Dalton State College

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Dalton State announces commencement speakers

Dalton, GA (05/12/2026) — Dalton State College will celebrate its spring 2026 graduates during two commencement ceremonies Tuesday, May 19, at the Dalton Convention Center.

The 3:30 p.m. ceremony will honor graduates of the School of Education and the School of Health Professions, while the 7 p.m. ceremony will recognize graduates of the School of Arts and Sciences and the Wright School of Business. Chris Green, president of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, will deliver the keynote address at both ceremonies.

Each ceremony will also feature a student speaker. Kailey Boulware, who is earning a bachelor's degree in social work, will speak at the 3:30 p.m. ceremony. Cameron West, who is earning a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership, will speak at the 7 p.m. ceremony.

Green was appointed president of the Georgia Student Finance Commission in April 2025 to lead the agency in the administration of student financial aid programs, ensuring access to higher education for Georgians. The nationally recognized HOPE scholarship program has provided 2.3 million students with more than $17 billion in awards since its inception in 1993.

A native of Athens, Georgia, Green previously served as senior vice president of external affairs at the Georgia Student Finance Commission, where he also served as team coordinator for GEORGIA MATCH, one of the nation's largest direct admissions programs, which aims to increase college access and student success across Georgia. Green has served the State of Georgia for more than a decade in various roles, including director of economic development at the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and director of government relations at Georgia State University. Green began his career in public service at the Georgia Department of Agriculture, where he served as deputy policy director and special assistant to the Commissioner of Agriculture.

Green holds a Public Manager Certificate from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government and earned a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Georgia.

Tickets are required for attendance at both ceremonies. The college will post links to a live video feed of the ceremonies on its Facebook page.

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Dalton State College will celebrate its spring 2026 graduates during two commencement ceremonies Tuesday, May 19, at the Dalton Convention Center. The 3:30 p.m. ceremony will honor graduates of the School of Education and the School of Health Professions, while the 7 p.m. ceremony will recognize graduates of the School of Arts and Sciences and the Wright School of Business. Chris Green, president of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, will deliver the keynote address at both ceremonies.

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