Commencement Speaker: Ray Lewis
Pro Hall of Famer Ray Lewis is widely considered to be one of the most dominant defensive players in the history of the NFL. He led the Baltimore Ravens to victory in Super Bowl XXXV (where he was named Super Bowl MVP) and again in Super Bowl XLVII, in what would be the final game of his career. Lewis is only the second player in NFL history to win both the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP awards in the same year (2000). His 13 Pro Bowl selections are tied for the fifth-most in the NFL by any player, and the most by a linebacker. He was named AP All-Pro ten times and NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice (2000 and 2003).
Today, Lewis is a New York Times best-selling author for his breakout memoir, "I Feel Like Going On." Ray Lewis has been bringing his unique brand of inspiration and motivation to some of the world’s biggest companies and organizations for years. He speaks from the heart with passion and authority, drawing from a wealth of experiences on and off the field. With audiences, Lewis shares his lessons of leadership, working through adversity, motivating those around you, and inspiring the best in people.
Throughout his life, Ray has been on an amazing journey through extremes — from the impossible odds of a challenging childhood to playing 17 noteworthy years in the National Football League, and his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2018.
Post-NFL, Ray has achieved great success, earning a Doctorate of Humanities while building a variety of business and philanthropic endeavors. Throughout his career, he has remained dedicated to making the world a better place.