Tuskegee University, a beacon of education and empowerment located in Tuskegee, Alabama, has an enduring history and a significant role in shaping future leaders. However, the criteria and processes involved in the selection of individuals for awarding honorary degrees and those chosen as convocation speakers remain opaque to the campus community and the broader public.

Therefore, we call upon administration for transparency in their decision-making regarding convocation speakers as well as honorary doctorate degree recipients. This includes establishing clear, publicly accessible criteria for selection and including student and faculty representation in these deliberations. Our desire is that honorees reflect Tuskegee’s founding mission of administering education to the marginalized and ongoing commitment to social justice, equity, and community empowerment. We further urge the administration to engage in open dialogue with the campus community when such decisions are made, with the goal of preserving trust.