Congratulations, to the Class of 2026!
Georgia College & State University's Spring Commencement Ceremony will be held Wednesday and Thursday May 13-14, 2026 at the Centennial Center, 251 South Clarke Street. Tickets will be required to enter the commencement ceremony. For more information, please visit the Registrar's webpage.
A livestream of each ceremony will be provided both on this page and on GCSU's Facebook page.
College of Health Sciences: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 2:00 P.M.
- Doors will open for guests at 12:00 P.M. Graduates must arrive and check in by 12:45 P.M.
- This ceremony will recognize graduate and undergraduate students majoring in the areas of Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Health and Human Performance, Kinesiology/Physical Education, Nursing, and Public Health.
College of Business & Technology: Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 10:00 A.M.
- Doors will open for guests at 8:00 A.M. Graduates must arrive and check in by 8:45 A.M.
- This ceremony will recognize graduate and undergraduate students majoring in Accounting, Business Administration, Computer Science, Data Science, Economics, Finance, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Management Information Systems, and Marketing.
College of Education: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 7:00 P.M.
- Doors will open for guests at 5:00 P.M. Graduates must arrive and check in by 5:45 P.M.
- This ceremony will recognize graduate and undergraduate students majoring in Early Childhood, Middle Grades, Secondary, or Special Education, as well as Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership, Instructional Technology, Library Media, and Teacher Leadership.
College of Arts & Sciences: Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 3:00 P.M.
- Doors will open for guests at 1:00 P.M. Graduates must arrive and check in by 1:45 P.M.
- This ceremony will recognize graduate and undergraduate students majoring in Art, Biology, Chemistry, Creative Writing, Criminal Justice, English, Environmental Sciences, Geography, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Liberal Studies, Mass Communication, Mathematics, Music, Music Education, Music Therapy, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Public Administration, Psychology, Rhetoric, Sociology, Theater, and World Languages and Cultures.
Meet our Commencement Speakers
College of Health Sciences Speaker
Dr. Keisha Renee’ Callins, OB/GYN, Community Health Care Systems and Professor, Mercer School of Medicine
Dr. Keisha Callins is dedicated to expanding healthcare access in rural and underserved communities across middle Georgia. An Obstetrician/Gynecologist with Community Health Care Systems, she provides care to patients in Twiggs and Jones counties. Dr. Callins also serves as the Joy McCann Endowed Professor and a clinical professor in the Department of Community Medicine at the Mercer University School of Medicine, a department she previously chaired. She is the immediate past chair of the National Advisory Council for the National Health Service Corps, a former National Health Service Corps Scholar, a member of GCSU’s College of Health Sciences Leadership Board, and has served on the governing board of the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy at GCSU since 2017. A committed mentor and advocate, Dr. Callins supports the development of future healthcare professionals and has co-authored numerous publications while presenting to audiences ranging from rural community groups to congressional leaders. She is actively involved in mentorship, translational research, legislative advocacy, and community engagement.
John H. Lounsbury College of Education Speaker
Holly Witcher, Special Education Teacher in White County and 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year
Holly Witcher is a special education teacher at Tesnatee Gap Elementary School in White County, Georgia, and was the 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year, with more than two decades of experience dedicated to helping students with significant developmental delays build communication and life skills for success beyond the classroom. In her classroom, she emphasizes a language-rich learning environment and focuses on helping students effectively express their needs and knowledge, while also leading monthly community-based instruction outings in partnership with local businesses to provide real-world experiences that strengthen adaptive skills and community connections. A 23-year teaching veteran, Holly previously spent 10 years at Georgia Cyber Academy as a lead teacher and Elementary School Assistant Administrator of Special Programs. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education from Georgia College & State University and a master’s degree from the American College of Education. As the 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year, she continues to advocate for public education and represents Georgia educators at both the state and national levels.
J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology Speaker
Dilanka Seimon, Chief Commercial Officer, BKV Corporation
Dilanka Seimon is Chief Commercial Officer at BKV Corporation, leading the commercial midstream, gas marketing, and new products teams while leveraging BKV’s carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) portfolio. Previously, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at EnLink Midstream, overseeing gathering, processing, transport, storage, and terminal services across oil, gas, NGL, and carbon segments, and held senior roles at Energy Transfer as Vice President of Alternative Energy and at BHP as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Oil, Gas, Power, and Carbon, managing global logistics, marketing, and energy procurement. Earlier, he gained experience in business development, natural gas trading, marketing, and origination. He holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, completed Harvard Business School’s General Management Program, earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Georgia College & State University and a diploma in Economics from the University of London. Committed to sustainable energy and long-term value in gas, power, and carbon markets, Dilanka also serves on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star, CareerSpring Houston, and the Georgia College & State University Foundation.
College of Arts & Sciences Speaker
Dr. Richard Tavernaro, Executive Director/Co-Owner of Film Racing and President/CFO of Long Shot Productions
Dr. Tavernaro was raised in a military family, spending much of his childhood around the world, with over half of his first 18 years in Europe. He served 20 years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and worked as a special education teacher, high school counselor, coach, and psychologist before entering the film industry in 2010, starting as an extra in Fast Five and progressing to acting, producing, and directing his own films. He is a member of the Producers Guild of America, Founder and Executive Director of the Cobb International Film Festival, Owner and Executive Director of Film Racing, and an adjunct professor in film production at the Georgia Film Academy. Dr. Tavernaro holds two doctorates in psychology and educational leadership, a master’s degree in school counseling, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from GCSU. An avid traveler who has visited over 40 countries, he also owns a travel agency and enjoys scuba diving, sailing, and endurance automotive racing.
Graduation Checklist
For more information about to-do items prior to commencement, please refer to the Registrar's Office for more information.
Commencement info
Wednesday and Thursday May 13-14, 2026
All May and August degree candidates who have an approved graduation application are invited to participate. Tickets are required to enter the commencement ceremony.
Directions
Commencement is held at the Centennial Center which is located at 251 S. Clarke St.
Winter 2025 Commencement Highlights
Meet our Graduates
See More
VIEW OUR PHOTO GALLERY
See photos from the Winter 2025 Commencement Ceremonies.