West Virginia State University will host its spring commencement ceremony on May 9 at the D. Stephen and Diane H. Walker Convocation Center.
The event will recognize about 240 graduates, including the university’s first doctoral degree recipients. This marks a significant milestone for West Virginia State University as it expands its academic offerings.
Mike Taylor, a graduate of West Virginia State University and current vice president of team marketing and business operations for the National Basketball Association, will serve as the commencement speaker. Taylor helps drive profitability and long-term business growth across the NBA, Women’s National Basketball Association, and NBA G League. Before joining the NBA in 2016, he worked with Palace Sports & Entertainment overseeing group ticket sales for several venues and teams, held sales roles with both the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers, and began his career as a sales intern with the Chicago Bulls.
Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Virginia State University where he also captained the men’s basketball team to a conference championship while earning Division II All-American honors. He was inducted into the university’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 after playing professional basketball in Europe for three years.
The university holds commencement ceremonies each December and May.
