JMU to recognize December 2025 graduates

James Madison University will hold winter commencement Saturday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. in the Atlantic Union Bank Center. 

Undergraduate degrees will be awarded to 805 students, and 190 students will receive graduate degrees. 

The largest number of undergraduate degrees will be in nursing, health sciences and psychology. Business administration, physician assistant studies, and accounting are the top three graduate programs. 

Marcus Jones, city manager of Charlotte, North Carolina, and a 1990 JMU alumnus, will be the guest speaker. Jones has more than 25 years of public service experience at the city and state level, including serving as city manager, assistant city manager and budget director for the City of Norfolk. He has been Charlotte’s city manager since October 2016. 

He also served as the deputy chief administrative officer for Richmond and the deputy secretary of finance for two Virginia governors. Jones has gained a strong reputation for his ability to negotiate complex financial and legislative issues across party lines. In fall 2024, he was the speaker for JMU's Common Good Conversations series, hosted by the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement. 

The commencement ceremony is a ticketed event. More information about December 2025 commencement is available on the commencement website.