Ruth J. Simmons to Address PVAMU's Spring 2023 Class, Record Number of Doctoral Students

Dr. Ruth J. Simmons

Ruth J. Simmons, a noted leader in higher education and Prairie View A&M University’s eighth president (2017-2023), is set to address more than 1,000 graduates this Saturday, May 13, at the University’s 141st Spring Commencement Convocation. This semester’s graduating class also includes a record number of doctoral students.

As part of the University’s recent R2 Carnegie Classification, colleges and universities that earn this prestigious status award at least 20 doctoral degrees per year. PVAMU will award 18 of these degrees this semester alone.

“Over the last several years, the University has placed emphasis on a number of important areas that contribute to doctoral student success: recruiting highly qualified faculty for tenured and tenure-track positions and increasing tuition and fee support, in addition to paid graduate student appointments,” said James M. Palmer, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.

Notable graduates include educational leadership doctoral candidate and current University Librarian Elizabeth Jean Brumfield and nursing student Morgan Redd, who will begin her professional nursing career as an oncology stem cell transplant nurse at MD Anderson Cancer Center, among others.

Other unique data from this semester’s graduates includes: nearly one-third first-generation; 870 in-state, 105 out-of-state, and 32 international students; and the highest concentration of doctoral candidates in the University’s College of Education.

About the event:

Event: PVAMU’s 141ST Spring Commencement Convocation

Date: Saturday, May 13, 2023

Time: 8:30 a.m. CDT

Place: Panther Stadium, Prairie View A&M University

Website: www.pvamu.edu/commencement

Livestream: www.youtube.com/pvamu