FERRUM, VA, April 8, 2026 — Ferrum College will welcome distinguished higher education leader Dr. Belle S. Wheelan as the keynote speaker for its 110th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The event will take place at Hart International Plaza on the Ferrum College campus. About 150 members of the Class of 2026 are expected to cross the stage during this celebration of their academic achievements.
Dr. Wheelan served as president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) for twenty years after becoming the first African American administrator and the first woman to hold this position. Her distinguished career spans over fifty years and includes roles such as faculty member, chief student services officer, campus provost, college president, and Virginia Secretary of Education.
“Throughout her storied career and especially her tenure as association president, Dr. Wheelan has been first and foremost a champion of student learning and student experience. This commitment has been to the benefit of every student who has attended a member institution,” said Executive Vice President of Lees-McRae College and SACSCOC Board of Trustees Chair Blaine J. Hansen in 2024. “Dr. Wheelan is a stalwart advocate for continuous improvement in higher education.”
After completing her bachelor’s degree from Trinity University in Texas with a double major in psychology and sociology, Dr. Wheelan earned a master’s degree in developmental educational psychology from Louisiana State University, and a doctorate in educational administration with a concentration in community college leadership from the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Wheelan has received many honors in her career, including seven honorary degrees, the Woman of Distinction Award from the American Association of University Women, and other national awards for her leadership in higher education. Her work continues to influence accreditation, student success, and institutional excellence across the South and beyond.
“Dr. Wheelan’s lifelong commitment to education and transformational leadership make her an exceptional choice to inspire our graduates,” said Ferrum College President Mirta M. Martin. “Her story of perseverance, innovation, and service reflects the very values we instill in our students throughout their years at Ferrum College, so they may go forward and transform the world.”
Dr. Wheelan attributes her success to hard work, endurance, and tenacity, along with the support of family and faith. She is the mother of an adult son, Reginald.
Ferrum College looks forward to celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2026 and welcoming family, friends, faculty, and staff to campus for the spring commencement ceremony.
