CCU Commencement

Commencement Speaker: James Brown

Three-time Emmy Award-winning sportscaster, special correspondent, producer, and author James Brown is a legend in the world of broadcast sports and beyond. He hosts “The NFL Today” and “Inside the NFL” on Paramount+, and has hosted a record-breaking 10 Super Bowls. Brown also serves as a special correspondent for CBS News, contributing to “60 Minutes,” “CBS Mornings,” “CBS Evening News,” “48 Hours,” “Face the Nation,” and more. Brown has been a trusted host and analyst in the worlds of sports and news for decades, offering expert insights and indelible takeaways. In his memoir, Role of a Lifetime: Reflections on Faith, Family, and Significant Living, he shares powerful stories about finding his passion, how to discover life’s purpose, and his faith journey that leave audiences inspired.

In addition to three Emmy Awards, Brown has received numerous accolades for his expertise as an engaging host and speaker, including “Best Studio Host of the Decade” by Sports Illustrated, the 2023 Distinguished Service Award — the National Association of Broadcasters' highest honor — and was inducted into the Broadcast Wing of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has received the prestigious Pete Rozelle Award for Excellence, as well as the Jackie Robinson Award for Excellence in Broadcasting by One Hundred Black Men of New York. Brown is a founding partner of the Washington Nationals, as well as co-owner of Fair Play Productions Company, and executive produced the documentaries The Carnival: 125 Years of the Penn Relays and For Aaron, which won “Best Documentary” at several festivals. He has partnered with the Verizon Foundation to lead a national dialogue to address their work in domestic violence prevention. Brown became an ordained minister in 2009 and galvanizes audiences with the story of his faith journey.