A Journey Shared: President Bonner Delivers Commencement Address
Posted on May 8, 2026
On Friday, the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell Center was a sea of red, white and blue as the Class of 2026 joined the ranks of Jaguar alumni.
Four years ago, President Jo Bonner was just 126 days into his tenure, attending his first USA Commencement as president. At this event, he looked out at the soon-to-be graduates, among them, many students who started at South as he began his presidency, and urged them to continue to follow The USA Way.
In all, more than 2,000 degree candidates were recognized during two ceremonies.
“I can tell you, after four years of coming to this stage, the vantage point looks really good. It never gets old,” said Bonner, the Spring Commencement keynote speaker. “Today hits a bit different, as our graduates might say. We’ve been on a journey together, you and I.”
Bonner spent much of his career in public service, including six terms as a U.S. Congressman and serving as Gov. Kay Ivey’s chief of staff, before he became the University’s fourth president in 2022.
In his address, he reflected on South’s collective momentum over that time: growing enrollment, including the largest freshman class in history; a push to expand opportunities for military students and their families; the construction of the new Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine building; and the opening of the new Geri and Gordon Moulton Jaguar Marching Band Complex.
He credited the graduates with bringing a renewed "energy and drive" to South in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic.
The USA Way: A Life of Purpose
Bonner focused on The USA Way, an ethos of integrity, dedication and class that has become the University’s hallmark. The USA Way, he told graduates, can serve them as a north star.
“And as you leave here today, it does not stay here. That's the beauty of a North Star.
Whether you go down the street, across the state, or around the globe, it's right here,” Bonner said, pointing to his heart. “It will guide you through the ‘what's nexts’ and the ‘what-ifs’ that come with life.”
The Ultimate ‘Kodak Moment’
Before the degrees were conferred, Bonner paused to recognize families and faculty. He gave a special nod to Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Andi Kent, a two-time South graduate, calling her the "ultimate Jaguar" for her tireless commitment to the University.
Holding up his cell phone, Bonner called for “a Kodak moment” – something he’d told graduates earlier that their grandparents would know about. He asked everyone in the crowd to pull out their phones for what he called "the biggest group selfie that has ever been made on the University of South Alabama campus.” On the count of three, thousands of screens lit up to capture the moment, followed by a thunderous "Go Jags!"
As the ceremony concluded, Bonner thanked the cohort that defined his early presidency.
"I am a better person for having begun my tenure alongside you," he said. "You have left an indelible mark on this University."
