Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor and singer Leslie Odom Jr. is returning to Carnegie Mellon University.
And the 5,800 graduates of CMU’s class of 2019, including those receiving bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, will be in the room where it happens.
Odom, who is best known for playing Aaron Burr in the Broadway hit “Hamilton,” is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at his alma mater’s 122nd commencement ceremony on May 19.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the CMU College of Fine Arts in 2003 and will receive an honorary doctor of fine arts degree in May.
“Leslie’s award-winning acting and music has inspired millions and the CMU community is immensely proud of his success as an alumnus on Broadway, in the recording studio and as a writer,” CMU President Farnam Jahanian said. “His talent and perseverance set a great example for our graduates as they prepare to enter the next chapter in their lives, and we look forward to hearing Leslie’s words of wisdom in May.”
Class of 2019 student speaker Hamza Qureshi will share the stage with Odom. Qureshi is receiving his bachelor’s degree in architecture and human-computer interaction.
He’s also a member of the undergraduate student senate and School of Architecture student advisory council.
Darlene Clark Hine, a scholar of African-American history; David M. Kelley, founder of the global design and innovation company IDEO and Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, and television production designers John Shaffner and Joe Stewart will also receive honorary degrees.
Watch Odom and the rest of the commencement speakers online starting at 11 a.m. on May 19 here.
