The College of Education and Human Development at Temple University is honored to announce Adjoa B. Asamoah, '98, '01, as the keynote speaker, Emily Davis '23, as the undergraduate speaker and Whitney Skippings, '23 as the graduate speaker for this year's Graduation ceremony on Friday, May 12, 2023, 9:30 a.m. at The Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad St.
Asamoah, the keynote speaker and two-time Temple University graduate, is a lifelong racial equity champion, multiple award-winning social impact strategist, highly sought-after political power player, and history-making policy architect. Asamoah wears multiple hats and debunks the outdated myth—you can't master multiple trades. She conceptualized, developed the legislative and social impact strategies for, and leads the groundbreaking CROWN Act movement, in addition to having spearheaded the legislative victory to codify the nation's first Office on African American Affairs.
A former adjunct professor who has taught African American studies and psychology, Asamoah leverages cultural intelligence and behavioral insights to create meaningful systems change and develop winning campaigns. She was entrusted to serve as the Biden-Harris Campaign's National Advisor for Black Engagement and was then tapped to serve as the Black Engagement Director for the historic 59th Presidential Inaugural Committee.
"When I graduated for the second time, I never imagined I would return to my beloved alma mater years later as the graduation speaker. It's truly an honor of a lifetime. So much of who I am and what I have accomplished professionally is a direct result of my time spent on campus. The Temple University community remains like a global family to me, and I look forward to returning home to the nest," said Asamoah.
A trusted advisor to local, state and federal officials, she currently serves as Senior Advisor for Racial Equity to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary. She previously served as senior policy advisor in the Executive Office of DC's mayor and is known for developing both high-profile and grassroots stakeholder coalitions to support policy change.
"We are honored to have Adjoa serve as our graduation speaker," said James Earl Davis, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. "Adjoa has such a fascinating story. She is a Temple legacy (second generation Temple grad). She has two degrees from Temple. And, she has committed her life to being a change agent," added Davis.
Emily Davis is a first-generation college student from Marlton, NJ. She is expected to graduate this May with her bachelor of science in education degree in early childhood education. Davis will continue her education next year as a student in the special education accelerated master's degree program. During her undergraduate career, she was an active member of the Kappa Delta Pi Honors Society in Education, the Delta Zeta Delta Tau Sorority and the Future Educators of Temple University. Davis aspires to be an advocate for the arts and special education programs within public education and hopes to earn her doctorate degree in the future.
Skippings, from Silver Spring, Maryland, is expected to graduate this May with a master's degree in counseling psychology. She holds a bachelor's degree in international studies and philosophy from Spelman College, as well as a master's degree in security studies from Georgetown University. After several years working on foreign policy issues in Washington D.C. and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, she decided to pivot from the policy world to have a more direct impact on immigrant mental health and wellbeing. She specifically wants to work with Afro-Caribbean immigrants, such as those from The Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos, where her family is from.
For more information about the College of Education and Human Development, visit education.temple.edu.