DSU Announces May 9 Commencement Speakers
On Friday, May 9, the University will celebrate its 133rd commencement at which just under 1,000 students will be conferred their undergraduate and graduate degrees. This year’s celebration marks the fifth consecutive year the University has awarded more than 900 degrees, 57% of which will be awarded to Delawareans.
The undergraduate ceremony will begin at 8 a.m. in Alumni Stadium and include a commencement address by Ms. Jotaka Eaddy, the Chief Executive Officer of Full Circle Strategies. Commonly referred to as the “Olivia Pope of Silicon Valley,” Ms. Eaddy is a passionate advocate for increased diversity and impact metrics in the tech sector and serves as a board advisor to several tech start-up companies, including Maker’s Row, Inc., Gauge, Inc., Tech Dojo, and Hustle, Inc. 
In 2021, Ms. Eaddy advised Goldman Sachs on their historic $10B dollar investment in Black women. She is also the founder of #WinWithBlackWomen, a collective of intergenerational, intersectional Black women leaders throughout the nation with nearly 100,000 women in its network and 250 billion social media impressions. In April 2025, Eaddy joined the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Delaware Chapter, for their “Strength of a Woman Conference” held at Delaware State University.
Graduating Senior Ms. Jadah Forbes was thrilled about Eaddy’s return to the University.
“What is most important to me is becoming a woman that my peers and the younger generation can appreciate for my compassion, integrity, and unrelenting service and excellence on behalf of others. That is what Ms. Eaddy represents for me and millions of women and young people across our country. It will be an outstanding moment for us all. I cannot wait to hear from her again,” said Forbes, president of the Student Government Association, who will be graduating with her degree in psychology.
Both Ms. Forbes and Ms. Eaddy are members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Major General James Benson, Adjutant General of the Delaware National Guard, will be the keynote speaker at the graduate students’ ceremony at 1 p.m. in the Dr. William B. DeLauder Education & Humanities Theatre. Appointed by Governor Meyer in January 2025, Major General Benson is the first African American to serve as the leader of the Delaware National Guard in its 122-year history. He leads more than 1,500 Soldiers and 1,100 Airmen on both federal and state missions.
Major General Benson started his military career in 1987 in the Navy Reserves and then transferred to the Delaware Army National Guard to earn his commission in 1990. He completed two tours of duty, deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. A member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., General Benson graduated from Delaware’s William Penn High School, c/o 1985, Wilmington University, and the University of Delaware, as well as the resident Army War College. Five generations of the Benson family have attended Delaware State University.
Major General Benson is grateful for the opportunity to provide words of encouragement to the candidates for the University’s doctoral and master’s program. “There are no easy roads or shortcuts to your dreams. They are realized because you get up every day, put both feet on the floor, know exactly what you want to do, and believe those dreams still matter. When that happens—and God happens—anything is possible,” said Major General Benson.
The University will also award its first-ever associate degree to Early College School graduates, enabled by the Wesley Acquisition of 2021— the first time a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) has ever acquired another institution of higher learning. Celebrating its tenth year as a subsidiary of the University, the Early College School serves 600 seventh through twelfth graders throughout the State of Delaware, all of whom can earn up to 60 college credits before they are ever admitted to a college or University. More than 67% of our Early College students enroll at the University upon graduation.
Noting both the University’s recent R2 Carnegie classification as a “very high research activity” institution and its expanded growth trajectory, President Allen remarked upon the importance of graduation for this year’s class: “Having bolstered our academic offering by consolidating our STEM and Agriculture Colleges, taking on best-in-class health care offerings through the Wesley acquisition, and,—aided by significant help from the legislature—creating a full-tuition scholarship for incoming Delaware residents, we are helping change students’ life trajectories for themselves, their families, and their communities.” Dr. Allen continued, “Not only will they graduate, but nearly 90% will find themselves in their chosen field of study or graduate school right after they walk off stage. That’s what makes this place so special.”