The College of Education held its convocation ceremony on Saturday, May 13, 2017, to celebrate and mark the important academic milestones of its more than 400 newest alumni. 

This year’s event, held in conjunction with the campus’s sesquicentennial celebration, was live-streamed and followed by a reception held on the west lawn of the college.

“We have a wonderful group of doctoral students and a very talented group of young educators who are well prepared and ready to take the next steps in their careers,” said Interim Dean James Anderson. Acknowledging the dedication of faculty and staff in nurturing students through their College career, Anderson said it takes “everybody on deck” to produce such special graduates.

A meaningful achievement of this year’s convocation was the graduation of the College’s inaugural Learning & Education Studies (LES) cohort. These graduates are now prepared to address and help solve issues in nearly every facet of education. Among the new LES graduates is Elizabeth Shultz, who studied in the Workplace Training & Development concentration and successfully secured employment prior to graduation.

“The specific background and academic coursework helped me attain a job because I was able to speak about concepts and methods I’d learned within the LES program,” she said.

The recognition of baccalaureate degrees, master’s degrees, advanced certificates, and doctoral degrees was accompanied by music from the Aduro Brass Quintet. Stephanie Rayl, a student and staff member of the College, followed the welcome by Associate Professor Christopher Span by singing a soprano rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

The afternoon also included recognition of members of the James Scholars Honors Program, Bronze Tablet honorees, and Outstanding Student Medal recipients. More than 60 faculty members of the College participated in the ceremony. 

As a national and global leader in education and research, the College is proud of its new alumni, including more than 60 newly minted doctoral graduates. All of these accomplished individuals join more than 34,000 fellow alumni to become the next generation of influential education leaders.

View graduation-day photos and check out this year's convocation brochure.