Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes reveals he received college diploma in May 2020, 12 years after graduation ceremony

Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, poised to enter next year's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, has checked off one important task on his to-do list.

He finally has his college diploma.

Barnes, who came under fire several years ago for misleading the public that he had a degree from Alabama A&M University, now has his bachelor's degree.

Barnes' campaign made available to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel a copy of the year-old diploma.

Barnes received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Media specializing in Performance. The diploma was dated May 1, 2020, and included signatures from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and Alabama A&M President Andrew Hugine, Jr.

A school spokesperson confirmed Monday that "that the diploma is official and was so dated upon the fulfillment of the degree requirements."

Barnes attended Alabama A&M from the fall of 2003 to the spring of 2008.

In a statement, Barnes said: "In 2008, I completed all my courses at Alabama A&M and walked in graduation ceremonies. However, due to a minor technical issue with my transcript, the diploma was never sent. Last year, I worked with the appropriate Alabama A&M officials to resolve the internal error and was awarded the diploma I earned back in 2008."

While running for lieutenant governor in 2018, Barnes told the public he finished college and received a degree.

But he backtracked in August 2019, telling the Madison-based Isthmus weekly that he left college before completing his degree.

“I had a class. I got an incomplete. I completed the coursework to get that incomplete resolved. It never got turned in,” Barnes told the Isthmus. "It’s a small technical thing.”

Last year, Barnes recounted his college years during Alabama A&M's Start and Go podcast.

"I had some of the most formative experiences on campus," Barnes said during the podcast. "I started college when I was 16. So, during my time at A&M I turned 18 and I turned 21. Milestone years."

Barnes said one of the first things he did on campus was get involved in the NAACP chapter. He also got involved in student government.

"I ran for freshman class president," he said. "And I lost terribly."

Barnes added: "Life is about learning. I needed that loss to humble myself. And I needed it to make me think much deeper about politics and how politics work."

Barnes said in studying communications media he had "every intention to do TV and/or radio. But things change."

Barnes said he heard Barack Obama give a big speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention "and after that point nothing was the same. I took that speech, I broke down his words. When he talked about his being a very unlikely scenario for him to stand on that stage, it triggered something deep within me. And so I decided, maybe this is the direction I want to go."