The Honorable Joyce A. Barr will deliver the greater Washington, D.C., area spring commencement address on Sunday, May 17. More than 425 students will graduate from the more than 45 graduate degree and certificate programs in the D.C. area and online.  
 
Barr has been a professor of practice with the School of Public and International Affairs since 2018. A retired career Foreign Service officer, her last appointment was as assistant secretary for Administration at the U.S. Department of State. Earlier, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Namibia. 

She was inducted into the National Defense University Hall of Fame and is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. She serves on the boards of the American Academy of Diplomacy, the American Foreign Service Protective Association, the MASY Group, and Pacific Lutheran University.

Prior to her Namibian assignment, Barr was posted to U.S. embassies in Sweden, Hungary, Kenya, Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Malaysia. She held senior leadership positions at National Defense University and became the first interim chancellor of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, now Eisenhower School.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University, a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University, and a Master of Science in national resource strategy from National Defense University. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Pacific Lutheran University. Her awards and honors include the Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

“We are honored to welcome Ambassador Barr as this year’s keynote speaker,” said Barbara Hoopes, associate dean of the Graduate School in the greater Washington, D.C., area. “Her distinguished career in diplomacy and public service embodies the spirit of Ut Prosim and exemplifies the leadership and global perspective we strive to instill in our graduates as they begin their next chapters.” 
 
This year’s graduating class for D.C. area and online programs include: 

  • 160 graduates from the College of Engineering, including 105 earning a Master of Engineering in computer engineering or computer science and applications
  • 114 graduates from the Pamplin College of Business, including 67 students earning a Master of Information Technology
  • 38 graduates from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
  • 19 graduates from the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design
  • 15 graduates from the College of Natural Resources and Environment
  • 80 students have earned a graduate certificate

Student commencement speakers will include Pranay Dhalwani '23 and Reeba Khan '20. Khan, from Springfield, Virginia, earned her bachelor's degree in computer science and will receive a Master of Information Technology. Dhalwani, from Lima, Peru, received his bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering with minors in computer science and mathematics and will be receiving a Master of Engineering in computer science and applications. 

The D.C. area ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax, with check-in beginning at 11:15 a.m. The ceremony will be livestreamed and available to watch on-demand. More information and details on the D.C. area commencement ceremony can be found online.

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