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The University of Texas at Austin
April 19, 2024
UT News
Campus & Community
May 11, 2004

Convocation ceremonies at The University of Texas at Austin to feature guest speakers from private industry, government and education

Two state senators, a federal judge, a brigadier general and executives for an airline and a communications company will be among the speakers talking to graduates at spring 2004 convocation ceremonies May 21 and 22 at The University of Texas at Austin.

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AUSTIN, Texas—Two state senators, a federal judge, a brigadier general and executives for an airline and a communications company will be among the speakers talking to graduates at spring 2004 convocation ceremonies May 21 and 22 at The University of Texas at Austin.

Convocations hosted by the various colleges, schools and departments are the ceremonies during which undergraduates and graduate students are recognized individually. The convocations have unique honors and traditions and provide excellent photo opportunities for families and friends to capture special moments, such as the hooding of doctor’s and master’s degree students or of deans shaking hands with graduates as they walk across the stage.

Convocation speakers will include State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio; State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo; Carolyn Dineen King, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; Brigadier Gen. William T. Bester, MSN, RN, 21st Chief, Army Nurse Corps; Herb Kelleher, founder and executive chairman for Southwest Airlines; and Norma Martinez Lozano, president of diversified businesses at SBC Communications, Inc.

All graduating students also are invited to join together on the South Mall of the Main Building for the Commencement 2004 ceremony on May 22, which begins with a carillon prelude at 7 p.m. and ends with the traditional singing of “The Eyes of Texas.” Donald L. Evans, the 34th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, will be the keynote speaker during the ceremony.

Additional commencement information is available on the Commencement 2004 Web site.

Listed below are the convocation locations for the various colleges, schools and departments, names of people to contact for information and names of the keynote speakers. Also listed are special spring ceremonies by other groups.

Friday, May 21

  • 8:30 a.m. — College of Natural Sciences (All Majors Except chemistry, biochemistry and biological sciences) at Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Norma Martinez Lozano, president of diversified businesses at SBC Communications Inc. Contact: Barbara Spain, 512-232-1067.
  • 9 a.m. — McCombs School of Business (Undergraduate Ceremony) at Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Herb Kelleher, founder and executive chairman of Southwest Airlines. Contact: Undergraduate Program Office, 512-471-0690.
  • 9 a.m. — College of Pharmacy, Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio. Contact: Lisa Meyer, 512-475-9753.
  • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — The Great TEXAS EX-IT Open House at Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, 2110 San Jacinto Street.
  • Noon — College of Natural Sciences (School of Biological Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry), College of Natural Sciences, at Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Norma Martinez Lozano, president of diversified businesses at SBC Communications Inc. Contact: Barbara Spain, 512-232-1067.
  • Noon — Master of Business Administration (MBA) Recognition Ceremony in the Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Herb Kelleher, founder and executive chairman of Southwest Airlines. Reception Location: Atrium, McCombs School of Business. Contact: Cindy Benton, 512-471-7614.
  • Noon — School of Nursing in Bass Concert Hall. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate students. Speaker: William T. Bester, MSN, RN, Brigadier General, 21st Chief, Army Nurse Corps. Contact: Sue Walker, 512-232-4799.
  • 1 p.m. — Joint ROTC Commissioning Ceremony in Bates Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Major General Michael H. Taylor, commander of the 49th Armored Division, Texas Army National Guard. Contact: Michael A. Shannon, captain, USAF 512)-32-2371.
  • 3 p.m. — College of Communication in the Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate students. Speaker: Judith Zaffirini, Texas state senator, 21st Senatorial District, Laredo. Contact: Cindy Patiño 512-475-9166.
  • 3 p.m. — College of Fine Arts, Bass Concert Hall at the Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Prof. Michael Ray Charles, associate professor in the Department of Art and Art History. Contact: Student Affairs Office 512-471-5011.
  • 3 p.m. — Department of History, College of Liberal Arts. Convocation location is Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Sally Kleberg, family office manager, philanthropist, writer and educator. Contact: department office, 512-471-3261.
  • 4 p.m. — A Celebration of Excellence: Honoring African American, Asian American, Mexican American/Hispanic and Native American graduates. Connally Banquet Hall, Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. Speaker: Dr. Larry R. Faulkner, president of The University of Texas at Austin. Contact: Stella Escalante 512-232-2923.
  • 6 p.m. — Department of Government, College of Liberal Arts, Convocation Location: Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate students. Speaker: Dr. William S. Livingston, senior vice president, The University of Texas at Austin. Contact: Nancy Moses 512-471-5121.
  • 6 p.m. — Master of Professional Accounting (PPA/MPA) Recognition Ceremony in Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Lynn Utter, chief strategy officer, Coors Brewing Company. Contact: PPA/MPA Office, 512-471-6559.
  • 7 p.m. — College of Engineering. Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate students. Speaker: Raymond C. Almgren, vice president for product marketing and academic relations, National Instruments. Contact: Ann Bedinger, 512-471-1166.

