Stedman Graham, chairman and CEO of S. Graham and Associates, will be speaking at the University of North Carolina School of Social Work’s graduation ceremony on May 13, 2023 at 1:00.
The chairman of the Chicago-based management and educational marketing consulting firm will speak to more than 130 social work masters and doctoral students and their friends and family, with an expected audience of more than 600 people.
“A small group of our students and faculty will have a chance to visit with Mr. Graham prior to the graduation to discuss his remarkable career and learn more about how his social work training has influenced his work,” Dean of the UNC School of Social Work Ramona Denby-Brinson said.
The process of choosing the speaker for the 102nd Annual Commencement was well thought and driven by the School of Social Work’s mission which is to advance equity, transform systems, and improve lives.
“Traditionally, the graduating class gives the school dean the honor of selecting the graduation speaker,” Dean Denby-Brinson said. “My recommendation that Mr. Graham be this year’s speaker was met with overwhelming enthusiasm.”
Mr. Graham’s history and qualifications were favored when it came to selecting a speaker for the School of Social Work’s graduation ceremony.
“Mr. Graham is known nationally for his work in leadership development. Like our graduating class, he holds a degree in social work and he developed an identity leadership model that is highly relevant to the work ahead for our graduates,” Denby-Brinson said. “We believe that his personal and professional journey will serve as an inspiration to our graduates.”
Stedman Graham holds training programs for various organizations worldwide. The topic at the focus of those programs is “Identity Leadership” which Graham believes is essential for the successful guidance of nonprofit and corporate organizations.
“We are pleased to have him as this year’s UNC School of Social Work graduation speaker,” Denby-Brinson said.
