GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT Friday, May 5, 2017 ST. CHARLES FAMILY ARENA 2017 Graduate Commencement 1 2 2017 Graduate Commencement LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT Welcome to Lindenwood University and to one of academic procession by the university marshal conferred, the flag bearers lead the recessional in the most important ceremonial occasions of the symbolizes the authority of the president. A staff of reverse order of entry with the newest alumni at the academic year. Lindenwood’s Commencement linden wood, surmounted by a silver cup, is used. end of the procession. ceremony is filled with symbolism and tradition The mace originally belonged to President John that remind us of the noble purpose of colleges Roemer, who served Lindenwood from 1914 to 1940. We hope that you enjoy our Commencement and universities. The academic dress worn by the It is used only on occasions when the faculty and ceremony and that you will respect our protocol students, faculty, boards, and platform party is president march in formal procession. The mace, for the enjoyment of all concerned. Please remain described later in this program. Students wearing flanked by the United States flag and the Lindenwood in your seats during the ceremony. During the blue gowns and black and white medallions are University flag, is proudly displayed at the foot of the conferring of degrees, please refrain from prolonged members of Linden Scroll, an honorary society platform. cheering until all of the graduates have been comprised of students who excel academically and presented. Please stand for the processional, have a dedication to serving the university and the At university graduations, three types of Latin honors invocation, national anthem, and recessional. community. Students wearing blue gowns and gold are typically bestowed. In order of increasing level medallions are members of Lindenwood Student of honor, they are as follows: Cum Laude, “with Ambassadors, a select group of students dedicated praise”; Magna Cum Laude, “with great praise”; and to the positive promotion of Lindenwood University. Summa Cum Laude, “with highest praise.” Three Their duty as marshals is to direct the processional additional forms of recognition offered at Lindenwood and seating of students, faculty, board members, and are University Honors, recognition of students who administrators. graduate with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 and complete at least 24 credits with Academic customs originated within the medieval an Honors distinction; Community Service Honors, Church, and the order of procession follows recognition of students who complete 500 hours of ecclesiastical custom with the most honored qualified community service; and Veteran Honors. members of the procession at the end. The Linden Scroll flag bearers and the graduating students lead During Lindenwood’s Commencement ceremony, the procession. The faculty follows the students the candidates for degrees are presented to the in the processional, and members of the Alumni president by the provost, then each student’s name Board, the University Board of Directors, and the is read, and the president presents the diploma to platform party follow them. The president, preceded that student and congratulates the new graduate. The by the university marshal, is the last person to enter students are also congratulated by the deans of their the Commencement area. The mace carried in the academic schools. Once all the degrees have been 2017 Graduate Commencement 3 LINDENWOOD HISTORY Lindenwood was founded in 1827 by Mary Easton While Lindenwood is fully independent today, the The university has experienced dynamic growth over Sibley (1800-1878) and George C. Sibley (1782- University enjoys a historical relationship with the the past two decades. Not only did Lindenwood 1863), making it the second oldest institution of Presbyterian Church and remains true to its founding College evolve into a university, but it also higher learning west of the Mississippi River, and values. The first commencement ceremony was held experienced dramatic enrollment growth. Today the the institution was incorporated by the Missouri in 1858, and Lindenwood became coeducational St. Charles campus is more than 500 acres. In Legislature in 1853. The Sibleys deeded the in 1969. Evening programs were established in 2003, Lindenwood established its Belleville location, Lindenwood property to the St. Louis Presbytery on 1972, and graduate studies were instituted in 1975. which became a thriving full-service residential February 24, 1853, the start of a formal affiliation Lindenwood became a university in 1997, a regional campus in 2009. with the Presbyterian Church that lasted over a university in 2003, and a doctoral institution in 2007. century. LINDENWOOD MISSION STATEMENT Lindenwood University offers values-centered programs leading to the development of the whole person – an educated, responsible citizen of a global community. Lindenwood is committed to • providing an integrative liberal arts curriculum; • offering professional and pre-professional degree programs focusing on the talents, interests, and future of the student; • supporting academic freedom and the unrestricted search for truth; • affording cultural enrichment to the surrounding community; • promoting ethical lifestyles; • developing adaptive thinking and problem-solving skills; • furthering lifelong learning. Lindenwood is an independent, public-serving liberal arts university that has a historical relationship with the Presbyterian Church and is firmly rooted in Judeo- Christian values. These values include belief in an ordered, purposeful universe, the dignity of work, the worth and integrity of the individual, the obligations and privileges of citizenship, and the primacy of the truth. 