CASL and Commencement Activities

On Sunday, May 1, 2011 approximately 350 CASL students had degrees conferred at the joint CASL and School of Education Commencement ceremony held at the Fieldhouse on the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus.  Speakers at included 2011 CASL graduate Jason Davis representing the graduates, Professor Deborah Smith-Pollard from the Department of Literature, Philosophy, and the Arts representing the faculty, and CASL alumnus David Stevens representing the alumni.  The featured speaker for the ceremony was award winning Detroit Free Press columnist Rochelle Riley.   Ms. Riley was invited to give the featured commencement address because her columns reflect commitments to educational excellence, integrity, inclusion, and the revitalization of Southeast Michigan that reflect UM-Dearborn's metropolitan vision.

Several members of the CASL faculty also participated in the Commencement ceremony as representatives of their respective departments.  The faculty representatives included Paul Draus, Larry Radine and Diane Graves Oliver (Behavioral Sciences),  Jim Gilmore, Rashmi Luthra, Carlos Rodriguez-McGill and Tom Cobb (Language, Culture, and Communication), Deborah Smith-Pollard, Caitlin Finlayson, and Michelle Jarenski (Literature, Philosophy, and the Arts), Tom Snabb and Alan Wiggins (Mathematics and Statistics), Sonia Tiquia and Richard Adler (Natural Sciences), and Ilir Miteza, Georgina Hickey, Joe Lunn, Sid Bolkosky, and Andrea Olive (Social Sciences).

A luncheon was held prior to Commencement to honor five recipients of the Chancellor's Medallion.  The Medallion is the most prestigious recognition bestowed upon students.  The Chancellor's Medallion was conferred upon Ms. Nour Al-Hadidi (Department of Natural Sciences) and Mr. Joseph Noles (Department of Mathematics and Statistics).  A future post will be devoted in greater detail to the 2010-2011 Academic Year Chancellor's Medallion recipients.

Thank you to everyone that helped to make the Winter Commencement a success.  Congratulations to the CASL members of the University of Michigan-Dearborn Class of 2011!  Go Blue!