Linfield College will celebrate the accomplishments of 610 graduates during commencement exercises Sunday, May 26, at 10 a.m. in the Oak Grove at Linfield.
Associate Justice Adrienne Nelson, the first African-American judge appointed to Oregon’s Supreme Court, will deliver the commencement address to the Linfield Class of 2019. Pastor J.W. Matt Hennessee, senior servant for the Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church in Portland, will present the baccalaureate address Saturday, May 25, at 5 p.m. in the Ted Wilson Gymnasium, located in the Health, Human Performance and Athletics Building at Linfield.
Commencement speaker
Associate Justice Adrienne Nelson is the first African-American judge appointed to Oregon’s Supreme Court. Prior to her Supreme Court appointment in 2018, she served 12 years as a Multnomah County Circuit judge. She holds degrees from the University of Arkansas (English and criminal justice) and the University of Texas Law School. Nelson currently serves on the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Public Education and is the Oregon delegate to the ABA House of Delegates.
Baccalaureate speaker
Pastor J.W. Matt Hennessee is senior servant for the Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church in Portland. He has served in a variety of leadership capacities in public administration, private business, non-profit boards and commissions. He is the convener of the Inter-Faith Peace & Action Collaborative aimed at building bridges between law enforcement and black and brown communities. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Oberlin College and a master’s of divinity at Golden Gate Theological Seminary.
Commencement ceremony guests are encouraged to dress for unpredictable spring weather. For more information, call 503-883-2408 or visit www.linfield.edu/commencement.
