Connnnencennent Saturday, May 12, 2007 1:30 p.m. James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena Ryder Center Saginaw Valley State University Contents Message from the President ...... ........2 Academic Procession & Protocol ......... .3 ~ Order of Events ............... .4-5 01 The Platform Party .....................6 Candidate for Honorary Degree .......... .7 Facuh:y Awards .............. ... ... ..8 Academic Regalia ................... ..9 Greetings to our Newest Alumni ......... I0 Graduate Degree Candidates .. ..... .. .II Baccalaureate Degree Candidates ......... 15 The University ...... ................ .26 University Boards .....................30 The SVSU Seal .............. ...... .32 SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY The University creates opportunities for individuals to achieve intellectual and personal development through academic, professional, and cultural programs. By fostering an environment of inquiry and openness that respects the diversity of all whom it serves, the University prepares graduates whose leadership and expertise contribute to the advancement of a pluralistic society. The University serves as a cultural and intellectual center dedicated to the pursuit and propagation of knowledge. The Edwards Bell Tower is located in SVSU's central courtyard. SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY A Message from the President It is a privilege and an honor to stand on this stage and greet you at the ceremonial conclusion of your degree program at Saginaw Valley State University. In offering my heartfelt congratulations, I am also represent­ ing the Board of Control, the faculty and staff, and the alumni of your University. From this point on, and for the rest of your life, you are linked in important ways to this University. You are linked to more than 28,000 other grad­ uates of Saginaw Valley State University who use their knowledge and experiences to change lives and make things better for us all. They serve 2 in our governments at all levels; they are teaching our children, caring for our health and well-being, and solving all sorts of technological prob­ lems. They are enforcing the laws, leading corporations, creating art, and giving back to their communities in as many ways as people can serve. And now you too will carry the name and reputation of this University with you. The name of Saginaw Valley State University will be one of the first things to appear on any job application you submit and "where you went to college" will likely be one of the first questions you are asked in social conversations. We pledge that we here will work to make you as proud of your University as we are of you. COMMENCEMENT· MAY 2007 Academic Procession PRE-COMMENCEMENT CONCERT SVSU Concert Band, William B. Wollner, MA, Director Selections from the following The Gallant Seventh, John Philip Sousa To Dance in The Secret Garden. Robert W. Smith Prelude and Fugue in Bb Major, J.S. Bach/arr Meohlmann Courtly Airs and Dances, Ron Nelson The Thunderer. John Ph1lip Sousa PROCESSIONAL (Please stand) Pomp and Circumstance. Sir Edward Elgar David E. Barker, Ph.D., Marshal Faculty 3 Administration Candidates for Graduate Degrees Candidates for Baccalaureate Degrees Platform Party Protocol The University requests that all attendees at the Commencement Ceremony observe common courtesy and safety stan­ dards. Please refrain from using artificial noisemakers (such as air horns) and laser pointers, or other devices that could cause physical harm to persons in attendance, or disrupt the ceremony. The audience is requested to stand during the Processional, the National Anthem and the Recessional. Photography A professional studio will take photographs of the graduates as they cross the stage during the Commencement Ceremony. Photo orders may be made if desired. For further information, contact Lifetouch National School Studios, 1294 West Midland Road, Auburn MI 48611; (989) 662-2588. Personal photographs or videos may be taken from your seat. To preserve the view for each member of the audience, we ask that no photos or videos be taken from any area of the floor during the Processional or during the Ceremony. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Acknowledgments The graduates' names, and appropriate honors, are read by Chris Looney, M.A., assistant vice president for student services and enrollment management/registrar/director of institutional research. Ushering services are provided by the SVSU Alumni Association, the Office of Disability Services and Alpha Phi Omega. SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY Order of Events PRESIDING Eric R. Gilbertson. JO., President of the University NATIONAL ANTHEM Star Spangled Banner Francis Scott Key Vocalist, Tami Snyder, SVSU Student INVOCATION 4 Robert J. Thaler, MA, MOiv., Assistant Professor of Sociology AWARDS FOR FACULTY EXCELLENCE Presented by Donald J. Bachand, PhD. Vice