Commencement

Longwood announces Chief Justice Bernard Goodwyn as undergraduate commencement speaker

As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, a leader with deep ties to Virginia history will address the Longwood Class of 2026 at the undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 16th. Bernard Goodwyn’s tenure as chief justice of the Virginia Supreme Court concluded earlier this year, and he will serve as the University’s undergraduate commencement speaker. An acclaimed lawyer and jurist, Goodwyn was originally appointed to the Virginia Supreme Court in 2007 and served a four-year term as Chief Justice from 2022-26. The Virginia Supreme Court is among America’s oldest judicial bodies, with roots predating the Revolution.