Seminary of the Southwest announced recently that at the 73rd Commencement Exercises of Seminary of the Southwest, the commencement address will delivered by Dr. Willie James Jennings, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies at Yale Divinity School. In addition to giving the commencement address, Dr. Jennings will receive an honorary doctorate from the seminary.
It was also announced that Day Smith Pritchartt, former Executive Director of the Episcopal Evangelism Society (EES), will also be awarded an honorary doctorate. Pritchartt’s retirement from EES was announced last May.
“We are delighted to announce that Dr. Willie James Jennings will be the 2024 Commencement preacher,” said the Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, dean and president. “Honorary degrees will be awarded to Dr. Jennings and to Ms. Day Smith Prichartt. Both are long-time friends of the seminary and respected colleagues in their respective fields. Many Southwest students over the years have benefited from Dr. Jennings scholarship or EES support under Ms. Smith Pritchartt’s leadership. We look forward to celebrating them with the rest of the senior class.”
The Commencement Exercises will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd on May 22, 2024, at 10am. The event is open to the public and will be livestreamed to the seminary website and Facebook page.