Tracee Ellis Ross Set To Receive An Honorary Doctorate From Spelman

Tracee Ellis Ross is set to receive an honorary degree from Spelman University next month.

Last week, the renowned Atlanta HBCU announced that the university would be awarding the actress with an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts. The announcement emphasized the accomplishments of the 50-year-old during her career, which is comprised of five Emmy nominations and two Critics Choice Awards nominations, along with being the CEO and founder of PATTERN Beauty. Additionally, the university recognized her iconic role as Joan Carol Clayton, Esq. in the popular early 2000s sitcom “Girlfriends.”

“We are pleased to announce Pulitzer Prize-winning creator Nikole Hannah-Jones as keynote speaker for Spelman College’s 136th Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 21, 2023. Award-winning actress Trace Ellis Ross will receive an honorary degree,” the school tweeted.

Ross has been recognized as a positive force throughout her career for presenting African American culture in a highly-regarded manner. She played the role of Rainbow Johnson on the ABC sitcom “Black-ish” with Anthony Anderson, which depicted the lives of their family and four children as they faced the complexities of race in America. Although the show concluded in April 2022, it paved the way for two spin-offs: “mixed-ish” and “Grown-ish”.

Nevertheless, the ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 3 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Georgia. Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize recipient and the mastermind behind “The 1619 Project,” will also deliver the commencement speech.