MARTIN UNIVERSITY TO HOLD ITS COMMENCEMENT MAY 31

INDIANAPOLIS – Martin University will hold its 56th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 12 o’clock noon in the Father Boniface Hardin Gathertorium at 2186 North Sherman Drive.

During the commencement, 26 undergraduate students will receive bachelor’s degrees in assorted fields such as Teacher's Prep, Healthcare Management, and Business Administration; 22 will be awarded master’s degrees in Community Psychology and Organizational Leadership. In addition, honorary doctorates will be conferred to community leaders A'Lelia Bundles & Alan Henderson.

We are excited to recognize our graduates and their outstanding accomplishments; each with a unique story of working hard and overcoming challenges to reach this special day for them and their families,” said Dr. Sean Huddleston, President of Martin University. “We are also pleased to honor A’Lelia Bundles and Alan Henderson, who have brought notoriety and distinction to our city, state and country.”

A'Lelia Bundles is an author, speaker, former news television producer and founder of the Madam Walker Family Archives. Her book, On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker, is a New York Times Notable Book and bestseller about her great-great-grandmother, the early 20th century hair care industry entrepreneur and philanthropist. She worked in network television news for 30 years, first as an NBC news producer and then at ABC as World News Tonight producer, Washington, DC Deputy Bureau Chief, and Director of Talent Development where she received an Emmy and a Du Pont Gold Baton. Bundles graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and has a master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 

Alan Henderson, who played basketball for Brebeuf Preparatory School, Indiana University and 12 seasons in the NBA, enjoys creating businesses, developing movie and television concepts, and investing in real estate. Through Henderson Development, he revitalizes underutilized properties to uplift communities, prioritizing diversity and inclusion. He launched Henderson Spirits Group in the Spring of 2020 with a mission to “Diversify the Bar,” launching premium spirits brands based on real African Americans in spirits history. While playing in the NBA, he earned a master’s degree from the IU Kelley School of Business in 2010. His NBA career included nine years with the Atlanta Hawks before one year each with the Mavericks, Cavaliers, and 76ers. Henderson is also an inventor and has been granted two US utility patents. He is a member of Eastern Star Church, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and the professional fraternity Sigma Pi Phi. He and his wife, Maxine, have four children – Jacob, Joshua, Brooke and Jonah.

Founded in 1977, Martin University is Indiana's only Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) of higher education. It is steeped in a history of service, and its mission is to educate and develop diverse workforce-ready students in an inclusive, supportive, and collegiate environment. Martin University’s vision is to elevate the landscape while providing transformative opportunities, inclusive support, and service to our communities.