Six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee will return to her alma mater to deliver the keynote address at the University of California Los Angeles College commencement ceremonies on June 12. The ceremonies will take place in Pauley Pavilion, with events scheduled for 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Joyner-Kersee said, “It is truly an honor to return to my alma mater, UCLA, and speak to such an extraordinary group of graduates. UCLA helped shape not only my athletic journey but also the woman I have become. To stand before the students and share a message of perseverance, purpose and belief reminds me that greatness begins with faith in yourself. Always believe that your dreams are possible and then go out and make them a reality.”
Widely recognized as one of the greatest athletes in history, Joyner-Kersee attended UCLA from 1980 to 1985 where she excelled in both track and field and women’s basketball. She earned multiple national titles in heptathlon while also ranking among top leaders on the basketball court for scoring, rebounding, and games played. In addition to her collegiate achievements, she was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
Her athletic career extended beyond college as she competed in four Olympic Games—Los Angeles (1984), Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992), and Atlanta (1996)—and won six medals: three golds, one silver, and two bronzes. She became the first woman to win back-to-back gold medals in heptathlon at Seoul (where she set a world record) and Barcelona.
Outside athletics, Joyner-Kersee has focused on philanthropy by founding the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation which supports youth development programs around East St. Louis, Illinois. She also co-founded Athletes for Hope alongside Muhammad Ali and Mia Hamm.
Miguel García-Garibay, senior dean of the UCLA College and dean of physical sciences said: “Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s legacy is defined not only by her unparalleled achievements in athletics but by her unwavering commitment to creating opportunity for others… Her return to campus as our commencement speaker is both a celebration of her remarkable accomplishments and a powerful moment for our graduates.”
The University of California Los Angeles operates within the University of California system according to its official website. The university has been associated with notable figures such as Nobel laureates and MacArthur Fellows according to its official website, highlighting its history of excellence across scholarship, arts, athletics according to its official website, while fostering diverse perspectives through academic programs according to its official website. Its campus spans over 419 acres supporting research activities according to its official website.
Joyner-Kersee was selected as commencement speaker by a committee including students, alumni, faculty members and administrators.
