Curtis Walker, a 2022 Columbus State University graduate and two-term Student Government Association president, will return to his alma mater on Friday, Dec. 12, as the featured speaker at each of the university’s three fall commencement ceremonies. The Columbus native and first-generation college student will share a message with graduates on resilience and timing.

Walker led the student body and advised university administration during a pivotal time, as Columbus State and universities across the country adapted to life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among his many achievements during his two terms as president from 2020-21 and 2021-22, he represented students at the state level and helped pass a resolution through the University System of Georgia’s Student Advisory Council to expand mental health funding and access. He also implemented wellness training for campus safety officers, served as a Residence Life community advisor and participated in the Servant Leadership Program.

By the time he completed his bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in political science, his leadership efforts had garnered him university honors including President of the Year (2022), the Servant Leadership Award (2022), the Ed Helton Servant Leadership Scholarship (2021) and New Organization Leader of the Year (2021). He was also inducted into the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. through CSU’s Theta Beta Chapter.

Walker is now pursuing a juris doctor degree at Mercer University School of Law, where he currently serves as chief of staff for the Southern Region of the Black Law Students Association. He is also a member of the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society and the William A. Bootle Chapter of the American Inns of Court, through which he engages with judges and attorneys to advance professionalism and ethics in the legal field. He anticipates graduating in May 2026.

As an undergraduate student, Walker worked for former Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson during her U.S. Senate campaign, volunteered with the Democratic Party of Georgia and served as a Finance Fellow for the Raphael Warnock for U.S. Senate campaign. More recently, he has gained experience in client advocacy, case strategy and civil litigation across several public and private practice legal settings in Columbus and Atlanta.

Since childhood, Walker and his family have been active members of Columbus’ Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church, which also sponsors the Scouting America Boy Scout troop through which he earned the Eagle Scout rank.

Graduation information

Four graduation-related events are scheduled for Dec. 11-12, culminating on Friday, Dec. 12, with three commencement ceremonies for all the university’s fall graduates—all located in the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]. They include:

Thursday, Dec. 11

• • 6:00 p.m., Graduate Hooding Ceremony

Friday, Dec. 12

• • 9:00 a.m., College of the Arts and D. Abbott Turner College of Business & Technology Commencement Ceremony
  • 12:30 p.m., College of Letters & Sciences Commencement Ceremony
  • 4:00 p.m., College of Education & Health Professions Commencement Ceremony

All commencement events are open to the public and do not require tickets. Graduates are not limited in the number of guests who can attend. Guests attending in person are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations of the Lumpkin Center, including the university’s clear-bag and bag-check policies, and items that are restricted in the Lumpkin Center. 

Free parking for the ceremonies is available throughout Main Campus, with limited accessible parking located in the parking lots nearest to the Lumpkin Center. Parking attendants will direct guests to available parking locations, and shuttles will also move through campus parking lots to assist guests with limited mobility.

Thursday’s Graduate Hooding Ceremony and Friday’s commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed from the Graduation website, which also provides additional information for graduates and their guests attending the events.