Dr. Gloria McEwen Burgess to give speech during Alcorn’s 2022 Spring Commencement
An esteemed expert in leadership will deliver the commencement address to Alcorn State University's graduates.
Dr. Gloria J. McEwen Burgess, a Mississippi native, is the speaker for Alcorn's 2022 Spring Commencement Saturday, May 14, at Jack Spinks Stadium-Marino Casem Field at 9 a.m. Burgess' father, Earnest McEwen, will receive an honorary degree during the event. The ceremony will be live streamed on the University's website, YouTube, and Facebook pages.
Burgess is an internationally recognized expert in transformational leadership. She collaborates with nations, NGOs, communities, organizations, teams, and individuals as a strategic catalyst, trusted advisor, mentor, consultant, and executive coach. A best-selling author, she is also an inspirational speaker and educator who positions her work at the potent intersection of leadership, equity, and artistry.
President Dr. Felecia M. Nave believes that Burgess' speech will provide the graduates with leadership tools to flourish in their futures.
"Dr. Burgess' career path is remarkable," said Nave. "Her numerous accomplishments as a transformational leader make her an ideal choice to encourage our future Alcorn alumni. We are happy to have her provide an inspirational message to our graduates as they enter their various career fields and post-graduation ventures."
A dynamic, sought-after speaker, Dr. Burgess has presented on six continents in diverse contexts, including the South African Embassy, Kenyan Parliament, Paraguay's Office of the President, Sankofa Young Leaders of Color Institute – Ghana, International Coach Federation – Australasia, Microsoft, Google, Boeing, Starbucks, Delta Sigma Theta, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Women's Economic Forum. She masterfully integrates insightful commentary with personal engagement, weaving the arts into her inspiring keynotes and transformational learning experiences to foster courage, creativity, healing, humility, hope, and resilience—qualities we all yearn for and need as 21st-century citizens.
A former executive in information technology, education, human services, and philanthropy, Burgess has served as interim college president as well as program head, lead faculty, and faculty for Executive Leadership at the University of Washington, University of Southern California, Seattle University, and IEDC Bled School of Management in Slovenia. She also designs and leads Executive Leadership Institutes for clients in corporate, information technology, health care, government, civic, financial, faith-based, arts, and educational settings.
Burgess's best-selling books include Legacy Living, Flawless Leadership, and Dare to Wear Your Soul on the Outside. Her book Pass It On! is an inspiring, sumptuously illustrated visual biography about the intertwined legacies of her father, Earnest McEwen, Jr., and Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Nobel Laureate William Faulkner.
Visit www.gloriaburgess.com to learn more about Burgess' work.