Saturday, May 22

  • 8:30 a.m. — College of Education. Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Norma Cantú, professor of education and law, former assistant secretary for civil rights, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. representative to the Hemispheric Commission on the Child, Organization of American States. Contact: Courtney Myers, 512-471-3486.
  • 9 a.m. — Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts. Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Laurence J. Kotlikoff, chairman and professor of economics, Department of Economics, Boston University. Contact: Prudence Ching, 512-475-8507.
  • 9 a.m. — Graduate Studies (Master’s Degree Candidates). Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: No guest speaker. Contact: Reed Smith, 512-232-3627.
  • 9 a.m. — Plan II Honors Program, College of Liberal Arts. Hogg Auditorium. Speaker: Julius Glickman, managing partner, Glickman and Hughes, LLP. Contact: Jennifer Scalora, 512-471-1442.
  • 9:30 a.m. — 6 p.m., The Great TEXAS EX-IT Open House at Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, 2110 San Jacinto Street.
  • 11 a.m. — Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Bates Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Liz Carpenter, former press secretary to lady Bird Johnson, author and journalist. Contact: Courtney Brown, 512-471-8288.
  • 11:30 a.m. — College of Liberal Arts at the Frank Erwin Center. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate students. Joint convocation for Center for African and African American Studies, Department of American Studies, Department of Anthropology, Department of Asian Studies, Department of Asian American Studies, Department of Classics, Department of French and Italian, Department of Geography, Department of Germanic Studies, Humanities Program, Department of Kinesiology, Institute of Latin American Studies, Department of Linguistics, Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Department of Philosophy, Center for Religious Studies, Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Department of Sociology, and Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Speaker: Larry E. Temple, attorney with firm of Temple and Temple and director and president of the Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation. Contact: Jay Jorgensen, 512-471-4271.
  • Noon — Graduate Studies (Doctor’s Degree Candidates). Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: William S. Livingston, senior vice president, The University of Texas at Austin. Contact: Reed Smith, 512- 232-3627.
  • 12:30 p.m. — Department of English, College of Liberal Arts. Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Tom Staley, director of the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Contact: Patricia Schaub, 512-471-5736.
  • 2 p.m. — School of Information. University Teaching Center 2.112A. Speaker: Betty Sue Flowers, director of the Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum. Contact: Melba Claymon, 512-471-2185.
  • 3 p.m. — School of Social Work. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate students. Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Student speakers: Veronica Delgado representing undergraduates and Heather Lynn Davies representing graduate students. Contact: Julie Cunniff, 512-471-0562.
  • 3:30 p.m. — School of Architecture. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate students. Texas Union Ballroom 3.202. Speaker: David Lake, partner, Lake/Flato Architects. Contact: Jeanne Crawford, 512-471-0109.
  • 3:30 p.m. — School of Law. Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: The Honorable Carolyn Dineen King, chief judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Contact: Susana Alemán, 512-232-1313.
  • 3:30 p.m. — Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate students. Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: H. Clayton Foushee, Jr., Ph.D., vice president and partner, Unisys Corporation. Contact: Alice Andrews, 512-471-4410.
  • 4 p.m. — Center for Mexican American Studies, College of Liberal Arts. Ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate students. University Teaching Center 2.112A. Speaker: Sarita E. Brown, president of Excelencia in Education, Inc. Contact: Dolores Garcia, 512-471-4557.

For more information contact: Robert D. Meckel, Office of Public Affairs, 512-475-7847.

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