2025 Commencement Orator: LeVar Burton
LeVar Burton launched his acting career while still a student at the University of Southern California. At 19, he found himself on the cover of Time Magazine, after landing the groundbreaking role of Kunta Kinte in the landmark television series “Roots.” A seemingly impossible act to follow, Burton achieved further global acclaim as Chief Engineer Geordi La
Forge in the iconic “Star Trek: The Next Generation” television series — a role he reprised in “Star Trek: Picard” in 2023. However, it has been his role as host and executive producer of the beloved PBS children's series “Reading Rainbow” of which he is most proud. Airing from 1983 to 2009, it was not only one of the longest-running children's television shows in history but also one of the most acclaimed, earning over 200 awards, including multiple Emmys and a Peabody.
As a lifelong literacy advocate, Burton has dedicated decades to encouraging children to read. In 2017, long-standing literacy nonprofit Reading is Fundamental acquired Burton's Skybrary reading app in order to provide access to millions of children both at home and at school. In 2023, Burton premiered his first documentary, “The Right to Read,” a film that positions the literacy crisis in America as a civil rights issue. The film was an official selection at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and SXSW Edu. “Butterfly in the Sky,” a documentary about the making of “Reading Rainbow,” which centers the contributions of Burton and the other creators of the show, is currently streaming on Netflix and other streaming services.
Most recently, Burton launched LeVar Burton Entertainment (LBE) with a mission to create content that fosters empathy, champions diversity, and builds community. Under this banner, Burton develops projects in the film, television, podcasting, and publishing space. Now in its 12th season, the enormously popular “LeVar Burton Reads” podcast has over 175 episodes in its catalog, boasting 25 million downloads. LBE's most recent podcast, “Sound Detectives,” premiered number one on the Kids & Family charts.
Burton continued to exercise his passion for storytelling as the award-winning author of “Aftermath,” “The Rhino who Swallowed a Storm,” and “A Kids Book About Imagination.” A modern-day griot, Burton launched his first book club with Fable, a digital book club community. In his partnership with MasterClass, Burton shared the power of storytelling by offering insights into his own life and the importance of authenticity, and dynamic expression.
As the honored recipient of seven NAACP Awards, a Peabody, a Grammy, and 15 Emmys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Inaugural Children's & Family Emmys, Burton has demonstrated that he can do it all. He is often invited as a keynote speaker at leading education and technology events, including NASA, ISTE, The National Education Association, Fast Company’s Innovation Series, and many more. In 2022, Burton was selected as the Tournament Of Roses Grand Marshal, ushering in the new year with the theme of "Dream. Believe. Achieve."
With over four million social media followers, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a dedicated park in his hometown of Sacramento, this pop culture icon has the unique ability to reach across all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups — communicating to a large fan base that is highly engaged and motivated to embrace his message.