Cleveland Mayor Billy Nowell will deliver the Commencement Address during the Spring 2025 graduation ceremonies.CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University will celebrate its Spring 2025 Commencement on Friday, May 9 at the Walter Sillers Coliseum, recognizing the achievements of graduates from across the university’s three academic colleges.
Two ceremonies will be held to accommodate graduates and their guests:
10:00 a.m. – Graduate students from the College of Business and Aviation, College of Education, Arts and Humanities, and College of Nursing, Health and Sciences (Master’s, Education Specialist, and Doctoral degrees), as well as undergraduate students in the College of Nursing, Health and Sciences.
2:00 p.m. – Undergraduate students in the College of Business and Aviation and the College of Education, Arts and Humanities.
Delta State alumnus and current Mayor of Cleveland, Billy Nowell, will deliver the commencement address. Born and raised in Cleveland, Nowell graduated from Delta State in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business. As a student, he served as Vice President of the Student Government Association and president of his fraternity. A longtime supporter of the university, Nowell has served on the DSU Foundation Board of Directors, Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the Statesmen Athletics Booster Club. In 2009, he was named Delta State Alumnus of the Year. He has held public office in Cleveland since 2001 and is currently serving his fourth term as Mayor. Nowell also serves as President of the Mississippi Municipal League.
As part of the ceremony, Delta State University will also confer honorary doctoral degrees—a tradition in higher education that recognizes individuals who have made significant and meritorious contributions to society. This spring, the university will honor two exceptional individuals whose lives exemplify service, leadership, and impact. David R. Bowen, former U.S. Congressman for Mississippi’s Second District, will receive an honorary degree in recognition of his decades of public service and educational leadership. A native of Houston and longtime resident of Cleveland, Bowen is a graduate of Cleveland High School, Harvard University, and the University of Oxford. His distinguished career includes teaching at Millsaps College and serving in various public service roles prior to his election to Congress.
Wheeler Parker, Jr., a native of Schlater, will also be recognized with an honorary degree. As the last living eyewitness to the kidnapping of Emmett Till, Parker has devoted his life to preserving history and advocating for justice. He graduated from Moler Barber College and devoted 55 years to being a barber. He attended Moraine Valley Community College, C. H. Mason Theological Seminary, Global University, the Art Institute of Chicago, and he graduated from the School of Modern Photography. A U.S. Army veteran, ordained minister, and community leader, he is a nationally respected speaker and a tireless voice for civil rights and historical truth.
“Commencement is a time of celebration and reflection,” said Dr. Daniel J. Ennis, President of Delta State University. “We are honored to welcome Mayor Nowell as our speaker and to recognize two outstanding individuals, Congressman Bowen and Reverend Parker, whose lives reflect the values of leadership, service, and justice.”
The ceremonies are open to the public and will also be streamed live on Delta State University’s website.
