Commencement Honors Graduates
And Dean Rohwer

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The Graduate School of Education held its Commencement on Sunday, May 14, 1995, in Wheeler Auditorium. Both the 85 graduates and 500 faculty, families, and friends shared the emotional and high-spirited ceremony, despite the unseasonably rainy weather.

Dean William D. Rohwer Jr., presiding over his last commencement before retirement, was greeted with enthusiasm and appreciation. Dean Rohwer used the occasion to thank his own teachers--those who had inspired him with a love of life and learning. He was lauded by Professor Mark Wilson, head graduate adviser, for doubling the number of students from traditionally under-represented groups during his term as dean, while achieving US News & World Report's highest rating of any graduate school of education in a public institution.

Colette Emile Patt, a graduating Ph.D. student in Social and Cultural Studies in Education, echoed the theme of quality though inclusion. In her address, she stressed that "the job of the educator is nothing less than to keep the process of remaking the world open to all, and engaged in by the broadest band of participants." Other student speakers included Stephanie Keyser, representing the Developmental Teacher Education program, and Stephen Kalman Hettleman, from the CLAD English credential program.

As the students came up to the stage one by one to accept scrolls and be hooded by their advisors, feelings broke through and spontaneous hugs were exchanged. Sherrie Ann Encarnacion, a master's student from Hawaii, bestowed a traditional lei of fragrant flowers on her advisor, Robert Ruddell, as a gesture of thanks.

Following the ceremonies, Dean Rohwer reflected on the accomplishments of the 13 credential, 31 master's, and 41 doctoral graduates. "My best teachers have been the students of the Graduate School of Education," he mused.--Zack Rogow