Cal U graduation scheduled Saturday
California University of Pennsylvania will hold its 155th commencement on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Hamer Hall. President Dr. Angelo Armenti Jr. will confer degrees on 1,273 students representing the School of Graduate Studies and Research (304), and the undergraduate colleges of Education and Human Services (388), Liberal Arts (284), and the Eberly College of Science and Technology (297). This includes August and December 2001 and May 2002 graduates. Sixty associate degrees will also be conferred.
Presenting candidates will be Dr. Curtis C. Smith, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Thomas G. Kinsey, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research; Geraldine M. Jones, interim dean, College of Education and Human Services; Dr. Richard J. Helldobler, interim dean, College of Liberal Arts; Dr. Leonard A. Colelli, dean of Eberly College of Science and Technology; Dr. Joe D. Forrester, president, Community College of Beaver County (associate of applied science); and Dr. Roy Flores, president, Community College of Allegheny County (associate of science and nursing).
Serving as this year’s keynote speaker will be the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (SSHE) chancellor, Dr. Judy G. Hample.
Hample was named chancellor of the State System Aug. 1, 2001. The chancellor is the chief executive officer of the system and reports directly to the State System’s board of governors. Hample holds a bachelor of arts degree in speech communication and secondary education/French from David Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tenn., and master of arts and doctorate degrees in communication from The Ohio State University.
Prior to coming to Pennsylvania, Hample served the State University System of Florida board of regents. She was hired in 1998 as vice chancellor for planning, budgeting and policy analysis, promoted to executive vice chancellor in 2000 and chancellor in 2001.
Her system experience in Florida is complemented by several years of university campus experience in Illinois, Kansas, Indiana and Ohio. She began her teaching career as a university fellow and assistant director of intercollegiate debate while completing her initial graduate work at Ohio State.
Hample’s first faculty appointment was in the department of speech communication at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Her first administrative appointments were at Western Illinois University, where she served as division director in the department of communication arts and sciences and later as associate dean for budget and personnel in the College of Arts and Sciences.
In 1983, Hample relocated to Kansas where she served as dean of the college of liberal arts and sciences at Emporia State University; in 1986, she was appointed dean of the college of arts and sciences at Indiana State University before being named senior vice president – academic affairs at the University of Toledo in 1993. In all of her campus administrative appointments, Hample also held tenured professorships.
Hample has been affiliated with several professional organizations, including the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges; the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences; and the Project 30 Alliance, sponsored originally by the Carnegie Corporation as the only national organization focused exclusively on collaborative efforts between faculty in arts and sciences and faculty in professional education to improve teacher education. She has served as a consultant-evaluator for the North Central Accreditation Association, and currently serves as a public consultant-evaluator for the American Bar Association.
She has numerous academic publications and presentations to her credit.
Meanwhile, three faculty members are being honored by the Faculty Professional Development Committee.
Receiving the merit award in service and service-learning is Dr. Thomas Mueller, assistant professor of earth sciences. The merit award in teaching and learning recognizes Dr. Diane H. Nettles, professor of elementary education. The merit award in research will be presented to Dr. Mohamed Yamba, associate professor of history and political science.
Recognized for their years of dedicated service are retiring faculty members Dr. Robert A. Bauman, special education; Dr. Foster E. Billheimer, biological and environmental sciences; William F. Blank, mathematics and computer science; Dr. Robert A. Brown, counselor education and services; Dr. Raymond A. Catalano, biological and environmental sciences; Dr. George J. Frangos, educational studies; John S. Gibson, mathematics and computer science; Charles S. Gismondi, communication disorders; William A. Gustin, earth sciences; Dr. John M. Hanchin, English; Dr. David L. Johnson, chemistry and physics; Dr. Anthony Lazzaro, chemistry and physics; Dr. Andrew J. Machusko, mathematics and computer science; Dr. J. Gregory Martin, elementary education; Dr. Thomas C. Moon, biological and environmental sciences; Dr. David W. Pajerski, chemistry and physics; Terry E. Scott, health science and sport studies; Dr. James E. Syphers, social work and gerontology; and Dr. Charles R. Thomas, English.
Also participating in the ceremony will be Kathy Sacco, organist, who will perform Baroque selections. The University Choir, under the direction of Dr. Ellen Michael, and the Brass Ensemble, will perform several selections. The invocation and benediction will be given by The Rev. Norman Hunt, pastor, California United Christian Church (retired). The Cal U Veterans’ Club will post the colors.
Tickets are required for admission to the commencement ceremony. CUTV, Cal U’s television network, will broadcast the ceremony live on the Armstrong (channel 39), Charter Communications (channel 21) and AT&T Mon Valley (channel 13) cable networks.
Because of the large number of graduates, there will also be viewing on closed-circuit television in the Performance Center of the Natali Student Center. Graduates bringing more than four guests may request additional tickets through the office of academic affairs.
A special area in Hamer Hall will be available for guests who are physically challenged. Personnel will be available at the elevator in Hamer Hall to assist guests to the designated area. As an alternative, those with special comfort requirements may wish to consider viewing the ceremony in the Performance Center.
For more information, contact Cathy Urban of the office of academic affairs at (724) 938-4407.