2023 Commencement Speaker Announcement – Congressman Maxwell A. Frost
CONGRESSMAN MAXWELL A. FROST
TO GIVE KEYNOTE ADDRESS
AT UDC 2023 COMMENCEMENT
Saturday, May 13, 2023,
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
April 13, 2023, Washington, DC—The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) will hold its 46th annual Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 13, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., in-person at the Walter Washington Convention Center. Besides providing the keynote speech, Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10) will have an honorary doctor of humane letters degree bestowed upon him by UDC President Ronald Mason Jr., J.D. The event is limited to graduating seniors and guests, along with faculty, administrators, and other invited community members. It is not open to the public. However, the ceremony also will be livestreamed for viewing by other students, family, friends, and the larger community who cannot attend.
As the first member of Generation Z (the generation born in the late 1990s or the early 21st century) to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives—and a person of Afro-Latino descent—Congressman Frost brings a fresh, progressive perspective to an institution formerly out of reach for young, working Black and Latino Americans. He was inspired to begin his advocacy work at 15 years old after the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary claimed the lives of 26 innocent people. From that moment on, he has dedicated his life to fighting against gun violence and empowering communities across Florida and the U.S. to get behind gun reform, a leadership role reinforced by his own brush with gun violence. Congressman Frost is being recognized for his courageous fight against gun violence and his advocacy to ensure and enhance the rights of and justice for minoritized and other marginalized citizens, helping to change laws and practices that deprive them of their rights. For a full bio on Congressman Frost, link here.
President Ronald Mason Jr., J.D., said, “Congressman Frost, the first Gen Z-er to join Congress, brings a much-needed voice to the highest government chambers on issues of social justice and the many forms of violence that threaten our society.” The Chief Academic Officer, Lawrence T. Potter Jr., Ph.D., said, “The honorary degree being awarded to Congressman Frost signifies that his outstanding leadership and advocacy on key societal issues such as gun violence, homophobia, and hate-crimes positioned him to make a deliberate run for Congress. His outreach and social activism to combat social injustices is a testament that Congressman Frost’s dedication and courage is a source of inspiration for the University’s graduates and the larger community.”
You do not need to register to view the UDC Commencement, which will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. on May 13. The link for the livestreamed ceremony will be posted on Friday and Saturday before the event.