Emory University’s 172nd commencement ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 8, and will mark Emory President Claire E. Sterk’s first Commencement as president.
Due to extremely congested traffic in the area, please plan to arrive no later than 8 a.m.
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Tretheway will deliver the keynote address. One of the foremost voices in contemporary poetry, Trethewey is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of English and Creative Writing and director of the Creative Program at Emory. She served two terms as the 19th Poet Laureate of the United States (2012-2014).
The event will take place on the Emory quadrangle for about 4,700 graduating students and their families. About 15,000 people are expected to attend.
Credentials: Show your media credentials/I.D. to access the media section located in the front row to the far left of the stage and clearly marked. Please call 404-727-6167 or email megan.mcrainey@emory.edu with your name, media outlet and contact information if you plan to cover the event.
Arrival and parking: Plan to arrive by 8 a.m. due to heavy traffic. Media parking for TV trucks is available on Fishburne Drive across from Glenn Memorial Church. All other media will need to show a credential to access parking in the Fishburne Deck.
Directions: From Clifton Road, turn onto Fishburne Drive by the Goizueta Business School (at the corner of Clifton and N. Decatur Road). At the third stop sign, go right for TV trucks. All other media: go left. Emory Police officers will be there to direct you. Campus Map.
Media seating: The reserved media section will be at the front to the far left of the stage. A stand and a riser will be available along the back of the quad for camera crews. University media relations staff will be in both locations to assist you and check credentials. A 12-port mult box with XLR connectors and mic or line level audiofeeds will be available.
Video photography: Video crews will be allowed to move around the quad until the procession begins at 9 a.m. Then they will need to remain in the designated media areas. Tripods will be allowed only in the designated media sections. One 4X8 press stand will be available for your use along the back of the quad, which will be located about 62 yards away from the main stage. Additional space on the ground at the back of the quad will be reserved as well.
Still photography: Photographers may approach the platform during the invocation, introduction of the speaker and during the first three minutes of the speech, then must move to the press section.