Elizabeth City, N.C. — Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) is focused on transformation for its 181st Commencement Ceremony, announcing Damola Adamolekun as the keynote speaker. Held Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in the R.L. Vaughan Center, the celebration will honor a projected winter graduating class of 228 students and fuse the academic achievements with Adamolekun’s dynamic, high-energy delivery and transformative insights on leadership, innovation, and perseverance.
At just 36 years old, Adamolekun is the Chief Executive Officer of Red Lobster, the world’s largest seafood restaurant company, where he leads the iconic brand’s transformation for a new generation. He is the youngest CEO in Red Lobster’s history and was previously the youngest CEO in the history of P.F. Chang’s, where he steered the company through the pandemic and revitalized one of America’s most beloved Asian dining brands.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential executives of his generation, Adamolekun was named to Fortune’s “100 Most Powerful People in Business” and has been featured by The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, CNBC, CNN, Bloomberg, and the Harvard Business Review, among others.
Born in Nigeria and raised across Africa, Europe, and the United States, Adamolekun’s story is one of grit, global perspective, and relentless pursuit of excellence. His journey—from Ivy League football fields to Wall Street trading floors to the C-suites of billion-dollar companies—fuels his belief that success is built on discipline, action, and the habit of excellence.
A graduate of Brown University, where he studied Economics and Political Science and played on the Ivy League Champion football team, Adamolekun also earned his MBA from Harvard Business School.
As ECSU graduates prepare to close one chapter and begin the next, Damola Adamolekun will share his message of purpose, discipline, and transformation challenging them to think bigger, move faster, and lead with clarity and conviction.
Additional information about the graduation ceremony, including accommodations and accessibility options, is available here.
ECSU to Hold 181st Commencement Ceremony for Class of 2025
WHAT:
181st Commencement Ceremony
WHEN & WHERE:
Commencement Ceremony: Saturday, Dec. 13 at 9 a.m. | R. L. Vaughan Center
About Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City State University provides students with a high-quality, affordable education. A constituent member of the University of North Carolina System, ECSU develops courageous, resilient, and empowered leaders through excellent student-centered, experiential learning. ECSU offers baccalaureate, professional, and master’s degrees across a wide variety of disciplines. Come to Discover. Leave to Conquer. Visit www.ecsu.edu.