Communication Associate: Public Relations | Lori Melton | lmelton@d.umn.edu | (218) 726-8830
May 8, 2012 Lucy Kragness | Office of the Chancellor | 218 726-6176 | lkragnes@d.umn.edu
Cheryl Reitan | External Affairs | 218 726-8996 | creitan@d.umn.edu
UMD 2012 Commencement Ceremonies
Note to Media:
On May 12, at the undergraduate commencement, a special section with a direct view of the stage has been set aside in the Bulldog Lounge at the Amsoil Arena. No access to the floor is permitted.
UMD 2012 Commencement Ceremonies Highlight
First Graduates from Three New Degree Programs
University of Minnesota Duluth Chancellor Dr. Lendley C. Black will preside over the 2012 commencement ceremonies. Thirty-nine students from the Civil Engineering undergraduate degree program, twelve students from the Civil Engineering master's degree program, and the first three students from the Iron Range Master of Engineering program will receive their degrees.
UMD will confer nearly 2085 undergraduate degrees, 225 graduate degrees, and five doctoral degrees.
UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT
UMD will hold its undergraduate commencement ceremony at the DECC Amsoil Arena, on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 12:00 noon. Over 100 faculty members and over 1400 students will march in the event. This is the largest group of graduates to participate in a commencement ceremony in UMD's history. Nearly 5,600 parents and guests will attend.
Aicha N. Cooper from Monrovia, Liberia will present the student address. Cooper will receive a bachelor's degree in international studies.
The commencement speaker is Dr. Andrea J. Schokker, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. She spent nearly a decade at Penn State where, in one of her roles, she was the professor in charge of undergraduate programs. She was hired by UMD in 2008 as founding head of UMD's Department of Civil Engineering.
GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT
UMD graduate student commencement ceremonies will be held on Thursday, May 10 at 7 p.m. in the UMD Romano Gymnasium. UMD's Dr. Imran Hayee will deliver the featured commencement address. Hayee is a professor and director of graduate studies in the electrical and computer engineering department.
About Andrea Schokker
Dr. Andrea J. Schokker spent nearly a decade at Penn State where, in one of her roles, she was the professor in charge of undergraduate programs. She was hired by UMD in 2008 as founding head of UMD's Department of Civil Engineering. Schokker, a licensed professional engineer specializing in structural engineering, has focused her research on concrete bridge structures and sustainable structures. She has held a variety of leadership roles in national professional societies including serving on the Board of Directors for the American Concrete Institute, and has won numerous awards for teaching, research, advising, and professional achievement. Schokker began her role as Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in January 2012.
About Imran Hayee
Dr. Imran Hayee is a professor and director of graduate studies in the electrical and computer engineering department. After completing his masters and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, he worked in the fields of trans-oceanic optical fiber communication systems and optical fiber telecommunication before joining the UMD electrical and computer engineering in fall of 2004. His research interests are in the areas of optical fiber communications systems, digital signal processing, medical instrumentation and intelligent transportation systems and he holds 13 U.S. patents. He recently received the Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award for 2011-12. Faculty members who receive this award are honored for their excellence in research or creative activity, scholarly or artistic contributions to their individual disciplines, and dedication to student research.
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