Media Advisory: UA’s Spring Commencement Exercises

UA’s Spring Commencement Exercises
Friday, May 3: 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 4: 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

MEDIA CONTACTS
David Miller, 205/348-0825, dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu
Shane Dorrill (broadcast media only), 205/348-8319

Friday’s ceremony: College of Commerce and Business Administration, College of Engineering

Saturday’s ceremony: Capstone College of Nursing, College of Communication and Information Sciences, College of Education and College of Human Environmental Sciences (9 a.m.); School of Social Work, College of Arts and Sciences (1:30 p.m.); School of Law (5 p.m.).

Dressler to serve as commencement Marshal
The commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live over the Internet. The webcast will be archived on UA’s website, www.ua.edu/commencement, and will be available for viewing throughout May. Dr. William W. Dressler, professor of anthropology at UA, will carry the ceremonial mace. Dressler has been a faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences’ anthropology department, the School of Social Work and the College of Community Health Sciences.

His research examines the relationship between culture and health. His recent work emphasizes concepts and methods for examining the health effects of individual efforts to achieve culturally defined goals and aspirations. The ceremonial mace is a commencement tradition at UA for more than 25 years.

Introduced at the May 1987 commencement ceremony, the ceremonial mace is carried by the commencement marshal, a senior, active faculty member. When not in use at a commencement ceremony, the mace is under the care of the Office of the University Registrar. The 52-inch pedestal was lathed partially from wood saved from the Gorgas Oak, a campus landmark felled by a 1982 windstorm.

The head frame is made entirely of Gorgas Oak and is set with four bronze castings. Base, pedestal and head frame were crafted by Sebron E. Kelly, retired superintendent of building maintenance at UA, and other maintenance employees.

INSPIRING GRADUATES
Annika Zeyen (College of Communication and Information Sciences)
Germany native Annika Zeyen will leave The University of Alabama with a 4.0 grade point average, an advertising degree, and an Olympic gold medal. The rare company she joined this summer following Germany’s gold-medal run (women’s wheelchair basketball) at the Paralympic Games in summer 2012 hadn’t sunk in until recently, as her playing career with UA has officially come to a close. Zeyen will leave UA as a two-time national champion and Olympic champion. “Every athlete dreams of winning a medal, but few will ever get to experience it,” Zeyen said. “I still can’t believe we did it.” Zeyen, 27, pondered sticking around to attend graduate school at UA but opted to take a job with an organization that will offer daily fulfillment: the International Paralympic Committee in Germany. Zeyen will serve as the design project coordinator, which will showcase her minor (graphic design) and feature an international strong suit – her fluent English. For more information, contact David Miller at 205-348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

Jennifer Greene (Social Work)
When Greene receives her Master of Social Work degree Saturday, she will have been back in Alabama for just a handful of days. Greene, a Gadsden native, has spent the last four months working at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. as part of the School of Social Work’s annual internship program in Washington, D.C. Greene has helped write policies that will be implemented for women with postpartum depression. “Writing policy is one of my passions,” Greene said. Working with military veterans is an even greater passion for Greene, whose husband is a 100 percent disabled veteran and former Marine. The Greenes volunteer with active duty and veteran support groups like Gadsden Ettowah Patriots Association, the Marine Corps League of Gadsden-McLaughlin and the North Alabama VA Mental Health Alliance. “Being here at Walter Reed, seeing the needs of our vets and their families will have as they transition back into the community strengthened that passion,” Greene said. “I want to be part of making sure the care they get at home is like what they’re getting here.” For more information, contact David Miller at 205-348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.

Tom Howell (Education Administration) and Andrew Howell (Special Education)
The Howell household will spend the month of May celebrating three graduations. Tom, the father and special education coordinator for Lamar County Schools, will receive his Doctor of Education in education administration on Saturday. He’ll be joined by son, Andrew, who’ll receive his bachelor’s in special education. Later this month, Tom’s daughter Katie will graduate from Sulligent High School. “There’s a lot of excitement for the family right now,” Tom said. Though Tom would have rather his children enjoy the full beam of graduation’s spotlight, he’s happy to share the moment with Andrew, who will follow in his father’s professional footsteps. Inspired by his father’s work and relationships with autistic friends at school and church, Andrew knew what his major would be shortly after eighth grade. “I enjoy being around children with disabilities,” he said. “I bond with them really well.” Tom, who has been working on his doctorate since 2005, said the timing of the completion of his paper and Andrew’s successful completion in four years couldn’t have worked out better. Still, he came close to delaying his commencement because he had a greater desire to let his children enjoy “the moment.” He also wanted to join the rest of the dads in the stands at Coleman Coliseum. Andrew, however, wouldn’t allow it. “This is as much his moment as it is mine,” he said. “I know how hard he worked. I look forward to Saturday and having all of our family with us.” For more information, contact David Miller at 205-348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.