Journalist, Georgia Southern alumna Laura Harris to speak at Fall 2019 commencement ceremonies

November 12, 2019

Award-winning journalist Laura Harris (‘08) will help to commend the academic accomplishments of students as the speaker for Georgia Southern University’s Fall 2019 commencement ceremonies on Dec. 13 and 14.

Harris, an alumna from the university’s School of Health and Kinesiology, has been a rising star in broadcast news since leaving Georgia Southern with a bachelor’s in sport management. The Atlanta native co-anchors the morning and midday newscasts at NBC5 in Dallas/Fort Worth. She previously worked with the ABC affiliates in Tampa, Florida, and Charleston, South Carolina. Before her time in Charleston, she worked for WNEG-TV in Athens, Georgia, CNN Sports and TNT Sports in Atlanta.

As a journalist, Harris garnered an Emmy Award for her breaking news coverage of a massive sinkhole that opened up in the Tampa community. She has been recognized with an award for her work by the Associated Press. 

Harris covered historic news stories including Pope Francis’ and President Barack Obama’s historic visits to Cuba in 2015 and 2016, respectively. She also has extensive political reporting experience covering both the Republican National Convention from Cleveland, Ohio, and the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in 2016.

While at Georgia Southern, she played Division I soccer for four years. She graduated summa cum laude and as an Honors Program Scholar, with a thesis in Sport Management, in 2008.

Georgia Southern University will hold two commencement ceremonies to include both graduate and undergraduate students from each of the university’s nine colleges. Graduating students will walk across the stage and receive their degrees at their preferred ceremony location. 

The commencement ceremony on Dec. 13 will be held at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah at 1 p.m. The commencement ceremony on Dec. 14 will be held at Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro at 1 p.m.

For more information on Georgia Southern’s Fall 2019 commencement ceremonies visit: GeorgiaSouthern.edu/commencement.

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving nearly 26,500 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.