ATLANTA — Mercer University will hold its final four commencements of the year on Saturday, May 20, on the University’s Cecil B. Day Campus, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta. The ceremonies will be the last that Dr. R. Kirby Godsey will preside over as president and CEO of Mercer. Dr. Godsey, the longest serving president in the University’s history and the longest serving seated university president in Georgia, will step down as president on June 30 after more than 27 years and will become chancellor and university professor.
On Saturday, Dr. Godsey will shake the hand of the final graduate of his presidency after more 250 commencements and more than 30,000 graduates. The last commencement Saturday will be the Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, beginning at 5:30 p.m. A member of the class of 2006 Executive Master of Business Administration program will receive the final handshake.
Prior to the final commencement, three other ceremonies will also be held. The first will be at 9 a.m. for the College of Continuing and Professional Studies, with Jim Huling, president and CEO, MATRIX Resources Inc., delivering the commencement address. At 2:30 p.m., the Tift College of Education will graduate students from its bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degree programs. Dr. Cathryn Futral, retired professor of Tift College and the Tift College of Education, will deliver the commencement address.
The James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology commencement at 11:30 a.m. will feature speaker Dr. Lien Hwa Chow, one of the most respected theologians in Asia. An accomplished writer and author of 50 books, Chow is the chief editor of Chinese Bible Commentary. Last year, he retired after serving 12 years as president of the Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary, one of the largest consortiums of seminaries in the world. He is also co-translator of the Today’s Chinese Version translation of the Bible. Mercer will confer an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree on Chow.
Saturday’s Commencement Ceremonies
College of Continuing & Professional Studies
Speaker: Mr. Jim Huling, President and CEO, MATRIX Resources, Inc.
Saturday, May 20, 9 a.m.
Sheffield Student Center, Atlanta Campus
Graduates: 105
James & Carolyn McAfee School of Theology
Speaker: Dr. Lien Hwa Chow, internationally noted theologian and retired president of Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary
Saturday, May 20, 11:30 a.m.
Sheffield Student Center, Atlanta Campus
Graduates: 39
Tift College of Education
Speaker: Dr. Cathryn Futral, ’49 Tift, professor (retired), Tift College and Tift College of Education
Saturday, May 20, 2:30 p.m.
Sheffield Student Center, Atlanta Campus
Graduates: 163
Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics
Speaker: Ms. Linda Willis,’87 CLA and ’91 LAW, Senior Managing Director, Bear Stearns & Company Inc.
Saturday, May 20, 5:30 p.m.
Sheffield Student Center, Atlanta Campus
Graduates: 240
About Mercer University:
Founded in 1833, Mercer University has campuses in Macon and Atlanta as well as regional academic centers in Douglas County, Henry County, Macon and Eastman. With 10 schools and colleges, the University offers programs in liberal arts, business, engineering, education, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, law and theology. On July 1 2006, the University will add its eleventh academic program, the School of Music. For 16 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has named Mercer University as one of the leading universities in the South. The Princeton Review has ranked it among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation.
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