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Don Scott to Serve as Winter Commencement Keynote Speaker
Virginia House Speaker is first Black leader to lead House of Delegates in its 405-year history
University News | May 21, 2024
Virginia Wesleyan University is pleased to announce that Virginia Delegate and Speaker of the House Don Scott will deliver the keynotes address for VWU’s Winter 2024 Commencement Ceremony, which will be held on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. 
Recently elected as the first Black speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in its 405-year history, Scott has rapidly gained influence since joining the General Assembly in 2020, serving as a strong advocate for reproductive rights, criminal justice reform, and supporting working families. As speaker, he chairs the rules committee and serves on several influential boards and commissions, including the Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates and the Virginia State Crime Commission.
A strategic trial lawyer and partner at Breit Biniazan, Speaker Scott began his law career after serving as a legal officer in the Navy. He founded his own law firm in 2015, taking on high-profile cases, and is actively involved in various legal and community organizations. Honored as the 2024 Legislator of the Year by the Virginia Education Association, Scott has also received multiple leadership and humanitarian awards.
Del. Scott lives in Portsmouth with his wife, Dr. Mellanda Colson Scott, a dentist in Norfolk. Additionally, he is no stranger to Virginia Wesleyan’s campus. He is a proud parent at Chesapeake Bay Academy, located on the east side of our campus. The Marlin community looks forward to his inspiring address to its newest graduates in December.