Kerry Washington to Deliver The Archer School For Girls’ Commencement Address

Emmy-winning, SAG and Golden Globe-nominated actor, director, producer, and organizer Kerry Washington will deliver The Archer School for Girls’ commencement address on Friday, May 26, 2023.
 
“We are thrilled and honored to welcome Kerry Washington as the commencement speaker for Archer’s Class of 2023,” said Head of School at The Archer School for Girls Elizabeth English. “A trailblazer in entertainment and a powerful advocate for women’s rights and leadership, Ms. Washington embodies the very qualities we strive to instill in every Archer student. As a graduate of an all-girls school, Ms. Washington understands first-hand the transformative power of a girl-empowering education. Her words will undoubtedly inspire us all and give our graduates the gift of her wisdom to take with them beyond the walls of Archer.”

Kerry Washington is an Emmy-winning, SAG and Golden Globe-nominated actor, director, producer, and organizer. A native of The Bronx, New York and a girls’ school graduate, Washington is a versatile and fearless multi-hyphenate, and has received high acclaim for her work in film, television, theater, digital media, advocacy, and beyond.

Washington received widespread public recognition for her role as Olivia Pope on the hit ABC drama "Scandal," breaking barriers as the first Black woman since 1974 to headline a network TV drama. Over the show’s seven seasons, Washington earned two Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, a SAG nomination, and two NAACP Image Awards for her role on the Peabody Award-winning series.

Washington’s performances over the years have received many accolades, including nominations for the SAG Awards, Golden Globes, Independent Spirit Awards, People’s Choice Awards, MTV Movie Awards, and wins for the Primetime Emmy Awards, NAACP Image Awards, BET Awards, and Teen Choice Awards. Washington’s film credits include: "The Prom," "Cars 3," "Django Unchained," "Ray," "The Last King of Scotland," "Save the Last Dance," "Lift," "For Colored Girls."

In 2016, Washington launched her production company Simpson Street, developing a variety of broadcast, cable, and digital projects. In 2020, Simpson Street brought the documentary film "The Fight" to Sundance (the film was released later that year on VOD) in addition to releasing the Emmy-nominated series "Little Fires Everywhere" with Hulu. Washington starred alongside Reese Witherspoon and earned Emmy and SAG nominations for her performance.

Washington is a lifelong advocate and activist, dedicated to using her voice to fight for justice for all communities. She is focused on building a more equitable democracy and in service of this goal, Washington is the founder of Influence Change, a strategic initiative that partners celebrities, influencers, and creators with high impact, non-profit organizations and activists to increase voter turnout. Washington has been honored as one of TIME Magazine’s 2022 Women of The Year, in addition to appearing on the magazine’s Most Influential People list in 2014. She has also been honored with the NAACP President’s Award in 2013, the GLAAD Media Vanguard Award in 2015, the Baby2Baby Giving Tree award in 2015, and the ACLU Bill of Rights Award in 2016. In 2022, Washington partnered with LAUSD and a coalition of industry leaders and actors, to launch The Roybal School of Film and Television Production, a magnet school aiming to drive transformational change across the entertainment industry for students from underserved communities.

Since 2013, Washington has served as both a brand ambassador and creative consultant for Neutrogena. In 2020, she became a creative partner to Aurate, a direct-to-consumer luxury jewelry brand, and has released multiple collections in collaboration with the brand.

# # #
About The Archer School for Girls

The Archer School for Girls is for the ambitious and joyful. At the forefront of all-girls education, Archer is dedicated to empowering the next generation of female leaders. A contemporary girls’ school in Los Angeles, Archer sustains a collaborative, student-centered teaching and learning community that explores and contributes to the research on how young women learn and thrive. Since 1995, Archer has been inspiring young women to become confident, ethical changemakers by strengthening their voices and capacity to contribute positively to society and the world.

For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter, or visit our website http://www.archer.org.
The Archer School for Girls admits students of any race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation or other legally protected status to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation or other legally protected status in its hiring or in the administration of its educational policies and programs, admissions policies, financial aid programs or other school-administered programs. 

The Archer School for Girls’ mission is to educate students in an environment specifically designed for girls. As such, the school will consider any candidate for admission who identifies as a girl. Once admitted to Archer, all students in good academic standing who abide by Archer’s code of conduct and who meet requirements for graduation will be eligible to receive an Archer diploma, regardless of any change in sexual identity or other legally protected status.