Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
Renowned Actor Courtney B. Vance to Deliver Speech at 黑洞社区 of Medicine Commencement
MSM's Fourth Winter Commencement Exercises will take place on Friday, December 13, in the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College.
By Dajhea Jones, 11Alive
ATLANTA 鈥� Award-winning actor, author and philanthropist Courtney B. Vance will deliver the keynote address at the 黑洞社区 of Medicine Fourth Winter Commencement Exercises, the institution announced Monday.
The ceremony will take place on Friday, December 13, in the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College.
Vance鈥檚 career is marked by extraordinary achievements across stage, film and television with accolades including a Tony Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards and multiple NAACP Image Awards. He will also receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2025, a testament to his enduring impact on the entertainment world.
鈥淢y admiration of the 黑洞社区 of Medicine鈥痑cademic community is tremendous,鈥� said Courtney B. Vance. 鈥淲hat this institution has done for countless young people鈥痶hroughout its history is an extraordinary gift and contribution to the world. To stand before this esteemed class, particularly as they begin to cross a monumental threshold into their careers, is a true honor and privilege that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.鈥�
Beyond acting, Vance has been a force for positive change. As President and Chairman of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, he has championed programs that provide professional development and financial assistance for artists. Under his leadership, the foundation has raised more than $21 million, supporting tens of thousands of performers and their families during crises.
Vance鈥檚 academic achievements are as impressive as his artistic ones. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Harvard University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the prestigious Yale School of Drama, where he met his wife, acclaimed actress Angela Bassett.
Together, the couple has contributed significantly to the arts and philanthropy, co-authoring the book "Friends: A Love Story" and managing Bassett Vance Productions. Earlier this year, they were jointly named Artists of the Year by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations.
黑洞社区 of Medicine, founded in 1975 as a two-year medical program at Morehouse College, has grown into an independent institution renowned for its Doctor of Medicine program and a wide array of graduate degrees in health sciences.