TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama awarded some 1,100 degrees at fall commencement exercises held Monday, Dec. 17, in Coleman Coliseum on the Tuscaloosa campus.
Dr. Rita Colwell, director of the National Science Foundation, was the featured speaker. Colwell also received an honorary doctor of humane letters during the ceremony.
Having served as director since 1998, Colwell has spearheaded the NSF’s emphases in K-12 science and mathematics education, graduate science and engineering education/training and the increased participation of women and minorities in science and engineering. Under her leadership, the Foundation has received significant budget increases, and its funding recently reached a level of more than $4.5 billion.
Before coming to NSF, Colwell was president of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, where she remains professor of microbiology and biotechnology. She was also a member of the National Science Board from 1984 to 1990. She is a nationally respected scientist and educator and has authored or co-authored 16 books and more than 600 scientific publications. She produced the award-winning film, Invisible Seas, and has served on editorial boards of numerous scientific journals.
With this graduating class, UA has awarded more than 180,000 degrees since its founding in 1831 as the state’s first public university. UA holds commencement ceremonies three times a year.
The following students from the Florence area were listed as candidates to receive degrees:
MASTER’S DEGREE
Athens – Elizabeth Anna George.
Muscle Shoals – Robyn Elaine Moore.
Russellville – John Paul Lawhead.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
Athens – Jennifer Annette Henke, Jessica Jane Mansell, Sabeen Qureshi.
Courtland – Shaneka Nicole Garth.
Florence – Anne Martha Bernauer, Nathanael Cleere English, Daniel Chadwick Holder, Melissa Shea Huffaker, Jaselyn Hope Johnson, John Raymond Kelley, Barton Frank Lary, Jennifer Ann Lovett, Brian Jacob Mauter, Bryan Kent McGee, Robert Carroll Miller, Christopher Lee Moore, John Stanford Odem.
Hillsboro – Robin Nicole Garrison, Reginald Tavares Reynolds.
Killen – Alan Ray Elledge, Lindsy Meredith Farina.
Moulton – Samuel Hafford Compton.
Muscle Shoals – Brandon Wade Defoor, Jennifer Leigh Jones, Dana Loren Moore.
Phil Campbell – Lee Herring Frix.
Red Bay – Franklin Heath McKee.
Rogersville – Michael Jacob Vollmer.
Russellville – Alison Leann Britton, Andrea Leah Lane, Jeffrey David Norris, Anthony Cross Olive.
Sheffield – Quintin Trevaras Crum.
Tuscumbia – David Edgar Black, Alicia Deanna Davidson, Bryan Keith Powell.
Contact
Linda Hill, Office of Media Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu