198th Commencement Ceremony

Commencement Ceremony Live Stream

Pinning Ceremony Live Stream

Esteemed Commencement Speakers

Sen. Raphael Warnock
College of Business Adminstration and College of Education
College of Sciences and Technology

Sen. Raphael Warnock will speak at the College of Business Administration and College of Education ceremony on May 7 at 5 p.m., as well as, the College of Sciences and Technology ceremony on May 8 at 9 a.m. A native of Savannah, Reverend Warnock was elected to the U.S. Senate in January of 2021. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morehouse College, Atlanta, and attended Union Theological Seminary, N.Y., where he earned his Master of Philosophy, Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

For more than 15 years, he has served as Senior Pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the former pulpit of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Chatham County Board of Commissioners Chairman Chester A. Ellis
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Chatham County Board of Commisioners Chairman Chester A. Ellis will speak at the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences ceremony on Friday, May 7 at 9 a.m. A lifelong resident of Chatham County, Ellis earned a bachelor’s degree from Savannah State University (℅ ‘74). He also earned a master’s degree in Education and Leadership from Cambridge College, and completed additional doctoral coursework through Fielding Institute.

With over 30 years of leadership and executive management experience, Ellis’s career as a teacher, coach, and leader with the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System has focused on investing in the lives of others. He is the pastor of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church as well as president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, the Savannah Baptist Union, and the Savannah Emancipation Association.

 Graduate Resources for Review:

• Preparing for Graduation
• SSU's Historical Commencement Information

Commencement is a significant moment for graduates. It marks a pinnacle of achievement, and Savannah State University celebrates the occasion with formal pomp and circumstance. The commencement committee is working to create a positive solution for all involved, so that our student’s accomplishments can be celebrated with family and/or friends in attendance.

To comply with COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, a few accommodations are necessary: 

• Each student will be allowed to invite a maximum of five (5) guests. Tickets will be required.
• Students and guests will be required to wear masks during the entire commencement.
• Students and guests will be given specific instructions about entering and exiting the stadium.

If there are any concerns about your degree requirements, please contact your academic advisor. Questions related to diplomas or the application for graduation can be directed to the Office of the Registrar at graduation@savannahstate.edu.