University of North Texas President Dr. Harrison Keller will deliver the commencement address at the 1 p.m. ceremony. Dr. Keller is known as an innovator and leader with more than 25 years of experience in state educational budget and policy, university administration, fundraising, and building coalitions among higher education institutions, school districts, and policymakers to expand opportunities through education. He previously served as Commissioner of Higher Education and chief executive officer for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, providing statewide leadership and coordination of higher education budget and policy for the world’s eighth largest economy. Under his visionary leadership, the coordinating board advanced policy and programs to improve college readiness and student success — especially for low-income and first-generation college students.
The Honorable David F. Bristol, Town of Prosper mayor, will deliver the commencement address at the 7 p.m. ceremony. Mayor Bristol is a 1987 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a former active-duty fighter pilot. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, along with numerous other citations and awards. After retiring from the military in 2007, he was honored with the Congressional Veterans Commendation by former Congressman Sam Johnson in 2017. Beyond his professional and business achievements, he served on the Prosper Town Council from 2004 to 2008, was twice elected mayor pro tem, and became mayor in May 2022. Since 2016, he has been a member of the Prosper Economic Development Corporation, most recently serving as its president. He has also made significant regional contributions, chairing the North Central Texas Workforce Development Board for several years and serving as Governor Greg Abbott’s appointee to the Red River Boundary Commission in 2020. In 2024, he was elected to the Executive Board of the North Central Texas Council of Governments where he continues to serve today. Mayor Bristol and his wife Mendy have lived in Prosper since 2001. They are blessed with three children who are all graduates from Prosper ISD and have three granddaughters who all live in Prosper.
For more information about commencement, visit www.collin.edu/academics/graduation.
Collin College serves more than 60,000 credit and continuing education students annually and offers more than 200 degrees and certificates, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Cybersecurity, a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Construction Management, a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Clinical Operations Management, and a new Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Software Development. The only public college based in Collin County, Collin College is a partner to business, government, and industry, providing customized training and workforce development. For more information, visit www.collin.edu.