SWT prepares for summer commencement

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS — A noted Texas legislator and the acting dean of the Southwest Texas State University School of Liberal Arts will be the keynote speakers at summer graduation ceremonies Aug. 6 and 7 at SWT.

Robert Junell, a San Angelo attorney who has served in the Texas Legislature since 1988, will speak at undergraduate commencement ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, in Strahan Coliseum.

Degree candidates from the schools of Education, Fine Arts and Communication and Liberal Arts will attend the 9:30 a.m. ceremony. Candidates from the schools of Applied Arts and Technology, Business, Health Professions and Science will attend the 2 p.m. ceremony.

Junell recently completed his fourth term as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and has served on the Legislative Budget Board and the Legislative Audit Committee. He was named to Texas Monthly magazine’s list of Top Ten Legislators in 1991, 1995 and 1999.

Ann Marie Ellis, professor of sociology and acting dean of the SWT School of Liberal Arts, will speak at commencement ceremonies for the Graduate School at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, in Strahan Coliseum.

Ellis joined the SWT faculty in 1985. She came to the university to develop an applied program for the Department of Sociology. During her tenure, an internship program and scholarships for interning students have been established. In 1989, she assisted the department in documenting the program and, in the following year, the Sociology Department won the prestigious American Sosiological Association’s Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award. She has received more than $3 million in federal, state and foundation grants related to substance abuse prevention and foster care.

Melissa “Missy” Bettencourt, a recreation administration major from Corpus Christi, will be the student speaker at the morning undergraduate ceremony. Judith Ann Shutt, a healthcare administration major from Austin, will serve as student speaker in the afternoon.