The University Commencement Ceremony Speaker
On January 18, 2003, Philip Norman Bredesen became Tennessee's 48th Governor.
Since taking office he has focused on improving education through teacher pay raises and expanding Tennessee's pre-kindergarten program. His work also enhanced UT's Distinguished Scientist program, now known as the Governor's Chair. For the second year in a row, the state has pledged dedicated funds to recruit the best faculty from around the nation and the world to manage UT's joint institutes with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The positions substantially enhance UT's academic profile and the state's research and economic development initiatives.
Bredesen also has concentrated on rebuilding TennCare, Tennessee's Medicare expansion program, as well as controlling and eliminating methamphetamine production and abuse.
A New York native and Harvard graduate, Bredesen is a long-time resident of Nashville where he was mayor from 1991-1999. Before pursuing a career in public office, Bredesen was a healthcare entrepreneur. He opened HealthAmerica Corp., a Nashville based healthcare management company, in 1980, which he sold in 1986.
Bredesen grew up in Shortsville, a rural farming community in upstate New York. He earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Harvard University. He and Andrea have one son, Ben.
University-wide and College Commencement Speakers
Veterinary Medicine
8 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, Tennessee Theater
Speakers: Dean Michael Blackwell; Dr. Randy Hammon, president of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association; Dr. Joseph DiPietro, Vice President of Agriculture; students Sara Petre and Matt Brent
Audiology and Speech Pathology Department
11 a.m. Thursday, May 11, Alumni Memorial Building Cox Auditorium
Speakers: Students Adrienne Thompson, Megan Skinner, Emily Barker, Steve Madix and Mindy Freyaldenhoven
College of Architecture and Design
4 p.m. Thursday May 11, Clarence Brown Theater
Speakers: Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Susan Martin and students Barbara Ann Winchester, Sara Catherine Sharp and John Charles Sanders Mixon
Honors Program
7 p.m. Thursday, May 11, Alumni Memorial Auditorium
Speaker: Tom Broadhead, former Honors program director and current UT admissions director
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
11 a.m. Friday May 12, Knoxville Convention Center, Exhibit Hall B
Speakers: Associate Dean Mary Lewnes Albrecht; Richard Heitmann, associate professor animal sciences and 2006 outstanding advisor, and top graduate, Tera Bunch
College of Arts and Sciences
11:30 a.m., Friday, May 12, Thompson-Boling Assembly Center and Arena
Speaker: Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Anne Mayhew
College of Education, Health & Human Sciences
11:30 a.m. Friday May 12, Knoxville Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A
Speaker: Dean Bob Rider
College of Social Work
Noon Friday, May 12, at Alumni Memorial Building Cox Auditorium
Speakers: Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tim Rogers, Dean Karen Sowers and Associate Dean Geraldine Faria
College of Nursing
3 p.m. Thursday May 11, at Thompson-Boling Assembly Center and Arena
Speakers: Dean Joan Creasia and students Aubrie Gatlin, Michelle McCluskey and Carole Myers
College of Business Administration
3:30 p.m. Friday May 12, Thompson-Boling Assembly Center and Arena
Speaker: Michael R. West, an alumnus of the college of business administration and managing partner of Northshore Management Company
College of Communication and Information
3:30 p.m. Friday May 12, Knoxville Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A
Speaker: Congressman John J. Duncan Jr., R-Tenn. |
