Elizabeth City, N.C.— Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) announced North Carolina Governor Josh Stein as the keynote speaker for its 182nd Commencement Ceremony. Held Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 9 a.m. in the Robert L. Vaughan Center, the celebration will honor a projected May graduating class of 255 students.
Governor Josh Stein is honored to serve as North Carolina’s 76th Governor. His faith teaches him that we are all called to make a difference, and his parents raised his brother, sister, and him to try to do what is right and grounded them in their shared values of freedom and opportunity. Governor Stein is committed to creating economic opportunity for every North Carolinian, investing in public schools, developing the workforce, and keeping people safe.
“We are honored to have Governor Stein address our graduating seniors, their families and our Viking community at our 182nd Commencement,” said Chancellor S. Keith Hargrove, Sr. “Governor Stein’s commitment to service, education, and workforce development will inspire our graduating seniors who are entering the workforce or choosing to further their education.”
During Governor Stein’s first year, the state announced a record-breaking 35,000 new jobs and $24 billion in new investments heading to North Carolina – results that contributed to North Carolina being named the 2025 Top State for Business and 2026 Top State for Workforce Development. Governor Stein’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships is laser-focused on strengthening North Carolina’s talent pipeline in high-demand industries and creating real job opportunities in every corner of the state.
Governor Stein spent eight years serving as North Carolina’s Attorney General, where he oversaw legal matters for the state. Prior to his tenure as Attorney General, Stein served in the North Carolina Senate and was a champion for public education, clean energy, and public safety. He also served as senior deputy attorney general for consumer protection in the North Carolina Department of Justice, protecting North Carolinians from scammers.
Governor Stein earned law and public policy degrees from Harvard University and graduated from Dartmouth College and Chapel Hill High School. As a young lawyer, Governor Stein worked with the Self-Help Credit Union to develop affordable single-family homes in Durham and with the North Carolina Minority Support Center to raise capital to invest in small businesses across North Carolina.
He and his wife Anna are members of Temple Beth Or in Raleigh. They are the proud parents of Sam, Adam, and Leah, who all attended North Carolina public schools, just like they did.
Additional information about the graduation ceremony, including accommodations and accessibility options, is available here.