AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin has announced its speakers list for this year’s convocation.

Jewelry mogul Kendra Scott, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro and TV journalists Soledad O’Brien and Arthel Neville, along with other leaders from business, politics and academia, are among the speakers for the 2018 spring convocation ceremonies held by schools and colleges at The University of Texas at Austin on May 18 and 19.

Scott's first retail store opened on South Congress in Austin in 2010. In the same year, she began her e-commerce business and launched the brand's Color Bar experience. 

Castro is a native to San Antonio. At age 26, he was elected to San Antonio City Council, making him the youngest city councilman in San Antonio history. Castro ran for mayor of San Antonio in 2005, and lost, and then ran again in 2009, and won. 

He gained national attention in 2012 when he was the first Hispanic to deliver the keynote address at a Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2014, Castro accepted President Barack Obama's offer of the position of United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Vice Adm. Raquel C. Bono, director of the Defense Health Agency, will deliver the keynote address during the 134th university-wide Spring Commencement address May 19 on the Main Mall.

A map for navigating campus during commencement weekend, including information about construction and road closures, is available at commencement.utexas.edu/getting-around/maps.

Parking for commencement activities is free on a first-come, first-served basis. On Friday, May 18, university parking garages will be available. On Saturday, May 19, university parking garages and most surface lots will be available, with the exception of spaces marked "At All Times."