Cadence Bank president to address SFA graduates during fall commencement ceremonies

Chris A. Bagley, president and chief credit officer of Cadence Bank, will give the commencement address during Stephen F. Austin State University's fall 2024 graduation ceremonies Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13-14, in Johnson Coliseum.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Chris A. Bagley, president and chief credit officer of Cadence Bank, will give the commencement address during Stephen F. Austin State University's fall graduation ceremonies Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13-14, in Johnson Coliseum.

"Commencement is the crowning achievement of years of hard work, and I hope graduates take pride in the significance of the moment," said Dr. Neal Weaver, SFA president. "This moment reflects their dedication and potential to make a lasting impact in their chosen fields and communities, and we can't wait to celebrate their achievements with Mr. Bagley and the SFA community."

Bagley received a Bachelor of Business Administration from SFA in 1983 and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston in 1986.

With over 40 years of banking experience, Bagley has served in his current role since 2014. Cadence Bank is an approximately $50 billion financial institution with more than 350 branches across nine states in the South and Texas. Prior to joining Cadence, he was an executive officer and chief credit officer of Prosperity Bank in Houston.

Bagley has served in many roles in commercial banking and within the community, including as a member of the board of directors for a publicly traded financial holding company and as chair of the Community Development Foundation for Tupelo/Lee County, Mississippi, the driver of economic development in Northeast Mississippi.

The public is invited to attend the graduation ceremonies, and community tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis at the coliseum ticket office one hour before each event begins. The four ceremonies are currently scheduled as follows - times and dates are subject to change.

•Friday, Dec. 13

• 2 p.m. - College of Liberal and Applied Arts and College of Sciences and Mathematics

• 6 p.m. - Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts, and Nelson Rusche College of Business

•Saturday, Dec. 14

• 2 p.m. - James I. Perkins College of Education

• 6 p.m. - Graduate Studies (all master's and doctoral degree candidates)

Degrees to be awarded include 757 bachelor's, 129 master's and five doctoral degrees. Nearly 330 students will graduate with honors, including 108 cum laude, 85 magna cum laude and 136 summa cum laude. Nineteen students will graduate with the university scholar designation.

For more information, visit sfasu.edu/graduation.