Virginia Attorney General to Deliver Keynote Address at Norfolk State University’s Spring Commencement
Jay Jones, Virginia’s 49th Attorney General, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address to nearly 600 graduating students at Norfolk State University’s Commencement Ceremony. The 116th Commencement is scheduled for 9 a.m., Saturday, May 9, 2026, at William “Dick” Price Stadium.
Jones is a lifelong Norfolk resident whose commitment to public service spans generations. His grandfather, Hilary H. Jones Sr. was a pioneering civil rights attorney and the first Black member of both the Norfolk School Board and the Virginia State Board of Education.
Jones’s father, Jerrauld C. Jones, was one of the few Virginians to serve in all three branches of state government — the General Assembly, the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Circuit Court. His mother, Lyn Simmons, is a judge on the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, after a long career as a prosecutor and as an attorney in private practice.
As the 49th Attorney General of Virginia, Jones’ primary mission is to ensure that the Office of the Attorney General serves the people and puts Virginians first. He has previously served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and as a litigator, leading key efforts to protect voting rights across the Commonwealth.
The graduation ceremony will also include two honorary degree recipients — Virginia Delegate Luke E. Torian, who serves in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing approximately 80,000 constituents in Prince William County. Torian currently serves as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, where he plays a central role in shaping Virginia’s budget and long-term financial priorities. He also serves as Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, where he works to advance policies that expand opportunity and equity across the Commonwealth. In addition, he chairs the Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission and serves on several key statewide bodies, including the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Board.
Former NSU Board of Visitors member BK Fulton also will receive an honorary degree. Fulton is a seasoned executive and media entrepreneur with a proven record of building and backing commercially successful creative ventures. His producing portfolio spans film, television, publishing and live theater. Additionally, his honors include being named a Sloan Fellow and a recipient of the prestigious Smithsonian Laureate’s Medal, where his work and writings are permanently archived at the Smithsonian.
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