Faculty members, state legislators, business executives and current and retired government officials will be among those addressing graduates at University of Texas at Austin convocations May 17 and 18.
Colleges, schools and several departments host convocations to honor undergraduate and graduate students individually. At these ceremonies, diplomas are presented individually to students, and doctor’s and master’s degree students are hooded.
About 8,300 students will receives academic degrees from undergraduate, master and doctoral levels and professional degrees.
The two days of convocation ceremonies culminate with the 130th Spring Commencement ceremony on the Main Mall in front of the Tower on May 18.
The ceremony begins with a carillon prelude at 7 p.m., and the main event begins at 8 p.m. Sanya Richards-Ross, Olympic gold medal runner and former UT Austin student, will be the speaker. The evening ends with the singing of “The Eyes of Texas” and a fireworks display.
The convocation schedule for May 17 and 18, including speakers, is below. More information is available at the 2013 Spring Commencement website.
Friday, May 17
8 a.m. McCombs School of Business (undergraduate ceremony), Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Woody L. Hunt, chairman and chief executive, Hunt Companies Inc.
8:30 a.m. Department of Government, College of Liberal Arts, Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Henry Dietz, Department of Government, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Silver Spurs Centennial Teaching Fellow #1
8:30 a.m. College of Pharmacy, Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Rear Adm. Scott F. Giberson, U.S. assistant surgeon general, Director Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness, and Professional Officer, Pharmacy
11:30 a.m. College of Liberal Arts, joint convocation, Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: State Sen. Kel Seliger, District 31-Amarillo (Note: All liberal arts students are invited to participate in the liberal arts convocation ceremony; departments with separate ceremonies are Government, History, Economics, Plan II, Mexican American Studies, English and Psychology.)
11:30 a.m. Master of Science in Finance, McCombs School of Business, Student Activity Center Auditorium, 1.402. Speaker: Chip Van Os, managing director, Raymond James Financial
Noon College of Education, Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Sherry Field, dean of the College of Education, Arkansas Tech University
Noon School of Nursing, Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Susan DiStefano, chief executive of Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston
3 p.m. College of Fine Arts, Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Turk Pipkin, writer, actor and director
3 p.m. Joint ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, Bates Recital Hall, Music Building and Recital Hall. Speaker: Gen. Robert W. Cone, commanding general, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
3 p.m. Master in Professional Accounting, McCombs School of Business, Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Robert G. May, Department of Accounting, KPMG Peat Marwick Professor in Accounting
3:30 p.m. College of Communication, Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Stan Richards, founder of The Richards Group
6 p.m. Department of History, College of Liberal Arts, Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Maidie Ryan, attorney, philanthropist, volunteer, history and law graduate of The University of Texas at Austin
6 p.m. Master of Business Administration, Recognition Ceremony, McCombs School of Business, Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Jeffrey L. Swope, managing partner, Champion Partners Ltd.
7 p.m. Cockrell School of Engineering, Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Shahid Ullah, president of Afren Resources USA Inc. and executive director of Afren PLC
Saturday, May 18
8 a.m. College of Natural Sciences (All majors except the School of Biological Sciences and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry), Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Retired Vice Adm. Vivien Crea, U.S. Coast Guard
9 a.m. Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts, Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Morton Meyerson, chairman and chief executive, 2M Companies Inc.
9 a.m. Graduate School (master’s degree candidates), Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Judith Langlois, vice provost and interim dean of Graduate Studies
9 a.m. Plan II Honors Program, College of Liberal Arts, Hogg Auditorium. Speakers: Joe Bailey Jr., research fellow at the UT Law Rappaport Center for Human Rights and Justice, 2013; and Natalie San Luis, Plan II senior
10 a.m. Center for Mexican American Studies, College of Liberal Arts, Student Activity Center Auditorium, 1.402. Speaker: State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, District 116-San Antonio
11 a.m. Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, LBJ Auditorium. Speaker: Helene D. Gayle, president and chief executive of CARE USA
Noon School of Biological Sciences and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Retired Vice Adm. Vivien Crea, U.S. Coast Guard
Noon Graduate School (doctor’s degree candidates), Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speakers: President Bill Powers and Judith Langlois, vice provost and interim dean of Graduate Studies
Noon Master of Science in Technology Commercialization, McCombs School of Business, ATandT Executive Education and Conference Center, Amphitheatre. Speaker: Robert M. Metcalfe, professor of innovation, Cockrell School of Engineering
12:30 p.m. Department of English, College of Liberal Arts, Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Gordon Appleman, senior counsel for Thompson and Knight LLP, former assistant attorney general of Texas and recipient of the Texas Exes Distinguished Alumnus Award
3 p.m. School of Architecture, Hogg Memorial Auditorium. Speaker: Elizabeth Chu Richter, Richter Architects, Corpus Christi. Note: Tickets are required.
3 p.m. Jackson School of Geosciences, Bates Recital Hall, Music Building and Recital Hall. Speaker: James Farnsworth, chief executive, Cobalt International Energy Inc.
3 p.m. School of Social Work, Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speakers (chosen by fellow graduates): Katherine Marie Waters, bachelor’s degree in social work; and Amy Lynn Elizabeth Jones, master’s of science in social work
3 p.m. School of Law, Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: State Sen. Rodney Ellis, District 13-Houston.
3:30 p.m. Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: David M. Buss, professor, Department of Psychology
3:30 p.m. School of Information, ATandT Executive Education and Conference Center, Amphitheatre. Speaker: Sichan Siv, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and author of “Golden Bones”
Please Note: Backpacks, tote bags or any bag larger than 12 inches in any dimension will not be allowed into any of the Commencement venues. All other bags are subject to search by security personnel, including purses, camera cases and diaper bags. Those with larger bags will be turned away. Do not bring any packages that cannot be opened or inspected. Thank you for your cooperation.
For more information go to the 2103 Commencement website.