4 2017 Graduate Commencement PARTICIPANTS MICHAEL D. SHONROCK Lindenwood University System President JIM J. SHOEMAKE Lindenwood University Chairman, Board of Directors NICHOLE TORBITZKY Assistant Professor, Religion MARILYN S. ABBOTT Lindenwood University RECOGNITION Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs The Class of 2017 MIRA EZVAN Lindenwood University Marshal Family and Friends Professor of Management and Management Information Systems STEPHANIE AFFUL Chair, Faculty Council We express our thanks to the members of the Linden Scroll and Lindenwood Student Ambassadors for serving as today’s ushers and marshals. RITA KOTTMEYER Professor, Mathematics Emerita Candidate 2017 Graduate Commencement 5 PROGRAM *PROCESSIONAL “Pomp & Circumstance” composed by Sir Edward Elgar University Marshal | Mira Ezvan, Professor of Management and Management Information Systems GREETINGS AND Marilyn S. Abbott, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs INTRODUCTIONS *INVOCATION Nichole Torbitzky, Assistant Professor, Religion *STAR SPANGLED BANNER Voices Only, Lindenwood’s Premier A Cappella Ensemble, Pre-recorded WELCOME Michael D. Shonrock, Lindenwood University System President GREETINGS FROM THE Jim J. Shoemake, Chairman, Lindenwood University Board of Directors BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESENTATION OF Stephanie Afful, Chair, Faculty Council EMERITA CANDIDATE PRESENTATION OF Provost Abbott DEGREE CANDIDATES *Audience please stand 6 2017 Graduate Commencement PROGRAM CONFERRING OF DEGREES President Shonrock Dean Cynthia J. Bice | School of Education Associate Dean Michael Wall | School of Arts, Media, and Communications Dean Cynthia A. Schroeder | School of Health Sciences Dean Michael J. Whaley | School of Humanities Dean Roger Ellis | Robert W. Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship Dean Gina Ganahl | School of Accelerated Degree Programs CLOSING President Shonrock VOCAL SELECTION “Oh Lindenwood” Voices Only, Pre-recorded *RECESSIONAL “Procession of the Nobles” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov *Audience please stand 2017 Graduate Commencement 7 LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY GRADUATES ALLISON LEIGH BEARDEN MARGARET A. MATHUS JOELLYN MARIE TRAVIS NATALIE ROSE FERRARA St. Charles, MO Wildwood, MO Springfield, MO St. Louis, MO EDD-INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP EDD-INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP EDD-EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION EDS-BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS MA & BA-Lindenwood University MA-Lindenwood University MS & BS-Missouri Southern University MA-University of Missouri Columbia BS-Southeast Missouri State University DANA LEIGH BURNS LARA JEAN WILBUR ANGELA KAY FLICK St. Charles, MO SHERRY ANN SMITH MCMASTERS Vacaville, CA Centerview, MO EDD-INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP Bay, AR EDD-EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION EDS-SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION EDS & MA-Lindenwood University EDD-EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION MA-Lindenwood University MA & BA-University of Central Missouri BS-Illinois State University EDS, MS, & BS-Arkansas State University BS-College of the Ozarks STACEY MICHELLE FRANKLIN MELISSA MARIE COOK SARAH A. PADBERG ROGER ALLEN WOODS St. Louis, MO SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Taneyville, MO St. Peters, MO Gatewood, MO EDS-SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION EDD-EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION EDD-EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION EDD-EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION MA-Lindenwood University EDS & MA-Lindenwood University MA-Lindenwood University EDS-Arkansas State University BA-Southern Illinois University Edwardsville BA-College of the Ozarks BS-University of Missouri-Columbia MS-Southwest Baptist University BS-Missouri State University LESLIE DIANE FURDEK AEDRYAN NATHANAEL COX RYAN JAMES PERSINGER St. Louis, MO Columbia, MO Cedarcreek, MO MEGAN ELIZABETH ZACHEIS EDS-BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS EDD-INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP EDD-EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION O’Fallon, MO MAT-Missouri