Vaughan And Hatto Named Cleveland State Commencement Speakers

  • Thursday, April 24, 2025
Connie Vaughan
Connie Vaughan

Cleveland State Community College will conduct two commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 9. The 10 a.m. ceremony will honor graduates in the Advanced Technologies, Arts and Humanities, Education, Social Sciences, STEM and Tennessee Valley Early College programs. The 2 p.m. ceremony will honor graduates in the Business and Healthcare programs. Both ceremonies will be held in the L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium on the Cleveland State campus.

Connie Vaughan, Government Relations Manager at McKee Foods, will give the keynote address for the first ceremony at 10 a.m. Vaughan has worked at McKee Foods for 38 years including 20 years in her current role. A trustee for the Cleveland State Foundation, Vaughan also serves as chair of the Thrive Regional Partnership and a member of the advisory committee for the Bradley County Partners in Industry and Education (PIE) Center.

In 2023, Vaughan was named one of Chattanooga’s Most Powerful People by the Chattanooga Times Free Press. She has also been honored as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Trucking.

Susan Hatto, President of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Athens, will give the keynote address for the second ceremony at 2 p.m. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, Hatto held multiple leadership roles at Montcalm Community College in Michigan before being named president at TCAT in 2023. Hatto has a master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership from Capella University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree at Liberty University.

“We are honored to have two distinguished commencement speakers, Ms. Vaughan and Ms. Hatto, both dedicated to serving their community and inspiring others,” said Dr. Andy White, Cleveland State President. “Our graduates have worked hard, and the college administration, faculty and staff look forward to celebrating their achievements. It is a privilege for me to be a part of this special occasion, and I congratulate these students on reaching this significant academic milestone.”

For those unable to attend the commencement ceremonies, the events will be streamed live and
can be viewed at mycs.cc/graduation.

Susan Hatto
Susan Hatto
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