Dr. Reginald Williams Sr., principal at Memphis Overton High School, will speak at the University of Tennessee at Martin during two fall commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 14, in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.
Commencement times are 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and tickets are not required to attend either ceremony. Doors will open 45 minutes before each ceremony begins. Approximately 500 total graduates who completed degrees in summer and fall 2024 are expected to participate in the two ceremonies.
Williams is a 1985 UT Martin geosciences graduate and was elected twice as Student Government Association president while attending the university. He later earned a master’s degree from Trevecca University in Nashville and education specialist and education doctorate degrees from Union University in Jackson.
In addition to his academic degrees, Williams has earned multiple certifications, taught science and mathematics, and coached boys’ basketball for nine years at Bolton High School, where he led his teams to six district championships, three regional finals and two state tournaments in a sport he never played.
Williams has also been a successful high school principal for 19 years at traditional, private and charter schools. In 2022, Williams received the District 9 TSSAA Principal of the Year award, and he was twice a finalist for Principal of the Year in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. He was recognized in October by the Memphis City Council as an outstanding principal during National Principals Month.
The Memphis educator has written two books: “The 7 Keys to Success (A Comprehensive Guide for Urban School Development)” and “Strategies for Working With and Among Difficult People.” Williams has also led professional development workshops for educators, administrators and superintendents.
Dr. Yancy Freeman Sr., UT Martin chancellor, will preside over the two ceremonies and confer degrees. Dr. Bernie Savarese, UT System vice president for academic affairs, research and student success, will bring greetings and represent the UT System. A sign-language interpreter will provide services for the hearing-impaired during both commencement events.
The 10 a.m. ceremony will include undergraduate and graduate-degree candidates from the College of Agriculture and Applied Science, and the College of Business and Global Affairs. The 2 p.m. ceremony will also include undergraduate and graduate-degree candidates and feature graduates from the College of Education, Health and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences, and the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. Each ceremony will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/utmartin and www.youtube.com/utmartin. The ceremonies will be archived on YouTube for later viewing.
Contact the UT Martin Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615 for additional information.
PHOTO: UT Martin will hold fall commencement exercises during two in-person ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 14, in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Commencement times are 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and tickets are not required to attend either ceremony. Memphis Overton High School Principal Dr. Reginald Williams Sr. will be the commencement speaker.
