University of South Alabama Alma Mater All hail great university Our Alma Mater dear, South Alabama, red and blue proud colors we revere. Nestled midst the hills of pine enduring throughout time, Upward, onward may your fame continue in its climb. So with thy blessings now send us pray that highest be our aim, University of South Alabama may we ever lif and glorify your name! South Alabama U-S-A! Spring Commencement May 6, 2017 University of South Alabama Spring Commencement Saturday, May 6, 2017 9:30 a.m. Ceremony Bachelor’s Degrees Master’s and Educational Doctoral Degrees Specialist Degrees College of Arts and Sciences College of Arts and Sciences College of Arts and Sciences College of Education College of Education College of Education School of Computing Graduate School College of Medicine School of Continuing Education School of Computing Graduate School and Special Programs School of Computing 2:00 p.m. Ceremony Bachelor’s Degrees Master’s Degrees Doctoral Degrees College of Engineering College of Engineering College of Engineering College of Nursing College of Nursing College of Nursing Mitchell College of Business Mitchell College of Business Mitchell College of Business Pat Capps Covey College of Pat Capps Covey College of Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions Allied Health Professions Allied Health Professions Processional ..................................................................................................Pomp and Circumstance No. 1 Te USA Commencement Band William H. Petersen, D.M., Conductor Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Presentation of Colors ...............................................................................................Te USA Color Guard Te National Anthem ...................................................................................................Olivia Renee´ Drake Junior Music Major Te USA Commencement Band Invocation ........................................................................................................... Michael A. Mitchell, Ph.D. Vice President for Student Afairs and Dean of Students Welcome................................................................................................................... Tony G. Waldrop, Ph.D. President SPRING 2017 COMMENCEMENT 1 Commencement Address, 9:30 a.m. ......................................................................... Merceria L. Ludgood Commencement Address, 2:00 p.m. ................................................................................David O’Sullivan Conferring of the Bachelor’s Degrees ............................................................................ President Waldrop Introduction of the Deans .....................................................................................G. David Johnson, Ph.D. Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Afairs Conferring of the Master’s and Educational Specialist Degrees ...................................................................................... President Waldrop Conferring of the Doctoral Degrees .............................................................................. President Waldrop Remarks ......................................................................................................................Joshua M. Crownover President, Student Government Association Remarks, 9:30 a.m. ......................................................................................................... James E. Moore ’90 Secretary-Treasurer, National Alumni Association Remarks, 2:00 p.m. ...........................................................................................John Ethan Bonds Shell ’00 Past President, National Alumni Association Remarks ........................................................................................................................... President Waldrop Te Alma Mater ....................................................................................................……Olivia Renee´ Drake Te USA Commencement Band Recessional ....................................................................................................................... Coronation March Te USA Commencement Band Te audience is requested to stand during the Processional, Presentation of Colors, National Anthem, Invocation and USA Alma Mater. v v v v v v v v v Te program contains the names of candidates for degrees and tentative honors for those who may be eligible. Inclusion in the program does not constitute evidence of completion of the required program of study for awarding the degree, certifcation or honors. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA COMMENCEMENT 2 President Tony G. Waldrop University of South Alabama Board of Trustees Kay Ivey, Ex Officio President ............................................. Governor, State of Alabama County/Region Reprsented Katherine Ale is Atkins ....................................................................................................Mobile Chandra Brown Stewart ...................................................................................................Mobile Scott A. Charlton ...................................................................................Coffee and Crenshaw E. Thomas Corcoran ..............................................................................Baldwin and Escambia Steven P. Furr ................................................................ Choctaw, Clarke and Washington Robert D. Jenkins III ............................................................................ United States at Large Bettye R. Maye .......................................................................................... Marengo and Sumter Arlene Mitchell, Secretary ..............................................................................................Mobile Bryant Mi on ..........................................................................................................State at Large John M. Peek ......................................................................... Butler, Conecuh and Covington James H. Shumock, Vice Chair ........................................................................... State at Large Kenneth O. Simon, Chair Pro Tempore ........................................................... State at Large Steven H. Stokes ...........................................................................................Henry and Houston Michael P. Windom ...............................................................................................State at Large James A. Yance ........................................................................................................ State at Large SPRING 2017 COMMENCEMENT 3 Merceria L. Ludgood SPEAKER Attorney, civic leader and District One Mobile County Commissioner and President Merceria Ludgood’s life and work experiences are a testament to her personal motto: “To whom much is given, much is required.” The native of Mobile’s Crichton neighborhood graduated with honors in 1970 from Toulminville High School. In 1974, she received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Alabama, followed in 1976 with a master of arts degree. An avid supporter of education, Ludgood also earned a master of divinity degree from the Alabama Interdenominational Seminary in 1990. Ludgood earned her law degree in 1981 from the Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C. She also worked as a law clerk in 1980 to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s The commissioner has distinguished herself as a member Subcommittee on Jurisprudence and Governmental of the inaugural class of the “Herstory Awards,” a History Relations, chaired by Sen. Howell Heflin of Alabama. Museum of Mobile project recognizing the outstanding She returned to Mobile in 1981 to begin her law practice contributions of women to the social, economic and cultural with the firm of Figures, Irby and Ludgood, where she heritage of the Gulf Coast region. remained until 1988 when she opened her own office. In 1991, Ludgood donates her time to many organizations, she continued her commitment to social justice when she was including Mobile United/Leadership Mobile, Leadership selected to lead the Legal Services Corporation of Alabama, Alabama, Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, which provides free civil legal services for income-eligible United Way of Southwest Alabama and the United Way clients. She supervised 14 offices serving 60 of Alabama’s 67 Women’s Initiative. counties. Ludgood’s current professional affiliations also include: The job led Ludgood back to Washington, D.C., in 1995, • National Association of Counties’ Executive Committee, when she became director of the Office of Program Services representing 12 Southern states in the national office of the Legal Services Corporation. She • Past president, Association of County Commissions of returned home to Mobile in 1998 to become a full-time Alabama; current member, board of directors assistant county attorney and an assistant city attorney, • National Association of Counties’ Community, Economic respectively, until she was elected to her present position on and Workforce Development Steering Committee Oct. 9, 2007. • National Association of Counties’ Gulf Counties and Ludgood is the recipient of numerous honors and Parishes Oil Spill Task Force, Chair of Subcommittee on awards, including being selected for Leadership Mobile, Revisions to the Oil Pollution Act Leadership Alabama and the prestigious Kellogg National • Environmental Protection