DURANGO, Colo.— Acclaimed author Tommy Orange will be the keynote speaker for the Fort Lewis College Spring 2025 Commencement ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, May 3. 

Orange, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, gained national recognition with his debut novel, There There, which became a New York Times bestseller and offers a poignant exploration of urban Native American life.  

The story was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, longlisted for the National Book Award, and won both the PEN/Hemingway Award and the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize. His second novel, Wandering Stars, released last year, continues to delve into themes of identity, displacement, and intergenerational trauma. 

Orange's selection as commencement speaker is particularly significant for FLC, a federally designated Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institution (NASNTI).   

"We're excited to welcome Tommy Orange," said Heather Shotton, Ph.D., FLC's recently appointed president and the first Indigenous person to hold the position. "His work resonates deeply with our commitment to amplifying Indigenous voices and experiences."   

Orange, who earned his MFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts, has been recognized with fellowships from MacDowell and Writing by Writers. Born and raised in Oakland, California, his narratives often reflect the complexities of contemporary Native American life in urban settings. 

The commencement ceremony will begin at 9 am at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.  

For more information about the ceremony and related events, visit the Fort Lewis College Commencement page.