SRU hosting four spring 2023 commencement ceremonies, May 5-6

Share

Graduation

A total of 1,685 graduates are eligible to be recognized at Slippery Rock University’s 2023 spring commencement ceremonies, May 5-6, at the Morrow Field House.

May 1, 2023

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Slippery Rock University will conduct its 2023 spring commencement ceremonies, May 5-6, at the Morrow Field House. A total of 1,685 students are eligible to be recognized as graduates in the following ceremonies:

  • 6 p.m., May 5, graduate studies.
  • 9 a.m, May 6, the College of Business.
  • Noon, May 6, the College of Education, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Rock Life program.
  • 3 p.m., May 6, the College of Health Professions and the College of Engineering and Science.

Electronic tickets are required for entry and each graduate will be provided up to four guest tickets. All ceremonies will be livestreamed on www.sru.edu for those friends and family members without a ticket, unable to attend in person, or who prefer to watch the ceremony online. Additionally, there will be livestream viewing locations for guests without tickets at the Russell Wright Alumni House on May 5 and at the Smith Student Center Theater and the Advanced Technology Science Auditorium on May 6.

There will be a different commencement speaker for each ceremony. They are:

  • 6 p.m., May 5: Erica Nelson-Flowers, '99M, director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the United States Tennis Association for the state of Texas.
  • 9 a.m., May 6: Joe Finney, '86, CEO, Radiant Plumbing and Air Conditioning.
  • Noon, May 6: Judge Nicola Henry-Taylor, '93, judge for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.
  • 3 p.m., May 6: Dr. Wayne Miller, '72, professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and Science.

Larry McCarthy, assistant professor of accounting, economics and finance, will serve as grand marshal and will open the ceremony. SRU President William Behre will provide remarks and confer the degrees. There will also be greetings from members of the SRU council of trustees, as well as a welcome from Melissa Visco, '04, president of the SRU Alumni Association.

Michael Zieg, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, will present candidates for degrees, as well as Dan Bauer, dean, College of Liberal Arts; Nicole Dafoe, interim dean, College of Engineering and Science; Keith Dills, dean, College of Education; Christina Karshin, dean, College of Health Professions; and Lawrence Shao, dean, College of Business, for their respective colleges.

Student marshals and University flag bearers, selected by their deans or provost, will hold either their respective college flag or the SRU flag for the ceremonies' processionals.

The following graduating students will be University flag bearers:

  • Austin Shaffer, an occupational therapy doctoral student from Erie (6 p.m., May 5).
  • Elizabeth Friel, an accounting major from Butler (9 a.m., May 6).
  • Ethan Brentham, a health and physical education major from Brookville (noon, May 6).
  • Nichole Webb, a biology major from Irwin (3 p.m., May 6).

The following graduating students will be student marshals:

  • Sunshine Mushrush, a social work major from Grove City (graduate studies).
  • Lindsey Fadden, a dual finance and economics major from Waterford (College of Business).
  • Abigayle Pritchard, an early childhood and special education major from Butler (College of Education).
  • Katelyn Loss, an acting major from Montoursville (College of Liberal Arts).
  • Charleigh Rondeau, an industrial and systems engineering major from Amherst, New York (College of Engineering and Science).
  • Breanna McMurtrie, a recreational therapy major from McDonald (College of Health Professions).

Eight cadets from the U.S. Army ROTC program will also be recognized for their commissioning as officers with the rank of second lieutenant at their respective colleges' ceremonies. They will be officially commissioned and take their oaths at a private ceremony on campus, May 5. The cadets include:

  • Klaudia Abbott, a psychology major from Meadville, who will be assigned to the U.S. Army Reserves in the chemical branch.
  • Ryan Davis, a safety management major from Harrisville, who will be assigned to active duty in the aviation branch and report to Fort Rucker, Alabama.
  • Jessica Fischer, a homeland security major from Harrisville, who will be assigned to active duty in the military intelligence branch and will report to Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
  • Khairi James, a criminology and criminal justice major from Pittsburgh, who will be assigned to the U.S. Army National Guard and will report to Adjutant General School in Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
  • Adam Jones, a homeland security major from West Clarksville, New York, who will be assigned to the U.S. Army National Guard and will report to Field Artillery School in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
  • Lucas Monzo, a homeland security major from Harrison City, who will be assigned to active duty in the military intelligence branch and will report to Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
  • Jackson Novak, a homeland security major from Slippery Rock, who will be assigned to activity duty in the ordinance corps and will report to Fort Lee, Virginia.
  • Courtney Ross, a criminology and criminal justice major from Centerburg, Ohio, who will be assigned to the U.S. Army National Guard and will report to Military Police School in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Additional information is available on the University's commencement webpage, by calling 724.738.2849 or by emailing the Commencement Office at commencementoffice@sru.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854  | justin.zackal@sru.edu

Search News