Alumnus, The Reverend Dr. Leland Jones, Sr. will deliver the 2023 Commencement address for Atlanta Metropolitan State College

(Atlanta) Atlanta Metropolitan State College (AMSC) commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, May 5, at 10:00 a.m. in the AMSC gymnasium and will feature keynote speaker, Alumnus, The Reverend Dr. Leland Jones, Sr., (Class of 1988) Senior Pastor of the Greater New Light Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia

The Rev. Dr. Leland L. Jones, Sr. enjoys the benefits of being multi-talented. He works as a liaison within his community to bridge the gaps between social, business and government entities by engaging community partners that are striving toward positive change. He daily proceeds with the understanding that, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

For Dr. Jones, partnerships matter, he is a longtime member of the Concerned Black Clergy. Since 2010, he has worked as an active member of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) at the Morehouse School of Medicine Research Department where he currently serves as Advisory Board President. Since 2016 he has been a member of the Community Engagement Working Group in Genomics with the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

He currently serves as a Chaplain in the Army National Guard and since 2010 he's volunteered as a Chaplain with the Tuskegee University Sports Department. A cancer survivor, Dr. Jones is working in the community to raise awareness and to promote the advances in Cancer Research to Black and Brown communities.

Dr. Jones has published several articles concerning the church, community relations and leadership. His military career (Marines Corps and Army) has allowed him to travel to amazing locations and have inspired him to write the Carter Dunstin Mystery Series after having served/lived in Djibouti, Africa. He has also worked as an actor in commercials, television and film and he constantly encourages himself with the understanding that, "The best is yet to come."

Dr. Jones holds degrees and certifications from the Atlanta Junior College (AA - Class of '88), Georgia State University (BA), Luther Rice Seminary (MDiv), Columbia Southern University (MPA), Covington Theological Seminary (DMin) and the Interdenominational Theological Center. In 2002 he had the honor of attending the Universidad de la Habana in Havana, Cuba while studying to write, "The Survival of Santeria in Cuba and its Intertwined Relationship with Catholicism".

He is married to Norma Jean Jones and they have two daughters, one son, a "gaggle" of grandchildren and a dog named Ginger.

For more information about Commencement, please refer to the Commencement website, which will be updated frequently.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sheila Tenney | stenney@atlm.edu