Former Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Andrew Gillum Tapped as Clark Atlanta University 2019 Commencement Speaker

04/22/2019

ATLANTA, GA – April 22, 2019 – Clark Atlanta University is pleased to announce that former Tallahassee Mayor and Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum will be the speaker at Commencement, taking place at CAU Panther Stadium, May 20, 2019.

A champion for everyday people, Andrew Gillum inspired millions across Florida and the nation in 2018, surging past four better-funded primary candidates to a history-making victory as the Florida Democratic Party's first African-American nominee for governor.

A lifelong public servant, Andrew Gillum is recognized across Florida and the nation as a bold and inspirational leader. The former Mayor of Tallahassee and 2018 Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Gillum brought Floridians together in pursuit of fundamental human rights — the right to a well-paying job; the right to a good education; the right to quality health care; the right not to live in fear of gun violence in our schools or our streets.

As a City Commissioner, he championed restorative justice programs to rehabilitate and educate offenders. He also created public-private partnerships to secure funding for computers and internet access for middle school students. As Mayor, Gillum spearheaded the construction of a 20-megawatt solar farm, giving thousands of Tallahassee residents the ability to rely on clean, renewable energy for the first time. Recognizing Mayor Gillum’s commitment to innovation and technology, President Obama named Tallahassee one of just 50 TechHire cities in the nation.

Following his historic run for governor, Andrew Gillum was honored as one of the EBONY Power 100 and named a 2019 Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard Kennedy School. In January of 2019, Gillum joined CNN as a Political Commentator. Gillum resides in Tallahassee, Florida, with his wife, R. Jai, and their three children — Jackson, Caroline and Davis.

Commencement will take place Monday May 20, 2019 at CAU Panther Stadium. For more information, please visit www.cau.edu.

About Clark Atlanta University

Established in 1988 by the consolidation of Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869), Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is one of the Nation’s foremost research institutions, offering students from around the United States and several foreign countries the opportunity to engage in 38 exciting areas of study at bachelors, masters and doctoral levels. Located in the historic heart of Atlanta, one of the world's great international cities, CAU’s nearly 4,000 students enjoy access to academic and co-curricular experiences, from forensic debate, to on-air broadcasting, to cancer research with world-renowned investigators. From the arts to zoology, CAU combines nearly 300 years of tradition with a solid focus on academic excellence to produce leaders who will shape the future of the global community. To learn more about Clark Atlanta University, visit