony also will be held at 1 p.m. May 17 in room 210 of the Alumni Memorial Building.
What to know about UT graduations, including where to park
Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, located at 1600 Phillip Fulmer Way, will host nearly every UT graduation ceremony. Most ceremonies last about two and a half hours.
The only graduation not being held at the basketball arena is for the College of Veterinary Medicine, which will host its ceremony at Cox Auditorium inside the Alumni Memorial Building at 1408 Middle Drive.
UT provides free parking at the G10 parking garage and C5/G6 parking lot connected to the arena. Levels one through five of G16 garage along Volunteer Boulevard will be open as well. UT recommends arriving 90 minutes before each ceremony.
Guests will also need to adhere to the clear bag policy to enter graduation ceremonies.
The full list of graduation ceremonies and times can be found at commencement.utk.edu.
Keenan Thomas is a higher education reporter. Email keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter @specialk2real.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: University of Tennessee 2024 graduation times and speakers
