Texas State prepares for record-setting spring 2017 commencement
Posted by Jayme Blaschke
Office of Media Relations
May 9, 2017
Dr. Jaime Garza, a member of The Texas State University System Board of Regents, will serve as the keynote speaker during one of a record eight commencement ceremonies to be held May 11-13 at Texas State University.
All commencement ceremonies will be held in Strahan Coliseum. Due to extensive construction on Aquarena Drive, visitors should expect traffic delays and plan accordingly. Additional transportation and parking information is available at txstate.edu/commencement/guest-information/parking-seating.html.
Garza will speak during the 10 a.m. ceremony May 12, to be attended by degree candidates from the College of Science and Engineering and the Graduate College.
Degree candidates from the College of Applied Arts and the Graduate College will attend the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony May 11.
Degree candidates from the College of Fine Arts and Communication and the Graduate College will attend the 2 p.m. commencement ceremony May 11.
Degree candidates from the McCoy College of Business Administration and the Graduate College will attend the 6 p.m. commencement ceremony May 11.
Degree candidates from the College of Health Professions, Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education and School Psychology, and the Graduate College will attend the 2 p.m. commencement ceremony May 12
Degree candidates from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Department of Health and Human Performance and the Graduate College will attend the 6 p.m. commencement ceremony May 12.
Degree candidates from the Department of Geography, Department of Political Science, Department of Psychology and the Graduate College will attend the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony May 13.
Degree candidates from the Department of Anthropology, Department of English, Department of History, Center for International Studies, Department of Modern Languages, Department of Philosophy, Department of Sociology, University College and the Graduate College will attend the 2 p.m. commencement ceremony May 13.
There are more than 4,900 candidates for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at Texas State this spring, the largest in school history.
Garza is a Texas native born in San Antonio. In 2011, Garza was appointed regent for the Texas State University System, where he has served as chairman of the board, chairman of the academic affairs committee and a member of the governmental relations committee.
A renowned surgeon, Garza’s distinguished career as an educator, administrator, researcher, physician, business owner, leader and community activist has earned him substantial and far-reaching respect and recognition. Garza is president and CEO of Texas Plastic Surgery and Renew Center at Stadia and is past president of the Texas Society of Plastic Surgeons.
He is currently professor of surgery (clinical), professor of otolaryngology (clinical) and assistant dean for South Texas Affairs at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He served as full professor of surgery at UT Health San Antonio, where Garza was founder and chief of its division of plastic and reconstructive surgery. He served on the university’s executive committee as associate vice president for UT Health San Antonio’s South Texas Health Affairs.
An accomplished researcher, Garza is one of the first clinician/scientists to receive an IRB approval for a clinical study and to publish his work involving the use of human regenerative cells for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint. From his work in the research laboratory, he holds a U.S. patent on a protective face mask used by NBA and college players. Garza is a consultant to the NFL's New Orleans Saints and NBA's San Antonio Spurs, team physician for the University of Texas at San Antonio and has served as a physician for several NCAA Final Four basketball tournaments and U.S. Olympic Trials.
While there is no substitute for attending a commencement ceremony in person, Texas State will stream the ceremonies live over the internet for friends and family members who are unable to attend. If needed, Texas State will also provide overflow space for viewing the live stream of the ceremony. That live stream is available on the Texas State commencement web page at: www.txstate.edu/commencement/.