UNCP Announces Keynote Speakers for Historic Winter Commencement
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke will make history next month as it confers the institution's first-ever doctoral degrees during Winter Commencement. Eight students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program will be awarded their degrees, marking a significant milestone in the university's growth and academic excellence.
The Honorable Trey Allen, '97, and Dr. Matthew Hassett will deliver keynote addresses during the historic ceremonies.
The William Howard Dean Graduate School ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. at Givens Performing Arts Center on Friday, December 12. The undergraduate ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at the English E. Jones Center on Saturday, December 13. Both ceremonies will be live-streamed.
Justice Allen, associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, will address graduates during the undergraduate ceremony. Dr. Hassett, associate professor of sociology and criminal justice at UNCP, will deliver remarks at the W.H. Dean Graduate School ceremony.
A Robeson County native and first-generation college graduate, Justice Allen's journey to the state's highest court began at UNCP, where he was a chancellor's scholar and student body president. After earning his bachelor's degree summa cum laude in political science and philosophy and religion, Allen earned his law degree from the UNC School of Law.
He began his career as a judge advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, deploying to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon returning to civilian life, he clerked for Justice (now Chief Justice) Paul Newby on the North Carolina Supreme Court, practiced education law in Raleigh and later joined the UNC School of Government as an associate professor. Allen served as general counsel for the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts before being elected to the Supreme Court in 2022.
A 2023 UNCP Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, Justice Allen continues to exemplify the university's values of service, leadership and community. He and his wife, Teryn, reside in North Carolina with their five children.
A criminologist by training, Dr. Hassett's research focuses on community violence intervention, crime data analysis, wrongful convictions, crime mapping and program evaluation. He has led and collaborated on multiple federally funded projects through the U.S. Department of Justice and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to address violence and trauma in rural and underserved communities.
He serves on the board of directors of the North Carolina Youth Violence Prevention Center and contributes to regional efforts focused on reducing crime and supporting victims.