Graduate Commencement Planned for May 17

04/30/2013 

The SUNY Cortland Commencement ceremony for students earning master’s degrees and certificates of advanced study is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, May 17, in Bessie L. Park Class of 1901 Physical Education and Recreation Center Alumni Arena.

The College will award 129 master’s degrees and 20 Certificates of advanced study also will be presented. After the ceremony, a reception for the graduates and their guests will take place in the Corey Gymnasium.

An academic procession will open the Commencement. The Faculty Senate Chair Joy Hendrick, a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and professor of kinesiology will be the macebearer.

Faculty members will carry the four multi-colored gonfalons representing the College, School of Education, School of Professional Studies, and School of Arts and Sciences, respectively. The gonfaloniers are: Peter McGinnis, chair of the Graduate Faculty Executive Committee and professor of kinesiology; Susan Wilson, associate dean of professional studies; Eileen Gravani, associate dean of professional studies; and Jerome O’Callaghan, associate dean of arts and sciences.

Marina Gorelaya will perform the processional and recessional music. Senior musical theatre major Lauren Collins of Westbury, N.Y., will sing the national anthem and the Alma Mater.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Mark Prus will offer a welcome, and Melissa Da Costa of Centereach, N.Y., a candidate for Master of Arts in Literacy Education, will provide remarks on behalf of the graduates. Prus will deliver the charge to the graduates. Presenting the degrees and certificates to the graduates will be R. Bruce Mattingly, dean of arts and sciences; John Cottone, dean of professional studies; and Andrea Lachance, dean of education.

Peter Kanakaris ’70, president of the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association Board of Directors, will welcome these newest graduates into the ranks of the College’s alumni, who live in all 50 U.S. states and more than 40 countries. In its 145-year history, SUNY Cortland has graduated more than 69,000 alumni.

A family embraces following the 2012 Graduate Commencement Ceremony in Alumni Arena.

Commencement marshals will be Mark Dodds, associate professor of sport management; Michele Gonzalez, associate professor of literacy; Beth Klein, professor and interim chair of childhood/early childhood education; Susan Rayl, associate professor of kinesiology; Hailey Ruoff ’98, assistant director, instructional technologies and design services; Mary Schlarb, director of the International Programs Office; Jeffrey Walkuski, associate professor of physical education; and Carol Van Der Karr, associate provost, academic affairs.

The Graduate Commencement Committee is co-chaired by Virginia B. Levine, executive assistant to the president, and Ruoff.

Committee members include: Sila Argyle, supervising janitor; Marley Sweet Barduhn ’76, assistant provost for teacher education; Mary Kate Boland, assistant director of leadership and community development, campus activities; Terence Cahill, college store director; Mark DePaull, university police assistant chief; Tracy Frenyea, academic advisor and coordinator of graduate student support; Michele Irvin Gonzalez, associate professor of literacy; Ron Gray, supervising janitor; Minnie Lauzon, student representative; Peter McGinnis, professor of kinesiology; Joy Mosher, associate professor of childhood/early childhood education; Mary E. Murphy ’87, university police lieutenant; Bradford Snyder, associate director of classroom media services; and Susan Vleck, interim special events coordinator.