Fort Valley State University is tapping into excellence for its spring commencement, announcing that the Honorable Verda M. Colvin, J.D., Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. The moment brings both prestige and purpose to the HBCU stage, as one of Georgia’s top judicial leaders prepares to address the next generation of changemakers.
Appointed in 2021, Justice Colvin has built a reputation as a trailblazer and barrier-breaker, making history while shaping decisions at the highest level. Her presence at Fort Valley State University reflects a deeper mission—empowering graduates to step boldly into their futures with resilience, intention, and impact.
“We are honored to welcome Justice Colvin to Fort Valley State University for this year’s Spring Commencement ceremony,” said President Paul Jones, Ph.D. “Her career, marked by excellence, service, and historic achievement, will serve as an inspiration to graduating students preparing to enter their respective fields.”
Before her appointment to the state’s highest court, Colvin served on the Georgia Court of Appeals beginning in 2020, also by appointment of Governor Brian Kemp. Her distinguished judicial résumé includes six years as a superior court judge in the Macon Judicial Circuit, where she played a key role in advancing accountability courts and other judicial initiatives across the state.
Colvin’s legal career spans the breadth of Georgia. She began as an assistant solicitor in Athens-Clarke County, where she discovered her passion for trial work. She later served as an assistant district attorney in Clayton County and as an assistant United States attorney in the Middle District of Georgia, prosecuting a wide range of cases from drug trafficking to white-collar crime.
A native of Atlanta, Colvin has remained deeply connected to the community that shaped her. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Sweet Briar College in Virginia before returning to Georgia to receive her Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law.
Beyond the bench, Colvin is widely recognized for her commitment to service and leadership. She has contributed to numerous boards and committees, including the Judicial Qualifications Commission, and currently serves as chair of the Access to Justice Committee for the Supreme Court of Georgia. Her work has earned her a host of honors, reflecting both her legal excellence and her dedication to expanding access and equity within the justice system.
The Fort Valley State University 2026 Spring Commencement ceremony is set to take place on May 9 at 9:30 a.m., marking a significant moment not only for graduating students but also for President Paul Jones, as it will be his final commencement before retiring this summer.
