Contact: Thonnia Lee, Office of Strategic Communications
When Earvin “Magic” Johnson takes the stage in Chappie James Arena at 12:30 p.m. on May 9 to address more than 300 undergraduates, he will offer proof points of success and provide a meaningful charge as they make their transition from student to their careers of choice.
The former NBA legend who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Magic Johnson Enterprises is bringing the “Magic” to the Renaissance Era at Tuskegee. He holds controlling interests in EquiTrust, a multi-billion-dollar financial services company, and SodexoMagic, the food service and facilities management company used on campus.
In 2023, he made history when he became co-owner of the National Football League’s Washington Commanders and he is a long-standing co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who captured back-to-back World Series Championships in 2024 and 2025. He also co-owns the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club, the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League, and eSports powerhouse Team Liquid.
“We are excited about hosting such an exceptional leader and visionary and look forward to how Magic Johnson outlines a path for our students to use what they’ve learned at Tuskegee to navigate a swiftly changing world,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, President and CEO. “We expect this to be a lesson in business and entrepreneurship as well as a lesson in life. There will be something for everyone, regardless of their career path.”
The Lansing native is constantly evolving by broadening his influence into infrastructure, finance, and technology. In 2015, Magic Johnson Enterprises and Loop Capital formed an alliance to create MJE-Loop Capital Partners, a platform dedicated to investing hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure projects in the United States including John F. Kennedy International Airport’s New Terminal One, LaGuardia Airport Terminal B, and the Los Angeles World Airports Cargo Modernization Program. He is also an investor in multiple technology companies including Skydio, the first U.S.-based drone manufacturer to exceed $1 billion in value.
The accomplishments and global impact of Earvin “Magic” Johnson are on display in the Apple TV+ documentary series They Call Me Magic, the only first-person account of Johnson’s life from childhood to business. In January 2025, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from 46th United States President Joe Biden, the nation’s highest civilian honor, and is also a recipient of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center Ripple of Hope Award.
The May 9 ceremony in Chappie James is a ticketed event. There will be overflow seating on campus in Logan Hall and the University Chapel. Instructions for parking and shuttle services will be shared on the Commencement webpage, where updates are being made daily.
© 2026 Tuskegee University
