A Berry College alumnus who went on to serve in the Navy and eventually became a university president will be the speaker for commencement on May 4 at Valhalla stadium.

Berry will celebrate the graduation of 475 undergraduates beginning at 9 a.m., weather permitting. The gates open at 8 a.m. and earlier at 7:30 a.m. for those who need special assistance. There are currently lane closures on Highway 27. To accommodate these closures, guests should plan to arrive through the back entrance at 221 Legacy Drive, NW.

Commencement speaker Alexander W. Whitaker is currently president of King University in Tennessee. Previously he served as Berry’s chief of staff and board secretary, for which he was granted emeritus status in 2016. He is the only Berry College alumnus to serve as a four-year college president.

Before beginning his higher-education career at Berry, he had a 25-year active-duty Navy career, mostly as a judge advocate. A designated international law specialist, he also had extensive criminal and civil litigation experience. He retired in 2007 as a captain from command of the Navy’s Southeast legal services command. His numerous awards include two Legions of Merit and four Meritorious Service Medals.

In addition to his Berry B.A. in political science, he earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia, an LL.M. in international law from Georgetown University, a Th.M. from Duke University and an M.A. in religion from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry. A native Roman, he is also vice chair of the Darlington School board of trustees.

Berry graduate students will receive their degrees at a commencement ceremony May 3 at the Berry College Chapel.