SSU is Proud to Announce Speaker for Fall 2025 Commencement

Savannah State University (SSU) is proud to announce that Mr. Lars N. Minns, Chief Human Resources Officer for Mercedes-Benz, North America, will serve as the keynote speaker for the fall 2025 commencement ceremony to be held

at Enmarket Arena on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 3 p.m. Mr. Minns will address over 240 graduates as the university community gathers to celebrate their achievements, resilience, and future contributions to the world.

“It is an immense privilege to host Mr. Lars N. Minns, the Chief HR Officer for Mercedes-Benz, North America, as our speaker for the Fall 2025 commencement,” said SSU President Dr. Jermaine Whirl. “Savannah State students are known for their resilience and drive, and I believe Mr. Minns’ expertise in managing talent and navigating the complexities of a major global corporation will offer a truly valuable perspective. His address will serve as a powerful motivator for our graduates as they prepare to transition their academic excellence into professional success.”

Mr. Minns currently leads Mercedes-Benz, North America in designing, implementing, and executing human resources operations that directly align with the company’s strategic objectives for the sales, marketing, and distribution of passenger cars, vans and parts in the United States and Canada. Under his leadership, the organization is undergoing one of the largest transformations in the automotive industry, as it seeks to be the most desired electric luxury brand in North America.

Before joining Mercedes-Benz, Mr. Minns served as the senior manager of talent acquisition for The Home Depot’s at Home Services, commonly referred to as the “Do it For Me” business. He led his team in executing talent acquisition strategies for the company’s fastest-growing business segment. He spent 10 years with The Home Depot and served in roles of increasing responsibility, most notably as the senior talent manager for Operations, Services, Finance, and IT. He supported all facets of Talent Management, helping those business areas in several large-scale transformational efforts aimed at increasing overall operational efficiencies. Before The Home Depot, Mr. Minns held various roles in IT consulting, sales, and recruiting during the dot-com and Y2K eras.

Mr. Minns earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University in Hampton, VA. He is a member of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank’s Human Capital Advisory Council, Leadership Atlanta and a Board of Trustee of Mount Vernon Presbyterian School. A native of Nassau, Bahamas, he and his wife, Moya reside in Sandy Springs, GA with their three children.