Legendary Insights
Hollywood Icon Jasmine Guy to Speak at Ohio Wesleyan's 2025 Commencement, Baccalaureate Ceremonies
DELAWARE, Ohio – Dancer, actor, author, director, and the winner of six NAACP Image Awards, Jasmine Guy will return to Ohio Wesleyan University to participate in a conversation during the Class of 2025's May 9 baccalaureate and present the keynote address at their May 10 commencement.
During her visit, Guy also will receive an honorary OWU Doctor of Fine Arts degree, Ohio Wesleyan's highest honor. The university presents honorary doctorates to individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their fields and made significant contributions to the betterment of the world.
Ohio Wesleyan President Matt vandenBerg said Guy will inspire Ohio Wesleyan's new graduates and their families with the breadth and depth of her experiences, accomplishments, and insights.
"Jasmine Guy is more than an icon; she's a force," said vandenBerg, Ed.D. "Her career embodies the very spirit we encourage our students to cultivate in themselves: boldness, ingenuity, and the courage to reshape the world for the better. At Ohio Wesleyan, we believe in leading with our values and in the power of art to transform society. Jasmine Guy's work exemplifies these beliefs, and we are excited for her to share her wisdom with our graduates."
Guy began her career as a dancer for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and is well-known for her role as Whitley Gilbert on NBC-TV's "A Different World," which aired for six seasons between 1987 and 1993. Guy remains an in-demand performer, currently appearing in Tracy Oliver's "Harlem" comedy series on Amazon Prime and earning the 2024 Emmy Award as Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her portrayal of Barbara Baldwin in "Chronicles of Jessica Wu."
Guy first visited Ohio Wesleyan in 2023, when she was the featured speaker at Ohio Wesleyan's inaugural Melvin Van Peebles Symposium, where she urged the young creatives in the audience to "support your gifts with information, knowledge, and technique."
Her long list of television credits includes NBC's "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," Showtime's "Dead Like Me," and the CBS miniseries "Queen" and "Stompin' at the Savoy." Her film roles include the Oscar-nominated short film "My Nephew Emmett," Spike Lee's "School Daze," and Eddie Murphy's "Harlem Nights" and "Diamond Men," and her Broadway performances range from The Alvin Ailey Repertory Company to "Grease," "The Wiz," and "Chicago."
Guy also wrote the 2005 book "Afeni Shakur: Evolution of a Revolutionary." Described as "a powerful testament to the human spirit and the perseverance of the African American people," the memoir examines the life of Shakur, mother of rapper and actor Tupac Shakur, and "one of the most visible figures in both the hip-hop and Civil Rights movements."
In addition to Guy, Ohio Wesleyan senior Amara Carlson of Dublin, Ohio, will speak to her fellow graduates at OWU's 2025 commencement ceremony.
A Health & Human Kinetics major and Nutrition minor, Carlson was selected to provide reflections by a vote of her classmates. She said she looks forward to celebrating "the diverse and unique journey we've all experienced at OWU."
"Our class is a mix of first-generation students, legacy students, international students, athletes, and active members of campus organizations," said Carlson, a two-time women's lacrosse captain, member of the Delta Gamma Fraternity, and student-intern for both the OWU Connection and Alumni Engagement offices. "Our collective experiences have shaped us into a class that perseveres through adversity, celebrates our differences, and supports each other. … I look forward to celebrating the spirit of our class!"
Ohio Wesleyan's 2025 baccalaureate will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, May 9, in Gray Chapel inside University Hall, 61 S. Sandusky St., Delaware. The university's 181st commencement ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 10, and, weather permitting, will be held outdoors on the lawn in front of Merrick Hall, 65 S. Sandusky St., Delaware.
Both events will be streamed live and archived online at owu.edu/stream. Learn more at owu.edu/commencement.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.