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 Huntsville area were listed as candidates to receive degrees:
DOCTORAL DEGREE
Arab – Kathleen Hill Hawk.
Decatur – Sandra Fox Melching.
Huntsville – Ginger Beazley, Lydia Diane Davenport, Elizabeth Brien Duke.
MASTER’S DEGREE
Arab – Sherry G. Blackmon, Brooke Kelley Campbell, Jennifer Leann Green.
Athens – Elizabeth Anna George.
Boaz – Jennifer Davis Turk.
Decatur – Susan Marie Nava.
Gurley – Susan L. Hessler.
Huntsville – Susan H. Clark, Katherine Michelle Ross, Virginia Aline Sisco.
Madison – Christina Ann Hendrickson, Kristopher Charles Strope.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
Albertville – Jonathan Keith Rice, Marlo Susanne Scott.
Arab – Jacob Alan Maples, Jennifer Lynn Prosser, Nicole Marie Webb.
Athens – Jennifer Annette Henke, Jessica Jane Mansell, Sabeen Qureshi.
Boaz – Clayton Rives Wisner.
Bridgeport – Sarah Ellen Ragan.
Danville – Kelli Dianne McConnell.
Decatur – James Lucas Bound, Lakesha Redus Bowens, Leslie Summer Brown, Barrett Edward Campbell, Michael Ethan Henry, Timothy Marshall Hicks, Nathaniel David Holaway, Christopher Thomas Inman, Thomas Jason Neher, Catherine Elizabeth Penley, Donathan Todd Spivey, Kara Nicole Terry, Anna Virginia Tuggle, Philip Lee Waldrep.
Guntersville – Kimberly Renea Brooks, Julie Louise Wagner.
Hartselle – Amanda Kathryn Smith, Jarod Lane Tanksley.
Hazel Green – Timothy Edward Simmons.
Huntsville – Bradley Gilbert Fulton, John Orville Glenn, David Victor Grimes, Audrey Suzanne House, Nakia Faith Hundley, Charles Hayes Knapp, Kevin Scott Mack, Brandi Leigh McGregor, Virginia Gail Moy, Wesley Stone Rollings, Jamie Lauren Smith, David Malachy Sumera, Dustin Wayne Sutton, Jennifer Michelle Waters, Christina Riley Weywadt.
Laceys Springs – Stephen Thomas Woods.
Madison – Bradley Kyle Barnett, Amanda Janel Bowling, Ronald Alexander Burns, Lettie Danielle Dake, Tara Marie Newton.
Meridianville – Melissa Dianne Johnson, Lori Anne Miller.
New Hope – Jennifer Ellen Butler.
Scottsboro – Millicent Clarice Arnold, Jeremy Stephen Carden.
Stevenson – Amy Carol Garner.
Toney – Angelita Maria Gonzales, Meredith Camille Johnson.
Contact
Linda Hill, Office of Media Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu