Annette B. Quarles to Deliver Fall Commencement Addresses

Alabama State University will hold its 300th Commencement Exercises on Friday, December 6 at 9:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. Annette Brooks Quarles, director of IBM z/OS Development and alumna of ASU will serve as the speaker for both ceremonies.

Doors will open at 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 1:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony.

Commencement Schedule

9:45 a.m.:

College of Education.

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

College of Visual and Performing Arts.

University College

2:45 p.m.:

The Percy J. Vaughn, Jr. College of Business Administration.

College of Health Sciences.

College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Quarles leads an organization of 200+ developers at IBM focused on security and data management located in Poughkeepsie, NY, Rochester, MN, San Jose, CA and Tucson, AZ. Prior to this executive appointment, she launched her career with the IBM Corporation in July, 1998.  In her twenty-one years at IBM, Quarles has held various leadership and management positions of increasing responsibility in systems test, development, client support and strategic planning for the enterprise systems.  She also had the unique opportunity to serve as IBM’s Executive Client Advocate for Walmart in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Quarles is a servant leader who has maintained a strong commitment to civic duty throughout her career, and currently serves on the SHARE Board of Directors as the IBM Liaison and is the vice-chair for the ASU Foundation. She was initiated into the Beta Eta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and is the president of its Mid-Hudson Valley Alumnae Chapter. She also is a member of the ASU National Alumni Association. 

Quarles holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from ASU and an Executive Masters of Business Administration degree from Pace University (New York, NY).

Quarles commitment and contributions to ASU have been recognized by the University. She received ASU’s “50 under 50” Award in 2018 and the Spirit of Marion Award in 2014. She also has received several community awards including: Beulah Baptist Church Social Action Ministry’s Black Achiever’s Award, Poughkeepsie Neighborhood Club’s Distinguished Community Citizen Award and the Women of Color Conference’s Rising Star Award. 

Quarles is firmly rooted in her spirituality which began at her home church, Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church (Elba, AL).  After moving to New York, she continued in her walk serving in many roles at her local church.  Annette was appointed as the Youth Director for the Central Hudson Baptist Association and Registrar for the Young People’s Department of the Empire Missionary Baptist Convention, Inc. of New York State.  During her assignment in Arkansas, she joined the Stellar Award nominated “Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir”. Quarles is currently the Leading Lady of Whosoever Will Baptist Church, Bronx, and serves as Youth Ministry Leader.

She is married to Reverend Kevin Quarles.

For more information about ASU's Fall Commencement, contact ASU’s Office of the Provost at 334-229-4432 or visit https://www.alasu.edu/academics/300th-commencement.