Each individual school at Syracuse University will present its graduating undergraduate and graduate students with their degrees Saturday at its respective convocation ceremony.

These convocations are held a day before the university-wide convocation for both SU and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Singer-songwriter Pete Yorn will address the graduate and undergraduate students at the VPA convocation.

Yorn is a VPA graduate and has a certified gold album. He has also had his music play in many major motion pictures and has produced an album of duets with actress Scarlett Johansson.

‘The department of communication and rhetorical studies is excited to have Pete Yorn return to campus 15 years after his graduation and deliver the convocation address,’ said Amos Kiewe, professor and chair of the communication and rhetorical studies department, in a VPA news release on March 30.

School of Information Studies

The iSchool invited Dennis Crowley to speak at its convocation. Crowley is an SU graduate and a co-founder of the new social networking site Foursquare.

‘We selected Dennis because he exemplifies the talents and leadership which characterize our iSchool graduates as they enter an information-centric world,’ said Elizabeth D. Liddy, dean and trustee professor at the iSchool. ‘Dennis also embodies the entrepreneurial talents, which our students value as essential for success in an exciting, ever-evolving information landscape.’

S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

The speaker at the convocation for Newhouse students will be Richard Edelman, according to the Newhouse website. He is the president and CEO of the largest independent public relations firm in the world — Edelman.

‘I have always wanted to play at the Carrier Dome. But, with my limited basketball skills, this speaking gig is clearly my only opportunity to step onto the court,’ Edelman said on his website about speaking at the convocation.

School of Education

Gerardine Wurzburg will speak to the graduating School of Education students, said Angela Flanagan, an office coordinator to the School of Education dean. Wurzburg is an Academy Award-winning documentary producer and director whose work focuses on social justice and disabilities, according to her website.

Wurzburg has also been nominated for another Academy Award and has received three National Endowment for the Arts grants, according to her website. She recently released the film ‘Wretches & Jabberers,’ which follows two men with autism who set out to change the way the world views the disorder, according to the film’s website.

Martin J. Whitman School of Management

Amanda Nicholson, assistant professor of retail management, will be the speaker at Whitman’s convocation. She was chosen by the senior members of the Whitman chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, a business honor society, said Jaime Alvarez, communications manager for Whitman.

Each year the seniors of BGS hold an election to decide who will speak at their convocation, Alvarez said.

College of Human Ecology

The College of Human Ecology’s convocation speaker will be David B. Falk, who graduated from SU in 1972, said Amy Rood, coordinator for alumni programs for the College of Human Ecology.

Falk has managed players in the National Football League and the National Basketball Association. He recently donated $15 million to the university and will have the College of Human Ecology renamed in his honor as the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

School of Architecture

The School of Architecture will have three speakers from within the school at its convocation, said Michelle Klock, an administrative specialist for the School of Architecture.

Mark Robbins has been the dean at the school since 2004 and earned his master’s degree at SU, according to his biography on the School of Architecture website.  

Undergraduate chair Jonathan Massey, who earned his master’s degree at the University of California, Los Angeles and his doctorate at Princeton University, has worked to establish a new interdisciplinary program at SU in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies, according to his biography on the School of Architecture website. Massey also served as the presiding officer of University Senate this year.

Graduate chair Francisco Sanin was director of SU’s architecture program in Florence, Italy, from 2005-08, according to his biography on the School of Architecture website. Sanin will also address the graduating students.

L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science (Undergraduate Students)

Salmin Amin will address the graduating L.C. Smith seniors. Amin is the executive vice president and chief marketing officer for PepsiCo, according to a May 2011 press release from the College of Engineering.

Amin received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from SU in 1981. He is responsible for driving global marketing strategies and plans for PepsiCo worldwide, with accountability for consumer and shopper marketing, media, insights and marketing talent development, according to the press release.

L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science (Graduate Students)

Ehtisham Siddiqui will address the graduating L.C Smith master’s and Ph.D. students, according to the L.C. Smith Convocation website. Siddiqui is vice president and general manager for Commercial Avionics, a $550 million trans-Atlantic business that provides controls and avionics for aircraft engines, air transport, regional and business aircraft applications, according to a May 2011 press release from the College of Engineering.

Siddiqui received his master’s degree in 1976 and his Ph.D. in 1979 from SU.

College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences will have professor Gary Radke address the graduating seniors, said Tamera Beard, an administrative assistant in charge of advising and academic support.

Radke graduated from SU in 1973 and obtained his doctorate from New York University. Radke often teaches at SU Abroad’s Florence Center and leads Spring Break trips to Florence and Rome for students in his course on Michelangelo’s Italy, according to Syracuse University Magazine.

Na’Tasha Webb-Prather, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences will deliver the senior speech, said Beard.

Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs (Graduate Students)

Catherine Bertini, a professor of public administration will speak at Maxwell’s convocation Saturday, said Ann Wicks, an administrative assistant at Maxwell. Bertini is also currently chair of the international relations program at Maxwell.

‘Based on her life experiences and qualifications, we felt she was an excellent choice to address the master’s candidates,’ Wicks said.

State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Roger A. Sedjo is a senior fellow at Resources for the Future and director of its forest economics and policy program. He will be an honorary degree recipient at the ESF convocation Saturday, said Laura Crandall, director of student activities for ESF.

Sedjo has written and edited many articles related to forestry and natural resources, according to his website.

ndgallag@syr.edu

Published on May 10, 2011 at 12:00 pm