491b-Foil_Covers 4/10/14 10:35 AM Page 2 Lincoln Univ ersity 157th Commencement Friday, May 13, 2016 10:00 a.m. Lincoln University Lions Stadium LINCOLN UNIVERSITY A Legacy of Producing Leaders Since its founding in 1854, Lincoln around the world. The University admitted University, the nation’s first degree-granting women students in 1952, and formally Historically Black College and University associated with the Commonwealth of (HBCU), has been internationally recognized Pennsylvania in 1972 as a state-related, for its commitment to excellence in coeducational university. scholarship and service. Lincoln University graduates have distinguished themselves Lincoln University has had 13 presidents in many fields including medicine, science, in its distinguished history with Interim theology, education, law, and the arts. In President Richard Green currently at the addition to our more visible graduates – helm. They include Dickey (1854-56); John Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall Pym Carter (1856-61); John Wynne Martin ’30, poet and playwright Langston Hughes (1861-65); Isaac Norton Rendall (1865- ’29, the first president of Nigeria, Nnamdi 1906); John Ballard Rendall (1906-24); Azikiwe ’30, and the first president of William Hallock Johnson (1926-36); Walter Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah ‘39 – Lincoln Livingston Wright (1936-45); Horace Mann University and its graduates have achieved Bond (1945-57); Marvin Wachman (1961- the following additional distinctions: 69); Herman Russell Branson (1970-85); participated in the founding of eight Niara Sudarkasa (1987-98); Ivory V. Nelson universities in the United States and abroad, (1999-2011), and Robert R. Jennings (2012- created the organization (Crossroads Africa) 14). which served as the model for the U.S. Peace Corps, and published the first alumni Accredited by the Middle States magazine of any college or university Commission on Higher Education, Lincoln (1884). Lincoln graduates also include the offers 40 academic programs, seven pre- first African American Bishop of the United professional programs, and seven graduate Methodist Church, Roy C. Nichols ’41, programs to nearly 2,000 students from 28 and the first African American female rear states and 19 foreign countries. Among admiral in the U.S. Navy, Lillian Fishburne those programs are a new Pan-Africana ’71. studies major and a new nationally accredited nursing program. The University’s beginnings can be traced back with recognition to its founder, In addition, more than 25 percent of Presbyterian Minister John Miller Dickey, Lincoln’s undergraduate degrees awarded his wife, Sarah Emlen Cresson, and the are in biology, chemistry, physics, first two students - James Ralston Amos mathematics, and computer science. Of and his brother, Thomas H. Amos. Lincoln those graduates (2001 to 2015), more University was initially chartered as Ashmun than 90 have earned medical degrees or Institute in honor of Jehudi Ashmun, the doctorate degrees in chemistry and related first governor of Liberia, and renamed fields. Lincoln University in 1866 after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln University’s historic campus is Since its inception, Lincoln has attracted an located on 422 acres in Southern Chester interracial and international enrollment from County, Pennsylvania. Currently, Lincoln also the surrounding community and region, and 157TH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY 1 LINCOLN UNIVERSITY A Legacy of Producing Leaders operates two satellite locations; Lincoln Association (CIAA). The Lion football University - University City in Philadelphia program, which fielded a team from 1894 for its graduate and continuing education through 1960, was an original member of programs and Lincoln University – the CIAA, winning the CIAA Conference Coatesville in Coatesville, PA, where it championship in 1924. Aside from football, offers select traditional and accelerated Lincoln provides students the opportunity undergraduate programs as well as a dual to participate in collegiate competition in enrollment program with Coatesville Area baseball, basketball, soccer, cross country, Senior High School. That location opened and volleyball. Lincoln University track in 2013. and field athletes have also compiled an outstanding record of achievement in In 2000, the University began massive NCAA competition, capturing a total of 17 programmatic and physical plant upgrades. men’s and women’s national championships. In the eight years that followed, Lincoln The men’s basketball team won the 2014 University secured $275 million to enhance Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association the physical facilities and redesign the Championship. The following athletic campus’ infrastructure. These funds season the women’s cross country team allowed the University to construct the was CIAA cross country champion and