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1990s Commencement Speakers

Commencement speakers dating from Fall 1999 back to Spring 1990 can be found here.

CeremonySpeaker NameProfession
Fall 1999Gerald J. ButtersPresident, Lucent Technologies’ Optical Networking Group
Spring 1999Senator John EdwardsUnited States Senator from North Carolina
Fall 1998Benjamin S. RuffinChairman, Board of Governors
Spring 1998General Henry Hugh SheltonChairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Fall 1997Dr. Marcus L. MartinProfessor and Chairman, Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia
Spring 1997The Honorable J. D. HayworthUnited States Congressman from Arizona
Fall 1996Dr. Jerry PunchESPN Sports Reporter
Spring 1996Fred McFeely RogersHost, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood on PBS
Fall 1995The Honorable Burley B. Mitchell, Jr.Chief Justice, The Supreme Court of North Carolina
Spring 1995Dr. E. Gordon GeePresident, The Ohio State University
Fall 1994Dr. Albert CarnesaleActing President and Provost, Harvard University
Spring 1994Elizabeth DolePresident, American Red Cross
Fall 1993Dr. Ernest L. BoyerPresident, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Learning
Spring 1993Governor James B. HuntGovernor of North Carolina
Fall 1992Dr. John Hope FranklinJames B. Duke Professor of History Emeritus, Duke University
Spring 1992John T. CaldwellChancellor Emeritus, NC State University
Fall 1991General Maxwell R. Thurman U. S. Army [retired]
Spring 1991Dr. William FridayPresident Emeritus, The University of North Carolina
Fall 1990Dr. Larry K. MonteithChancellor, NC State University
Spring 1990Maya AngelouReynolds Professor of American Studies

University Libraries Commencement Archives

Explore the historical timeline of NC State University Commencements on the University Libraries website.

President Alexander Q. Holladay and the first graduating class sit for a portrait, 1893.