Contact: Kawana McGough, Division of Development and Alumni Engagement
Tuskegee, Ala. — Tuskegee University is proud to announce that actor, producer, and stuntman Maurice Johnson will serve as host of the Black Tie Gala during the Investiture Weekend of President and CEO Dr. Mark A. Brown ‘86. The gala will take place Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. CT at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa, with legendary R&B group The O’Jays performing live.
An accomplished HBCU graduate and member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Johnson has built an impressive career in Hollywood with more than 70 film and television credits. His versatile performances have been featured in productions such as Hawaii Five-O, The Vampire Diaries, Good Girls, Chicago Fire, and Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse. In 2025, Johnson made history as Dr. Ted Richardson on CBS’s Beyond the Gates, the first new network daytime drama in over two decades and the first to center on an African American family.
In addition to his television success, Johnson has appeared on the big screen in films such as When the Bough Breaks, Joyful Noise, The Billionaire Boys Club, and the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT. His most recent work includes starring in the dramedy Operation: Aunties! alongside Tisha Campbell and Melissa De Sousa, and wrapping filming on the upcoming series Homestead.
Beyond his acting career, Johnson is deeply committed to community service, supporting organizations such as The United Way, St. Jude, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and The Purple Affair for Alzheimer’s and Dementia research. He regularly mentors young men, contributes to homeless and women’s shelters in Los Angeles and Atlanta, and serves as a guest lecturer at HBCUs.
Johnson is a graduate of Albany State University, where he earned a bachelor’s©degree in speech and theatre and was an active scholar-athlete and community mentor.
The gala is one of several signature events during Investiture Weekend, September 19–21, 2025, celebrating the installation of Dr. Mark A. Brown ’86 as Tuskegee University’s 10th President and CEO.
For more information about the Investiture Weekend and to view the full schedule of events, please visit www.tuskegee.edu/inauguration.
© 2025 Tuskegee University