the new high-tech Ivory V. Nelson Center for women’s basketball team placed second in the Sciences as well as a state-of-the-art the CIAA and the ECAC Championships. International Cultural Center. In addition, the University executed several major Lincoln University remains committed to renovation projects, which included Ware preserving its distinction as an intellectual Center, University Hall, Grim Hall, Wright and cultural resource for this region. Hall, the Langston Hughes Memorial Library, the Student Union Building and Lincoln’s University City satellite location in Philadelphia. Over the years, the university’s expansion has not only been relegated to academics and infrastructure. In April 2006, Lincoln University continued its commitment to enhance the quality education and campus life experience for its student body, with the reinstatement of a football program and marching band to commence in fall 2008. The proposed move resulted in the eventual transition from Division III to Division II in 2010, which also required the addition of a women’s softball team to the athletic offerings. The Board of Trustees also approved re-affiliation with the Central Intercollegiate Athletic 2 LINCOLN UNIVERSITY 157TH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2016 Presiding Richard Green, Ph.D. President of the University (Interim) Prelude “Exultate Op 3, No. 3”……..Daniel E. Gawthrop Charles H. Pettaway, Jr., M.Mus. Professor of Music and University Organist *Processional “Pomp and Circumstance No. 1”. .Edward Elgar Invocation Reverend Frederick T. Faison, M.Ed., M.Div. University Chaplain Opening Remarks President Green Greetings Kimberly A. Lloyd ’94 Chairwoman, Board of Trustees Musical Selection “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. James Weldon Johnson/Arr. John Rosamond Johnson Lincoln University Concert Choir Edryn J. Coleman, M.M.E. Director of Choral Activities M. Helen Meacham, M.M. Accompanist Introduction of Speaker Terrell Smith ‘16 President, Student Government Association Commencement Address Soraya Coley ’72, Ph.D. President, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Musical Selection “Get Away Jordan”……….Arr. Stacey V. Gibbs Lincoln University Concert Choir Introduction of Valedictorian Patricia A. Joseph, Ph.D. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Interim) Valedictory Address Renyta Nyasha Scales *Audience rises. +Audience remains in place until recessional is completed. 157TH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY 3 157TH COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY Conferral of Honorary Degrees President Green and Trustees Citation Read By: Moses Haimbodi, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Mathematics and Computer Science Doctor of Laws Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila ‘94 Prime Minister of Namibia ****** Citation Read By: Jeffrey A. Chapp, M.F.A. Associate Professor, Visual and Performing Arts Doctor of Humane Letters Soraya Coley ’72, Ph.D. President, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Presentation of Candidates and Conferral of Degrees President Green and Dr. Joseph College of Professional, Graduate, and Extended Studies Virginia J. Smith, Ph.D. Dean (Interim) College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Cheryl Renée Gooch, Ph.D. Dean College of Science and Technology Derrick J. Swinton, Ph.D. Dean (Interim) Induction into the Alumni Association of Lincoln University Robert L. Ingram, Jr. ‘76 National President, Alumni Association of Lincoln University Closing Remarks President Green *Alma Mater Words by A. Dennee Bibb, 1911 *Benediction Reverend Faison +Recessional “War March of the Priests”. .Felix Mendelssohn *Audience rises. +Audience remains in place until recessional is completed. 4 LINCOLN UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER – HONORARY DEGREE DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS, honoris causa Soraya Coley ’72, Ph.D. PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA Soraya Moore Coley ’72 feels that a quality education remains one of the few pathways to social and economic well-being in a global society. Her life’s work is dedicated to creating access and opportunity to those who are the least likely to afford what is possible. Often referred to as a “community-minded” administrator, Coley has built bridges between the university and the community through her service, her research, and her work as an administrator. She has over 25 years of academic and administrative experience. In her new administrative position, Coley became the sixth president of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) – and the first woman to serve in that role. She served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at California State University, Bakersfield, and was senior research fellow at Children and Family Future’s National Center on Child Welfare and Substance