President for Academic Affairs Landee Teaching Excellence Award Anne Tapp EdO. Assistant Professor of Teacher Education Warrick Award for Excellence in Research Hamza Y Ahmad, PhD. (deceased) Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences CONFERRING OF HONORARY DEGREE Candidate presented by Jerome L. Yantz. Chairman, SVSU Board of Control U.S Representative Bart Stupak, JO., Doctor of Laws PRESENTATION OF GRADUATE DEGREE CANDIDATES Donald J. Bachand Master of Arts (MA) Master of Business Administration (M.BA) Education Specialist (Ed S ) Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Master of Education (M Ed ) Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) Master of Science (M S ) COMMENCEMENT· MAY 2007 CONFERRING OF GRADUATE DEGREES Eric R. Gilbertson PRESENTATION OF BACCALAUREATE DEGREE CANDIDATES Honors Program Donald J Bachand College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences Mary Hedberg. Ph.D .. Interim Dean College of Business and Management Marwan A. Wafa. Ph.D .. Dean College of Education Stephen P Barbus. Ed.D., Dean Crystal M. Lange College of Nursing and Health Sciences Janalou Blecke, Ph.D , Dean College of Science. Engineering and Technology Ronald L. Williams, Ph D , Dean CONFERRING OF BACCALAUREATE DEGREES ) Eric R. Gilbertson INDUCTION INTO SVSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Russell A. Beaubien. BA, President. SVSU Alumni Association CONCLUDING REMARKS Eric R. Gilbertson RECESSIONAL The audience is requested to remain at their seats until all graduates have exited the arena. f0 RECEPTION The graduates, their families and friends. faculty and staff are 1nvited to a reception to be held in the east end of James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena. SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY The Platform Party BOARD OF CONTROL COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES Jerome L. Yantz, Chair Mary Hedberg, Ph.D. Bay City Interim Dean, College of Arts & Behavioral Sciences David R. Gamez, Vice Chair Stephen P. Barbus, Ed.D. Saginaw Dean. College of Education Kizhakepat P. Karunakaran, Secretary Janalou Blecke, Ph.D. Saginaw Dean, Crystal M. Lange College of D. Brian Law, Treasurer Nursing & Health Sciences Bay City Marwan A. Wafa, Ph.D. David J. Abbs Dean. College of Business & Management 6 Saginaw Ronald R. Williams, Ph.D. Ruth A. Braun Dean. College of Science. Engineering & Technology Saginaw OTHERS Lawrence E. Sedrowski Midland David E. Barker, Ph.D. Leola Wilson Professor of Modern Fore1gn Languages Commencement Marshal Saginaw Eric R. Gilbertson Russell A. Beaubien, B.A. President, SVSU Alumn1 Association President (Ex-officio) Chris Looney, M.A. UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION Assistant Vice President for Student Services & Enrollment Management/Registrar/Director of Lucille M. Beuthin, M.A. Institutional Research Vice President for Public Affairs/ Carlos Ramer, Ph.D. Executive Director, Development & SVSU Foundation Executive Assistant to the President Robert L. Maurovich, Ph.D. Vice President for Student Services U.S. Representative Bart Stupak, J.D. & Enrollment Management Candidate for Honorary Degree James G. Muladore, M.B.A. Robert J. Thaler, M.A., M.Div. Vice President for Administration & Business Affairs Assistant Professor of Sociology Invocation Speaker Donald]. Bachand, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affa1rs COMMENCEMENT· MAY 2007 Candidate for Honorary Degree U.S. Representative Bart Stupak, J.D. A 1977 graduate of SVSU, Bart Stupak was elected in 1992 to represent Michigan's First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Thirty-one counties make up the sprawling northern Michigan district, mak­ ing it one of the largest districts in the nation. It contains approximately half of the state's land mass and has more shoreline- 1,613 miles- than any other Congressional District in the nation except Alaska. Congressman Stupak became the first Democrat in the 20th Century to serve successive terms in Michigan's First District by winning re-election seven times. Stupak is a member of the presugwus House Energy and Commerce 7 Committee. Since the Energy and Commerce Committee is an exclusive com­ mittee, it is the only committee on which he serves. Stupak's law enforcement background and his work as an attorney make him uniquely qualified to chair the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, a position he obtained in January 2007. Throughout 2006, as the top Democrat on the Subcommittee, Stupak helped spearhead investigations into high-profile issues such as online child pornography, security breaches at U.S. nuclear labs, the 2006 Hewlett-Packard pretexting scandal and the BP pipeline rupture at Prudhoe Bay. Democratic leaders have named Congressman Stupak to the small pool of congressmen who may be called upon to investigate other members of the U.S. House for potential ethics violations. The