NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) is pleased to announce that Juju Chang, an Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News Nightline, will be the keynote speaker for the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony on May 19 at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport at 10:15 a.m.
Chang is one of the most prominent Asian Americans in broadcast news, also serving as a regular contributor to Good Morning America and 20/20. With the rise of hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, Chang leveraged her platform to become a much-admired champion of social change. She made U.S. broadcast history by co-anchoring the 2021 ABC News Live special, Stop the Hate: The Rise in Violence Against Asian Americans alongside fellow Korean American co-anchor Eva Pilgrim and a cast of AAPI journalists, thought leaders, lawmakers, and celebrities.
Chang’s highly visible reporting on Asian hate is the culmination of decades of covering everything from natural disasters to terrorism, mass shootings, immigration, violence against the LGBTQIA+ community, and, most recently, the inequities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Known for her in-depth personal narratives and long-form storytelling, Chang has won acclaim for stories with underlying themes of civil and women’s rights and social justice. Internationally, Chang has been a powerful voice on gender-based violence, and she made a trip through Central Africa on the front lines against Boko Haram and #bringbackourgirls. She also traveled to Honduras for “Femicide: The Untold War,” an eye-opening look at rampant violence against women.
In addition to Chang’s address, the ceremony will include the presentation of an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to former state legislator and New Haven Mayor, Toni Harp.
Around 1,200 graduating seniors and almost 8,000 family and friends are expected to be in attendance for the exercise.
SCSU’s Graduate Ceremonies, which will be held on May 18 at the Lyman Center, will feature Alexander Clark, founder, and CEO of Technolutions, as the speaker, who will also receive the President’s Medal of Distinction.
For more information on SCSU’s Commencement 2023, including the full schedule of events visit www.southernct.edu/commencement.
###
Contact: Victoria Verderame
