Academy Award-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson will serve as the keynote speaker for Spelman College’s 138th commencement ceremony on May 18.
The ceremony will be held at the Georgia International Convention Center, where Henson will also receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree, a Spelman College statement said.
Henson is a graduate of Howard University. She has often spoken about her school days at the HBCU. During a recent appearance on the “IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson” podcast, Henson shared that while in college, she earned extra income doing $20 wash-and-set hairstyles for classmates. Cosmetology was her fallback plan if acting didn’t work out.
Henson recently reacquired her hair care brand, TPH by Taraji, which she originally launched in 2020 in partnership with beauty incubator Maesa.
Henson is widely celebrated for her versatility on and off-screen. She earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” She also won a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her iconic portrayal of Cookie Lyon in the TV series, “Empire.” Last year, she became a New York Times No. 1 bestselling author for her children’s book, “You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What).
Henson stars in Tyler Perry’s upcoming drama “Straw” about a single mother navigating a day of escalating chaos. The film will be available on June 6.
Spelman’s graduation weekend will also include the baccalaureate ceremony on May 17, featuring Dr. Thema Bryant, a professor of psychology at Pepperdine University and former president of the American Psychological Association. Bryant is renowned for her work in trauma healing, healthy relationships, and emotional wellness. She holds a doctorate from Duke University and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical Center.
Spelman College’s commencement festivities are a part of the school’s longstanding tradition of honoring women leaders who inspire and uplift.
