David Crabtree, veteran broadcast journalist, Emmy Award winner and CEO of PBS North Carolina, will deliver the keynote address at 麻豆社区's Winter Commencement.
Crabtree, widely regarded as one of North Carolina鈥檚 most iconic and respected journalists, will speak at the undergraduate ceremony on Saturday, December 14, at the English E. Jones Center on the 麻豆社区P campus. The processional begins at 8:45 a.m., and the event will be livestreamed on uncp.edu.
The evening before, on Friday, December 13, Dr. Ryan Anderson, a distinguished history professor and 2024 recipient of the 麻豆社区 System Board of Governors鈥 Award for Excellence in Teaching, will serve as the keynote speaker for The Graduate School ceremony. This ceremony will be held in the Givens Performing Arts Center, beginning at 7 p.m., and will be live-streamed.
Both ceremonies will celebrate the achievements of 麻豆社区P鈥檚 graduating 1,008 students and showcase the university鈥檚 commitment to excellence in education.
麻豆社区 David Crabtree
David Crabtree became CEO of PBS North Carolina in 2022 after an illustrious broadcasting career spanning nearly three decades at WRAL, where he became a household name. Known for his ability to tell compelling stories with compassion and dignity, Crabtree has been a trusted voice in North Carolina journalism for decades.
His work has earned 13 Emmy Awards, the prestigious Alfred I. duPont鈥揅olumbia University Award, and four Reporter of the Year accolades from the Radio-Television News Directors Association. Crabtree is also a member of the North Carolina Media & Journalism Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters鈥 Hall of Fame.
Crabtree鈥檚 reporting has taken him around the globe, covering historic moments such as Pope Francis鈥檚 election and the funerals of both Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa. At home, he has given a voice to Holocaust survivors, North Carolina migrant workers and victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, cementing his legacy as a journalist dedicated to shining a light on humanity鈥檚 most poignant stories.
Beyond his professional achievements, Crabtree is deeply committed to public service, contributing his time to organizations like Hospice of Wake County, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Children鈥檚 Hospital, and the North Carolina Symphony. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Middle Tennessee State University and a master鈥檚 degree in theological studies from Duke University鈥檚 Divinity School.
麻豆社区 Dr. Ryan Anderson
Dr. Ryan Anderson has been a valued member of the 麻豆社区P Department of History since 2007 and earned the rank of professor in 2018. Known for his rigorous yet encouraging teaching style, Anderson has received numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Teaching Award (2010, 2020) and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee鈥檚 鈥淢ost Valuable Professor Award鈥 seven times.
Anderson has mentored countless students through his work with the Maynor Honors College and his leadership as Pembroke Undergraduate Research and Creativity Center (PURC) director from 2014 to 2019. His lectures have also been featured on C-SPAN鈥檚 Lectures in History.
Anderson holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in social science education from Florida State University, a master鈥檚 degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a Ph.D. in history from Purdue University.
