LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA – APRIL 14, 2026 – Lincoln University was looking forward to welcoming Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II as this year’s commencement speaker; however, due to a recent change in his schedule, he is no longer able to join us for this year’s ceremony.
The university extends its sincere appreciation to Rev. Dr. Barber, an honorary degree recipient of Lincoln University, for his willingness to participate in this milestone celebration. His leadership and enduring impact continue to inspire the Lincoln community, and we look forward to welcoming him to campus in the future.
Lincoln University is pleased to announce that Dr. Steve Perry, also an honorary degree recipient of the university, will serve as the commencement speaker at the 167th Commencement on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 11:00am at the Niara Sudarkasa International Cultural Center Pavilion.
The university looks forward to celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2026 with Dr. Perry and the entire Lincoln community.
Dr. Steve Perry - Commencement Speaker
Dr. Steve Perry is an internationally recognized educator, author, and founder of Capital Preparatory Schools, a network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to expanding access and opportunity for underserved students. Born into poverty, Dr. Perry’s life and work reflect his belief that success is determined not by where you start, but by where you finish.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Perry has become a leading voice on education reform, equity, and school leadership. As the founder of Capital Preparatory Schools, he has built a model focused on delivering strong academic outcomes for predominantly low-income, first-generation students, including a track record of 100% college acceptance—setting a standard that continues across the network.
Dr. Perry is also a sought-after speaker who has addressed audiences at major conferences, universities, and organizations nationwide. Known for his candid and direct approach, he challenges leaders to rethink how systems serve children and families while offering practical, results-driven solutions.
Through his work in education and public engagement, Dr. Perry continues to impact communities.
Widely respected for his dynamic voice and commitment to student success, Dr. Perry brings a powerful message of leadership, resilience, and purpose that aligns with Lincoln University, Pennsylvania's mission and values.
The Honorable Andrew Dinniman - Honorary Degree Recipient
Andy Dinniman has been a leader for communities, families, and taxpayers throughout more than 45 years of public service in Pennsylvania. After a successful career as state Senator of Pennsylvania's 19th District, Chester County Commissioner, School Board Member, and a professor at West Chester University, Andy retired. He now manages the Education PAC, an organization dedicated to providing equitable opportunities in the changing education landscape. Dr. Renosi Mokate - Honorary Degree Recipient
She is a former Executive Director of the World Bank Group, where she represented Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa. Mokate also served as the Chairperson of the Audit Committee as well as a member of various other committees.
Dr. A. Wade Boykin - Honorary Degree Recipient (Posthumously)
Dr. Boykin was a professor and director of the graduate program in the Department of Psychology at Howard University, where he also served as executive director of the Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed At Risk (CRESPAR), now titled the Capstone Institute. A cognitive psychologist by training, Dr. Boykin brought his training in empirical research and his understanding of the role of culture in human functioning to the study of the education of Black youth.
In his triple quandary framework, Dr. Boykin articulated three psychosocial contexts that Black people in the United States must negotiate—mainstream values, the values of their own Black communities, and the experience of being minoritized—contexts that continue to be important in studying Black and other minoritized youth. In addition to providing a cogent theory articulating the lived experiences of African Americans, this framework also acknowledged the importance of bringing culture into the psychological study of Blacks in the United States.
Dr. Boykin’s career also highlighted the importance of supporting theory with robust empirical investigations, based on the assumption that strong empirical evidence would lead to greater understanding of the psychology of African Americans. This perspective and the numerous articles that he published place him in the vanguard of Black psychologists in the nation. He served on APA President, Melba Vasquez’ Presidential Task Force, which authored the report entitled “Ethnic and Racial Disparities in Education: Psychology’s Contributions to Understanding and Reducing Disparities,” and was also a member of the U.S. President’s National Mathematics Advisory Panel, among many other service contributions. Dr. Boykin is an elected member of the National Academy of Education.
Dr. Sibusiso Vil-Nkomo - Honorary Degree Recipient
Dr. Sibusiso Vil-Nkomo is the Interim Director of the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Prof Vil- Nkomo is the co-founder and chairperson of the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) a leading South African Think Tank. The MISTRA was ranked as having had a global impact - placed as one of the Top 10 Best New Think Tanks Globally, according to the 2013 Global Go-To Think Tanks Report produced by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the University of Pennsylvania (TTCSP). MISTRA continues to attract leading national and global thinkers.
In 1994, Prof. Sibusiso Vil-Nkomo was appointed by President Nelson Mandela to serve in the first democratic government as the Public Service Commissioner. By then, he had already been part of the bi-laterals and the Multi-Party negotiations that ushered democracy into our country. His name is inscribed in the Hall of Fame among notable alumni at Lincoln University like Langston Hughes, Thurgood Marshall, Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and others.
The Sibusiso Vil-Nkomo Annual Lecture is delivered in his honor at the South African Association for Public Administration and Management. He currently serves on the Board of Advisors of the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy, and Administration at the University of Delaware.
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