Lane College will host its Spring Convocation Ceremony on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, welcoming students, faculty, and staff for a signature academic gathering that celebrates scholarship, leadership, and service. The event will take place at 11 a.m. on campus in the Chamber McClure Academic Center (CMAC) Building’s Auditorium with special guest speaker Albert E. Dotson, Jr., Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Bilzin Sumberg.
Convocation is a cornerstone event in the academic calendar, fostering inspiration and reflection at the start of the semester. Dotson’s distinguished career and commitment to education, civic engagement, and community empowerment align well with the College.
Dotson leads Bilzin Sumberg, a nationally recognized Miami-based commercial law firm with a broad portfolio of practices which includes real estate, land use, government relations, global tax and wealth planning, litigation, construction, environmental, corporate and business finance, and public-private partnerships. His legal work has played a pivotal role in transformative projects reshaping Florida’s economic landscape, including the Brightline high-speed commuter rail line, the $500 million Hard Rock Stadium modernization, and additional transit and infrastructure initiatives across the state.
Beyond his legal practice, Dotson is widely respected for his leadership in education, business, and public service. A few of the board and leadership positions he holds include serving on the Board of Trustees at the University of Miami, the Board of Advisors at Vanderbilt Law School, and the Board of Directors for the Florida Council of 100. His extensive nonprofit leadership includes serving as Chairman of the Board of the Orange Bowl Committee, making history as the second African American to hold the position; leadership roles with 100 Black Men of America; and serving as the founding Chairman of the Overtown Youth Center.
Dotson’s national impact also includes presidential appointments. He was appointed by President Barack H. Obama to the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans and has served on the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for the Southern District of Florida, helping shape the selection of federal judges and prosecutors.
“Mr. Dotson’s career trajectory exemplifies the values of excellence, integrity, and service that underpin Lane College’s educational mission,” said Dr. Lawrence T. Potter, Jr., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “His presence will contribute meaningfully to the intellectual life of the institution by offering students and community members insight grounded in leadership, ethics, and civic responsibility.”
The Spring Convocation Ceremony is open to the public, and the Lane College community is encouraged to attend and participate in this meaningful academic tradition.
For more information about the event, please visit www.lanecollege.edu or contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at communications@lanecollege.edu.