South University confers 598 degrees
Thursday, June 18, 2009
South University will confer 598 degrees this Saturday, June 20 at the Johnny Mercer Theater in the Savannah Civic Center. The commencement will be conducted in two, separate ceremonies. The 308 graduates earning associate- and bachelor-level degrees will attend a 10:00 a.m. ceremony with an estimated 1,500 family members and friends in attendance. The 269 graduates earning masters- and doctoral-level degrees will attend a 2:00 p.m. ceremony with an expected 2,000 family members and friends. Dr. Thomas B. Lockamy, Jr, superintendent of schools for Savannah-Chatham, is the featured commencement speaker for the 10:00 a.m. undergraduate ceremony. Phillip S. Schaengold, president and CEO of Memorial Health, is the featured commencement speaker for the 2:00 p.m. ceremony.
"This is such an important milestone in the lives of our students, we decided to split the ceremony to accommodate everyone," said Candace Goodwin, president of South University. "We have never limited the number of guests a graduate can invite, and with nearly 600 graduates we decided to maintain that tradition by splitting the commencement into two separate ceremonies."
Dr. Lockamy will address the undergraduates who are earning degrees in fields such as business, criminal justice, legal studies, nursing, physical therapist assisting, and psychology. Many of these graduates chose to complete their coursework with South University's flexible online programs.
"Dr. Lockamy is addressing a very diverse group of graduates, some of whom have earned their degrees in a traditional campus with dormitories and others who have earned their degrees in online," said Steven Yoho, Ph.D. dean of the College of Business. "Dr. Lockamy understands better than most of us how education at all levels is changing because of technology, and this Saturday will certainly be a testament to how innovation in education has made a difference."
Mr. Schaengold will address the graduates who are earning Master's degrees in business, professional counseling, and those earning doctorate degrees in Pharmacy. South University's Doctor of Pharmacy Degree continues to be Savannah's only doctoral-level program. Mr. Schaengold holds numerous degrees, one of which is in pharmacy.
"We are all looking forward to hearing Mr. Schaengold's presentation on Saturday afternoon," said James E. Wynn, Ph.D., dean of the School of Pharmacy. "I know I speak for all of our faculty and students at South University, when I say that the Memorial Health is an important part of our program. Their involvement and many contributions are significant components of the quality education we provide."
About Dr. Thomas B. Lockamy, Jr.
Dr. Thomas B. Lockamy, Jr., has served as the Superintendent of Schools for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System since July 2005. Since that time he has been leading many change and accountability initiatives and has reduce the number of schools designated as "needs improvement" from 15 in 2005 to 5 in 2008. Dr. Lockamy holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, a Master of Arts in Education Administration, and an Advanced Masters in Educational Specialist - all from East Carolina University, and a Doctor of Education in Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
About Phillip S. Schaengold
Phillip Schaengold recently began work as the new president and CEO of Memorial Health. He brings more than 25 years of leadership experience, primarily at academic medical centers and safety-net hospitals. He most recently was CEO of University Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Cincinnati, and a Juris Doctor from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University. Schaengold is also a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
About South University
Established in 1899, South University is a private academic institution dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the intellectual, social and professional development of a diverse student population. South University offers educational programs at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels with campuses located in Columbia, S.C.; Montgomery, Ala.; Savannah, Ga.; Tampa and West Palm Beach, Fla.
Further information on South University is available at: www.southuniversity.edu.