Marchell Adams David, Raleigh’s History Making City Manager Will Be the Keynote Speaker 

RALEIGH, NC— Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) will hold an in-person commencement ceremony on May 1, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. for the class of 2020 and 2021. This year’s ceremony will be particularly memorable as it will include a time of celebration for those students whose graduation was impacted by the pandemic. 

“Sometimes our plan is not God’s plan. For the class of 2020 to be invited to participate in this year’s commencement ceremony shows culture and compassion of Saint Augustine’s University,” said Bercario Bodie, who graduated from SAU in May 2020 and served as Senior Class President. “I am honored and excited to be a part of this HBCU legacy.”  

The SAU 2021 commencement ceremony will serve as the university’s 90th baccalaureate exercise in its 154-year history. The event will be held in the George Williams Athletic Complex. There will be one combined ceremony for both classes with Raleigh City Manager Marchell Adams David serving as the keynote speaker.  

Marchell Adams David is a native of Richmond County. A 1988 graduate of Richmond Senior High School, David attended college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for undergraduate and graduate studies. She began her local government career in 1993 with the City of Hamlet where she served for over 20 years – the last 13 years as city manager. David became the assistant city manager for the City of Raleigh in 2014 and now serves as the City Manager. She is the first female and the first African- American to serve in that capacity in North Carolina’s capital city.  

To maintain the health and safety of our community, the ceremonies will be socially distanced, and masks are mandatory. Safety protocols for intense cleaning will be implemented. For more information about the SAU 2021 commencement ceremony, visit https://www.st-aug.edu/commencement/

Update: Please see the digital copy of the 2021 Commencement Program here.