Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a 2003 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, will serve as the school’s commencement speaker for the Class of 2025 on May 18.
Beshear was elected governor in 2019, narrowly besting incumbent Matt Bevin, and was re-elected by a wider margin in 2023.
Beshear, a Louisville native, said in an interview with UVA Lawyer as he took office that he planned to work across the political aisle.
“Where there is disagreement, we will act like adults. We will treat each other with respect,” Beshear said. “It’s what’s expected of everybody else in their place of employment; we ought to be able to do the same in government.”
His national profile has grown in the years since. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Beshear made Vice President Kamala Harris’ short list as a potential running mate. In October he was named among Time magazine's Time100Next, which recognizes emerging leaders from around the world in a variety of fields.
As governor, Beshear has been challenged by crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to natural disasters. After flooding in Appalachia devastated eastern Kentucky communities in 2022, residents lauded Beshear for being on the ground and taking charge during recovery efforts. After twisters flattened towns in western Kentucky the year before, his administration created the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, which garnered $52 million in donations.
The Student Bar Association selects the Law School’s commencement speaker each year.
“Gov. Beshear exemplifies everything that UVA Law stands for: open-mindedness, poise and a willingness to treat everyone with respect and dignity,” SBA President Laura-Louise Rice ’25 said. “UVA Law is blessed to call him an alum and we could not be more thrilled to welcome Gov. Beshear back to Grounds.”
Beshear previously served as Kentucky’s 50th attorney general from 2016 to 2019. Before entering public service, he worked at the law firms Stites & Harbison in Kentucky and White & Case in Washington, D.C. Beshear’s father, Steve Beshear, served as governor from 2007-2015, making them the first father-son duo in Kentucky to hold the office.
Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.
