Dennis Murphy to Address WWU Summer Commencement Aug. 22

DATE: August 17, 2009 10:26:04 AM PDT

Contact: Office of University Communications, (360) 650-3350

BELLINGHAM − Dr. Dennis R. Murphy, Dean Emeritus of WWU’s College of Business and Economics, will draw inspiration from the books he read as an undergraduate at WWU when he addresses graduates and guests at Western’s summer Commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 in Carver Gymnasium.

Murphy, who earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Western, served as dean of WWU’s College of Business and Economics from 1982 to 2007. He also just completed a two-year term as Western’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, a position he also filled during the 1988-89 school year. He continues to be active in business and community affairs, serving as chairman of the board for Cascade Financial Corporation and Cascade Bank.

Approximately 391 undergraduates and 99 master’s candidates will receive degrees this quarter. Summer commencement includes all majors and only one ceremony will take place.

Tickets are not required to attend summer commencement. For those who prefer, a live feed of the televised ceremony will be shown in the Science, Mathematics and Technology Education (SMATE) building. SMATE is a comfortable alternative for elderly guests, guests with small children and for those who have difficulty climbing stairs. Comcast will also broadcast the ceremony for Whatcom County residents live on Channel 26.

Student speaker Bradley Broder will deliver a talk titled “When Opportunity Knocks, How will you Answer?” Broder, who will earn a Master of Arts in Political Science, is the founder and executive director of the Kenya Education Fund, which raises money for children to attend and complete high school in Kenya.

In keeping with Western’s Memory walk tradition, graduates will proceed after the ceremony through Red Square to the walk in front of Old Main, where they will pass through a corridor of faculty and deposit their Western identification cards in a time capsule.

Commencement parking will be available at no cost in most lots. Visitors must observe regulations for handicapped and individually reserved spaces. Lot 14G will be reserved for faculty and staff. A shuttle service to Carver Gym will be available from the tent in Lot 12A off South Campus Parkway near Fairhaven College. The shuttle cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Guests in wheelchairs may park in Lot 10G behind Miller Hall. Parking attendants will be available to assist guests with special parking needs.

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