¹ū¶³“«Ć½

¹ū¶³“«Ć½ is honored to announce Kent Barnett ā€™02, dean of The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law and the J. Gilbert Reese Chair in Contract Law, as the Commencement speaker for the graduating class of 2025.

On Saturday, May 24 at 4 p.m., Reverend Dr. Marcia Mount Shoop will address the class of 2025 and guests at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ā€™s Baccalaureate ceremony, to be held in Newlin Hall at the Norton Center for the Arts.

Centreā€™s 202nd Commencement ceremony will be held May 25 at 10 a.m. at the Collegeā€™s Andy Frye Stadium. The move to the new stadium will mean more room for families and friendsā€”a long-requested changeā€”allowing each graduate to bring up to seven guests.

For more information about the events or to watch a live stream of the Commencement and Baccalaureate ceremonies, visit ¹ū¶³“«Ć½'s Commencement Headquarters.

Kent Barnett ā€™02

During his time as an art history major at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½, Kent Barnett ā€™02 envisioned a career as a curator or professor before an internship at the Cincinnati Art Museum shifted his trajectory. A conversation with a museum staff member sparked his interest in law, leading him to explore art law before pursuing a broader legal career. 

He practiced complex commercial litigation and appellate law at Weil, Gotshal & Manges after clerking for Judge John Rogers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. His passion for mentoring and teaching led him to academia, where he is shaping the next generation of legal minds and has become one of the nationā€™s leading scholars on federal administrative law.

As dean of The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, he is dedicated to fostering an inclusive academic environment, strengthening student support at one of the nationā€™s best law schools.

"I'm excited to be able to give a bit of inspiration and thoughtfulness on one of the most important and exciting days for the 2025 graduates," Barnett said. ā€œCentre gave me the self-confidence to know that I was trained to think and to not be scared of new information, new challenges, and Iā€™m excited to pass the torch.ā€

Rev. Marcia Mount Shoop ā€™91

Marcia Mount Shoop is no stranger to the Centre community. Her father, Emeritus Professor of Religion Eric Mount taught at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ for more than three decades and served as vice president and dean of students, as well as college chaplain and tennis coach. Her mother, the late Truly Mount, taught French at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½ for 20 years. 

Marcia Mount Shoop excelled as a student-athlete at ¹ū¶³“«Ć½. She earned Athletics Hall of Fame recognition for track and cross country, including being the inaugural NCAA Woman of the Year for the State of Kentucky. With a masterā€™s of divinity degree from Vanderbilt University and a doctorate in religious studies from Emory University, she has ministered across the nation in various capacities within the Presbyterian Church.

In her current role as pastor and head of staff at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville, North Carolina, Shoop has been instrumental in disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Helene. She led the church in providing more than $4.5 million in rent and utility assistance to affected families. Under her guidance, Grace Covenant became a vital hub for distributing essential supplies and offering support to those displaced by the disaster. Her dedication to community healing and advocacy for vulnerable populations exemplifies her commitment to embodying faith through action.

ā€œBecause I grew up on Centreā€™s campus, Iā€™m not just an alum. Iā€™m a child of that place. I was born and raised in Danville and on that campus, and thatā€™s where I learned about what it means to be a community,ā€ she said. ā€œThatā€™s where I learned about the human family. Thatā€™s where I learned about radical hospitality. Thatā€™s where I learned about justice.ā€