Georgia State Senator Ed Harbison will deliver his insights on civic leadership and service to Columbus State University’s spring graduates on Friday, May 15, as the keynote speaker for the university’s spring commencement. Currently the longest-serving member of the state senate, Harbison will address all three of Columbus State’s spring graduation ceremonies, which are part of the university’s 131st commencement exercises.

Since 1992, Harbison has represented Columbus and parts of the Chattahoochee Valley that encompass Georgia’s 15th Senate district. His prominence and reputation in the Senate have led to leadership roles, such as chair of the State Institutions and Property Committee and ranking member of the Banking and Financial Institutions, Insurance and Labor, Interstate Cooperation, Reapportionment and Redistricting, and Ethics committees. He is also vice chair of the Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee and holds ex officio membership on the Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee. As a veteran, former U.S. Marine, and Purple Heart recipient, he has a strong record of advocating for military service members and their families.

Harbison works as a public relations and advertising consultant and has experience as a broadcast journalist. He previously shared his professional expertise as an advisory board member in CSU’s Department of Communication. Before being elected to the Senate, he served as the second vice president of the Muscogee County School Board and was a member of the Columbus Charter Review Commission. Additionally, he graduated from Leadership Columbus in 1990 and has served as an officer with the Georgia Association of Newscasters.

Born in Prattville, Alabama, and raised in Montgomery, Harbison graduated from the Career Academy School of Broadcasting and attended Troy State University at Fort Benning. He has received numerous awards for news broadcasting and community service, including the National Infantry Association’s Order of Saint Maurice for his distinguished support of the Infantry, as well as induction into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame for his support of Georgia’s veterans.

He is often called the “dean” of the state senate in recognition of his 34 years of elected service. Harbison announced in March 2026 that he will retire from his elected position at the end of this term.

Graduation information

Six graduation-related events are scheduled for May 14 and 15, culminating in three commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 15, for all the university’s spring graduates.

Thursday, May 14

• 10:30 a.m., School of Nursing Pinning Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]
• 1 p.m., ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, University Hall [map]
• 6 p.m., Graduate Hooding Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]

Friday, May 15

• 9 a.m., College of the Arts and D. Abbott Turner College of Business & Technology Commencement Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]
• 12:30 p.m., College of Letters & Sciences Commencement Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]
• 4 p.m., College of Education & Health Professions Commencement Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]

All commencement events are open to the public and do not require tickets. Graduates may bring as many guests as they wish. Guests attending in person are encouraged to review the Lumpkin Center’s rules and regulations, including the university’s clear-bag and bag-check policies and the items restricted in the Lumpkin Center.

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

The Graduate Hooding Ceremony on Thursday and all Friday Commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed on the Graduation website, which also offers additional information for graduates and their guests attending the events.

Additional information on these and other graduation-related topics is available on the university’s Graduation webpage.