GW Commencement Celebrations 2021

University Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient

With nearly 40 years as a leader in the historical and cultural community, Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian, overseeing 19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, and many research and education centers. Mr. Bunch previously served as the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, one of the Smithsonian museums. A widely-published author on topics ranging from the Black military experience to diversity in museum management, he has held other influential museum roles in D.C., Los Angeles, and Chicago. Mr. Bunch served as a museum studies and history professor at GW from 1990 to 2000.

Honorary Degree Recipient

After co-founding software company Cysive in 1993 in the basement of his home, entrepreneur Nelson A. Carbonell, Jr., B.S. '85, grew the tech company to 500 employees and exceeded revenues of $50 million before taking the company public in 1999. He regularly shares his business strategy expertise on a variety of topics at universities, seminars and conferences, as well as with the press, industry, and financial analysts. Currently the president and CEO of consulting firm, Nelson Carbonell & Associates, Mr. Carbonell serves on a variety of boards and is the former chairman of the board of trustees at GW.