Maryland Gov. Wes Moore will be the commencement speaker for Lincoln University’s Class of 2025 when the commencement ceremony takes place in the school’s International Cultural Center Lot on the campus of Lincoln University on May 4.

Moore is the 63rd governor of the state of Maryland. He is Maryland’s first black governor in the state’s 246-year history, and he is just the third African American to be elected governor in the history of the U.S. 

Moore, a Democrat, was elected governor in 2022. By winning that contest, he followed Democrat Douglas Wilder, who served one term as Virginia’s governor in the early 1990s, and Democrat Deval Patrick, who more recently served two terms as the governor of Massachusetts, as the only elected black governors in our country’s history. Moore is just 46 years old, and has already been mentioned as a potential future presidential candidate. He is certainly a great choice to speak to Lincoln University’s newest class of graduates.

In a statement, Dr. Brenda A. Allen, the Lincoln University President, said, “We are honored to have Governor Wes Moore address our graduates at Lincoln University’s 2025 Commencement Ceremony. Governor Moore’s extraordinary path from military officer to Maryland’s first Black Governor, and a staunch advocate for educational equity, exemplifies the perseverance and leadership we aim to cultivate in our students. His dedication to social justice and educational progress reflects our core values, making him an inspirational role model for our graduates as they step forward into their futures.”

Moore was selected for the role as commencement speaker by Lincoln University’s faculty and was also endorsed by the school’s Board of Trustees. He will also be conferred with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Lincoln University.