Media Advisory — UA’s Summer Commencement Exercises

Monday, August 12, 2002, 9 a.m., Coleman Coliseum

Speaker: Dr. Thomas E. Corts, President, Samford University

Graduate Features:

• Kristina Jaskyte: Mom coming from Lithuania for daughter’s graduation
• Marcus Campbell: From Livingston to UA to Europe back to UA
• Six graduates picking up degrees on first trip to UA
• Todd Monroe: Graduate temporarily halted studies to serve as nurse volunteer following 9-11

Commencement Information (from Academic Records and University Registrar)

SPEAKER

Dr. Thomas E. Corts, President, Samford University — Corts has gained attention recently in his role as Chairman of the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform, a non-profit, public interest organization devoted to updating the Constitution of the state of Alabama. Having served as Samford president since 1983, Corts previously has served as president of Wingate College in North Carolina for nine years. He has served as chair of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, president of the American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities and is a past president of the National Fellowship of Baptist Educators. Also, he is vice-chairman of the President’s Advisory Council of the Association of Governing Boards. Corts will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters from UA.

Related UA News article from July 25, 2002: Samford President to Speak at UA’s Summer Commencement Aug. 12.

GRADUATE FEATURES

Kristina Jaskyte: Mom coming from Lithuania for daughter’s graduation

Five years ago Jaskyte left her native Lithuania to pursue her doctorate in social work. On Aug. 12, she will be receiving her Ph.D. in social work and her proud Mom, who still lives in Lithuania, is flying into Tuscaloosa to see the big moment. Jaskyte will be staying in the U.S. and has already accepted a faculty position at the University of Georgia.

Jaskyte can be reached at kjaskyte@yahoo.com.

Marcus Campbell: From Livingston to UA to Europe back to UA

Marcus Campbell’s life has taken many different directions since leaving his hometown of Livingston in 1989 to play basketball for The University of Alabama. After three years of playing college ball with future NBA stars like Robert Horry, Latrell Sprewell, Keith Askins, James Robinson, Michael Ansley, David Benoit, and Marcus Webb, Campbell traveled to play roundball in Europe. Although very successful in his athletic career, Campbell still lacked something-his college degree. On Aug. 12, that goal will be reached when he receives his bachelor’s degree.

For more information contact Suzanne Dowling in media relations at 205/348-8324.

Six graduates picking up degrees on first trip to UA

On Aug. 12, Dale Arnold (djarnold@dol.state.ga.us), Dina Miller (drmiller@dol.state.ga.us) Laurie Tuten (lstuten@dol.state.ga.us), Melissa Newsome (mrnewsom@dol.state.ga.us), Martha Reynnells (mnreynnells@dol.state.ga.us), and Teri Bartels (tlbartels@dol.state.ga.us) will all receive their master’s degree in counseling. Pretty standard until you realize that before that date, none of them have set foot on the UA campus. Thanks to distance education technology, all six were able to do all their coursework while still working for the Georgia state government.

For more information, contact Dr. Jamie Satcher, UA professor of counselor education, at 205/348-1178 or jsatcher@bamaed.ua.edu or Suzanne Dowling in media relations at 205/348-8324.

Todd Monroe: Graduate temporarily halted studies to serve as nurse volunteer following 9-11

UA nursing graduation candidate Todd Monroe temporarily suspended his studies last fall, contacting his professors and telling them not to worry, but his focus, at least temporarily, was elsewhere. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, Monroe was quickly making plans to travel to the Pentagon and serve as a nurse volunteer at one of the sites of the terrorist attacks. The 31-year-old will join a classmate as one of the first two males to earn a master of science in nursing from the University. Monroe used a fast-growing, but non-traditional, method, distance education, to earn his degree. The Brinkley, Ark., resident traveled to Tuscaloosa during his studies, spending three weeks on campus getting to know nursing students and faculty and participating in classes, in person. During his brief stay, he also implemented a hypertensive center in UA’s Capstone Rural Health Center in Parrish, Ala. Monroe’s career outlook looks incredibly bright, as he already holds two degrees in a field — nursing — that is so starved for qualified applicants that the U.S. Congress has passed a bill authorizing more loans for nursing students and grants to health facilities to retain them. By 2020, the nursing profession is projected to face a shortage of half a million positions nationwide. Monroe has been awarded a fellowship to the University of Missouri’s nursing program and plans to earn his doctorate so he can teach nursing, an area also severely affected by the nursing shortage.

Contact Monroe, prior to Saturday, at 870-734-3694 or, via e-mail, Tbmbsn@aol.com. After Saturday, Monroe will be in Tuscaloosa for graduation and can be reached at 205/366-8601. Dr. Marietta Stanton, professor of nursing and graduate coordinator in UA’s Capstone College of Nursing, and one of Monroe’s professors, can be reached at 205/348-1020.