Federal Reserve official will speak at VGCC event

HENDERSON, NC -- Vance-Granville Community College has named Tom Barkin to deliver the keynote address at its 56th annual commencement ceremony.

Barkin has been the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond since 2018.

He serves on the Fed's chief monetary policy body, the Federal Open Market Committee, and is also responsible for the Richmond Fed's bank supervision and the Federal Reserve's technology organization.

He is "on the ground" continually in the Fed's Fifth District, which covers South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, D.C., West Virginia, and Maryland. His engagement in the region has brought real attention to areas facing economic challenges.

Prior to joining the Richmond Fed, Barkin was a senior partner and CFO at McKinsey & Company, a worldwide management consulting firm, where he also oversaw McKinsey's offices in the southern United States. He earned his bachelor's, MBA, and law degrees from Harvard University.

Vance-Granville Community College's 2025 commencement will honor several hundred students who completed graduation requirements over the last year.

The ceremony will be Friday, May 16, on the grounds of the college's Main Campus in Henderson. All members of the community are invited to attend.