Dec. 17, 2009
Commencement events set for Dec. 18-19
by Teddi Barron, News Service
An estimated 1,581 students will receive degrees during winter commencement events Dec. 18-19.
The undergraduate ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, in Hilton Coliseum, where an estimated 1,241 students will receive bachelor's degrees. Dr. Patricia Quinlisk will address the graduates. She also will receive an honorary Doctor of Science from Iowa State in recognition of her work as Iowa's state epidemiologist and medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health.
As Iowa's chief medical officer, Quinlisk is a leading state and national figure in public health epidemiology, infectious diseases and bioterrorism. For more than 30 years, she has been a microbiologist, medical epidemiologist and public health professional, working in hospitals, clinics, laboratories and public health agencies around the globe.
Quinlisk served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal, a medical clerk at hospitals in Alaska and Micronesia, and an epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control. Before becoming Iowa's state epidemiologist in 1994, she held the same post for three years in Oklahoma.
Quinlisk holds adjunct faculty appointments at Iowa State, the University of Iowa, Des Moines University and the University of Wisconsin, where she teaches and presents lectures on a regular basis.
Graduate ceremony
The graduate commencement ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, in Stephens Auditorium. An anticipated 238 master's students and 102 Ph.D. students will receive their degrees.
University Professor Joe Sebranek will address the graduates. He is a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences and professor of animal science, and food science and human nutrition.
Sebranek's teaching and research in meat science has focused on meat processing and food safety. He has served as major professor for 20 doctoral students and 44 master's students. Since 1994, he has served as the animal science department's director of graduate education. He has received teaching, research and mentoring awards at Iowa State. He is a fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists and the American Society of Animal Science.
Tickets are not required for the graduate and undergraduate ceremonies.
College events
Nearly all of the colleges will honor their graduating students during their own ceremonies and receptions Friday or Saturday. A complete list of commencement events is online.
The ISU Alumni Association will host a free reception for all graduating students and their families Saturday afternoon immediately following the undergraduate ceremony (approximately 3-5 p.m.).
