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Commencement Speaker and Program of Events

Antioch College will host its 156th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, April 26. The Commencement ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. outside on the campus north of Antioch Hall. In the event of rain, the ceremony will take place in Kelly Hall, in Main Building.

Antioch College is pleased to announce that Mr. James (Jimmy) Williams will be addressing our graduating class.

James Williams, Jr. was born in Harlem Hospital on March 16,1952. He was raised in Newark, New Jersey during the “wild and crazy 60s” and is the eldest of five children.

After graduating from Weequahic High School (where he was a city track champion) in 1970, Mr. Williams attended Middlebury College in Vermont where he was one of a small number of students of color. Jimmy was an All-Conference football running back, and graduated in 1974 with a B.A. in American History and a minor in Italian Renaissance and Baroque Art.

For the past 32 years, Mr. Williams has served at five colleges and universities including Middlebury College, Brown University, Davidson College, Antioch College and St. Lawrence University, where he currently serves as the Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Multicultural Recruitment. In the field of college admissions Jimmy is regarded as an authority on the recruitment and retention of students of color and speaks regularly on the subject at conferences around the country.

Mr. Williams came to Antioch College in September 1989 as the Dean of Admissions. Under Mr. William’s leadership, in the admissions office, Antioch experienced great success in recruitment and retention of students. Mr. Williams served as Dean of Admissions until 1995, when he was reassigned to student services.

Between 1995 and 2007 Mr. Williams held several significant positions at Antioch including Director of Multicultural Affairs; College Affirmative Action Officer; Special Assistant to the President; Associate Dean of Students; Dean of Student Life; and Dean of Students.

PROGRAM OF EVENTS
Friday, April 25

Senior Projects in Video and Film
12:30 – 3:00 p.m. in the Little Art Theatre

Reception for Graduating Seniors and their Families
3:30 – 5:00 p.m. in the Herndon Gallery

Family Cookout for Graduating Seniors, their Families and the Faculty
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in front of the Antioch Union

Senior Party
10:00 p.m. in the Birch Space

Saturday, April 26

Commencement Exercises
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. outside on the north campus of Antioch Hall

Reception
An informal reception open to the public will follw the exercises in Herndon Gallery

Student of Color Graduation Celebration
2:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the Coretta Scott King Center

Complimentary coffee will be available on the steps of the Antioch Union on Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

No tickets are needed for the Commencement Exercises if they are held outside.

Other events for Commencement weekend are being planned. Upon arriving on campus you will receive details about events other than those included here and information regarding an indoor ceremony in the event of rain.