Terence Carter, a 20th Century Fox Television executive with deep family roots at California University of Pennsylvania, will keynote both graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies next month, university officials announced Wednesday.
Carter is the great-great grandson of California’s first African American graduate, Elizabeth “Jennie” Adams Carter, who graduated with a normal school degree in 1881. She went on to become a respected teacher, school administrator and orator.
Cal U officials said Terence Carter, executive vice president of drama and comedy development at 20th Century Fox Television, has been responsible for developing and overseeing shows including Empire, Gotham, the X-Files revival, Glee and Bones.
His great-great grandmother’s photo and related artifacts are on display at Carter Hall, a Cal U residence hall that also houses the Cal U Multicultural Center.
The graduate ceremony will be 7 p.m. May 10 in the university’s Convocation Center. The undergraduate program will be 10 a.m. May 11 in the Convocation Center.
