Acclaimed business leaders and sports broadcaster to speak at Georgia Southern University’s Fall 2025 Commencement ceremonies
Georgia Southern University has announced three speakers for the Fall 2025 Commencement ceremonies on Dec. 13, 16 and 17.
Approximately 2,200 students will graduate with associate, baccalaureate, master’s, specialist or doctoral degrees this semester during ceremonies in Savannah and Statesboro.
The dates, locations and speakers for each ceremony are:
Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. — Enmarket Arena in Savannah
Tim Wilkerson (’91), senior vice president of the home services organization for The Home Depot, oversees the largest home installation operations in the U.S. His responsibilities include in-home sales, customer contact centers, contractor sourcing, onboarding and compliance.
Previously, Wilkerson served as vice president of the merchandising execution team, leading more than 27,000 associates to deliver in-store merchandising solutions that drive sales, enhance speed and create value for stores, suppliers and customers.
Wilkerson joined The Home Depot in 1996 as an import distribution center assistant manager and has held roles of increasing responsibility across supply chain, logistics and store operations, including district manager, regional vice president of the gulf region and vice president of store operations.
An active member of the community, Wilkerson sits on the boards of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Zoo Atlanta and Kennesaw State University. He previously served on the boards of the Georgia Southern University Athletic Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, INROADS and the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Through the Tim and Camille Wilkerson Foundation, he and his wife award partial scholarships to minority students at his alma mater, LaGrange High School.
Wilkerson earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Georgia Southern, where he was also a member of the 1989 National Championship football team. He has completed executive courses at Emory University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University.
Tuesday, December 16, at 2 p.m. — Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro
Carla Metts (’14) is an Emmy Award-winning sports anchor and host of NASCAR Countdown Live for the NASCAR Xfinity Series on The CW network. Metts has built a versatile career in sports broadcasting, working across NASCAR, the NFL, the NBA, college athletics and multiple national sports media platforms.
Before joining The CW, Metts served as sports director at FOX Charlotte, where she helped launch Charlotte Sports Live, a nightly sports show covering major professional and collegiate sports. She has also held broadcast roles with the Carolina Panthers, The CW’s College Football and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media.
Metts began her career at Midco Sports Network in South Dakota as an in-studio host and sideline reporter covering college football and basketball.
A proud Georgia Southern alumna, Metts earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in journalism. She was a four-year captain of the co-ed cheerleading squad from 2010 to 2014.
Wednesday, December 17, at 6 p.m. — Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center in Statesboro
Jaime Weeks (’21, ’24), vice president and managing director at The Wendy’s Company, is a distinguished leader in the restaurant industry. Weeks brings more than 20 years of experience leading high-performing teams across the U.S., Canada and abroad.
At Wendy’s, Weeks oversees operations services for nearly 6,000 locations and has played a significant role in shaping operations strategy since joining the company in 2019. Earlier in her career, she gained international experience working in Japan with Marine Corps Community Services and later held leadership roles with GoTo Foods — the franchisor of Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Jamba Juice and Carvel.
Weeks is a proud Double Eagle, holding both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Georgia Southern.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Weeks is dedicated to philanthropy and community impact. She serves as a director on the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption — Canada’s board, and is a longtime supporter of the Semper Fi & America’s Fund. A passionate advocate for wellness, she has completed all six major world marathons — Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 149 different degree programs serving more than 29,633 students through 10 colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia with expert faculty, the University is focused on public impact research and engaging learning opportunities through knowledge and know-how that prepare our students to take ownership of their lives, careers and communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.