AUSTIN, Texas — Academic scholars, corporate executives, leaders in public service, a Pulitzer Prize winner and the university’s head men’s basketball coach are among the speakers for the 2016 spring convocation ceremonies held by schools and colleges at The University of Texas at Austin May 20 and 21.
University of Texas System Regent Sarah Martinez Tucker, a former undersecretary of education at the U.S. Department of Education, will deliver the keynote address during the 133rd university-wide Spring Commencement address May 20 on the Main Mall.
A map for navigating campus during commencement weekend, including information about construction and road closures, is available at http://commencement.utexas.edu/getting-around/maps.
Parking for commencement activities is free on a first-come, first-served basis. On Friday, May 20, university parking garages will be available along with campus lots marked “C” parking. On Saturday, May 21, university parking garages and most surface lots will be available, with the exception of spaces marked “At All Times.”
Convocations at the university’s colleges and schools recognize students individually. The convocation speakers for these ceremonies are listed below.
Friday, May 20
8 a.m. — McCombs School of Business (ceremony for undergraduates), Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Mark Gibson, B.B.A. ’91, CEO and executive managing director, HFF
8:30 a.m. — Department of Government (College of Liberal Arts), Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Angela Evans, dean and J.J. “Jake” Pickle Regents Chair in Public Affairs, LBJ School of Public Affairs, and former deputy director, Congressional Research Service
8:30 a.m. — College of Pharmacy, Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: S. Claiborne Johnston, dean and Frank and Charmaine Denius Distinguished Chair in Medical Leadership, Dell Medical School
10 a.m. — Department of History (College of Liberal Arts), Hogg Auditorium. Speaker: Shaka Smart, Texas men’s basketball head coach. Note: tickets are required.
11:30 a.m. — College of Liberal Arts, Frank Erwin Center. Speakers: Janie Cooke, B.A. ’89, and Caroline Nix, B.A. ‘91, co-founders of O-Venture
11:30 a.m. — Master of Science in Finance (MSF), McCombs School of Business, Student Activity Center. Speaker: Jim Recer, B.B.A. ’83, head of U.S. corporate client coverage, BBVA Compass
Noon — College of Education, Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: GySgt. Jeffrey W. Johnson, B.S. ’16, student veteran lead, UT Veteran Advisory Council and former drill sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Noon — School of Nursing, Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: J. Taylor Harden, Ph.D., RN, FGSA, FAAN, chief of special populations and assistant to the director, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
3 p.m. — College of Fine Arts, Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Alvin Rangel, M.F.A, ’12, professor of modern dance, California State University. Fullerton
3 p.m. — Master of Science in Business Analytics, McCombs School of Business, Student Activity Center. Speaker: Rob High, IBM fellow, vice president and chief technology officer, IBM Watson
3 p.m. — Department of Psychology (College of Liberal Arts), Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Dennis McFadden, professor emeritus and former Ashbel Smith Professor in Experimental Psychology
3:30 p.m. — Moody College of Communication, Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Karen Elliott House, B.J. ’70, author, Pulitzer Prize winner and former publisher of The Wall Street Journal
6 p.m. — Master of Business Administration, McCombs School of Business, Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Holly McMullan, MBA ’04, head of business development, North America, Apollo Global Management
6 p.m. — Department of English (College of Liberal Arts), Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Elizabeth Cullingford, Jane Weinert Blumberg Chair in English and Fellow of Jane and Roland Blumbert Centennial Professorship in English No. 2
7 p.m. — Cockrell School of Engineering, Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Bella Goren, B.S. ’83, CFO, American Airlines and AMR Corp
Saturday, May 21
8 a.m. — College of Natural Sciences (Ceremony 1): Biochemistry, Biology, Molecular Biosciences, Marine Science, Neuroscience, Clinical Laboratory Science, Environmental Science, Medical Laboratory Science, at Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Suzanne Stout, B.A. ’85, senior vice president of strategy and product operations with Day One Response and vice president of business operations for the Data Center Group at Cisco Systems
9 a.m. — Department of Economics (College of Liberal Arts), Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Jason Lamin, B.A. ’98, founder and managing partner, Lenox Park Solutions, former director of structured fixed income marketing, Merrill Lynch and private sector delegate, United Nations
9 a.m. — Graduate School (master’s degree candidates), Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Gregory L. Fenves, president of the university, Cockrell Family Chair in Engineering No.15. Note: tickets are required.
9 a.m. — Plan II Honors Program (College of Liberal Arts), Hogg Auditorium. Speaker: Marissa Duswalt, B.A./B.S. ’10, administrative director of patient and family education, Stanford Health Care and former associate director, Let’s Move!, The White House. Note: tickets are required.
10 a.m. — Center for Mexican-American Studies (College of Liberal Arts), Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Mark Madrid, B.B.A. ’95, president and CEO, The Greater Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Austin
11 a.m. — LBJ School of Public Affairs, LBJ Auditorium. Speaker: Laura Huffman, M.P.Aff. ’91, Texas state director, The Nature Conservancy in Texas
Noon — College of Natural Sciences (Ceremony 2): Astronomy, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, at Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Suzanne Stout, B.A., ’85, senior vice president of strategy and product operations with Day One Response and vice president of business operations for the Data Center Group at Cisco Systems
Noon — Graduate School (doctoral degree candidates), Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. No Speaker. Note: tickets are required.
Noon — Master of Science in Technology Commercialization (MSTC), McCombs School of Business, AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, Salon C. Speaker: Laura Kilcrease, MBA ’92, founder and managing director, Triton Ventures
12:30 p.m. — Master in Professional Accounting (MPA), McCombs School of Business, Gregory Gymnasium. Speaker: Charles Holley, B.B.A. ’79, former executive vice president and CFO, Walmart
3 p.m. — School of Architecture, Hogg Memorial Auditorium. Speaker: Pat Clubb, Ph.D. ’85, MBA ’96, vice president for university operations. Note: tickets are required.
3 p.m. — Jackson School of Geosciences, Bates Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speaker: Andrew Sansom, research professor of geography and Executive Director of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University
3 p.m. — School of Social Work, Bass Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Speakers: Elizabeth Donates, B.S.W. ’16, and Shana Rubinstein, MSSW ’16, two members of the graduating class chosen by their peers
3:30 p.m. — College of Natural Sciences (Ceremony 3): School of Human Ecology, Public Health, Human Ecology, Human Development and Family Sciences, Nutrition, Textiles and Apparel, at Frank Erwin Center. Speaker: Adrian Barfield, B.S. ’89, president and CEO, Medallion Healthcare.
3:30 p.m. — School of Law, Gregory Gym. Speaker: Darren Walker, J.D. ’86, president, Ford Foundation
4 p.m. — School of Information, AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, Amphitheatre. Speaker: David Mao, acting Librarian of Congress
Reminder: Backpacks or any bag larger than 12 inches in any dimension will not be allowed into any of the venues.
