1 P.M. Ceremony Order of Exercises

Good afternoon!

On behalf of the Millersville University Faculty, I’d like to welcome today’s guests of honor—our graduates—and to extend a warm welcome to your friends and family, who have joined us today to celebrate you and your accomplishments.

Ten years ago, during my faculty orientation, one of us asked a tenured faculty member, what is the best thing about working at Millersville. Her answer? “The students.” I remember thinking, “geez—she can’t think of anything good about working here, so she’s just saying ‘the students,’ because that’s an easy answer.” I was a little worried about what I had gotten myself into.

After about a year of teaching, though, it became clear to me that her answer was an honest one—our students really are delightful to work with. There are a few here and there that are… well, not delightful… but they are few and far between. The majority of our students are earnest, hard-working, and motivated. More than that, they are kind. They are thoughtful. And they are compassionate.

I’d like to share with you a personal story about just how kind and compassionate Millersville students are.  Last summer, my best friend—who happened to be a rat terrier named Colby—was diagnosed with Cushing’s Syndrome and then with cancer. The tumor was successfully removed in October, but over the course of the following five months, he suffered a series of seemingly unrelated life-threatening infections and medical conditions that eventually ended with me having to make a very difficult decision at the end of March.

As anyone who has ever cared for a sick family member knows, times like these are often stressful and unpredictable. There’s the emotional distress, yes, but then there are the logistical challenges. Scheduling veterinary appointments follows the same “hunger games” rules as scheduling medical appointments for humans—you take what you can get, whenever you can get it—and then there are the myriad emergency visits that always seem to pop up at the worst time possible. But life happens, and you deal with it.

In this case, “dealing with it” sometimes involved asking a colleague to cover a class for me. It sometimes involved last-minute changes to class assignments or having to reschedule office hours or student meetings. It sometimes meant longer-than-usual delays in getting feedback to students (and my usual delays are long enough) or bringing Colby to class because it was the only way to be on time after leaving the vet clinic. In other words, “dealing with it” meant inconveniencing my students and sometimes, falling short—way short—of what I thought they deserved.

I waited for the emails. I waited for the (justified) complaints. I waited for the long line of students outside of my office asking for their marked-up rough drafts. They never came.

What came instead was grace. It was kindness. It was compassion. Rather than expressions of irritation or frustration—which would have been understandable—they expressed concern, both for Colby and for me. When he came to class with me, my students—or as I like to think of them, Colby’s classmates—welcomed him with open arms, always stopping to pet him on their way out the door or in the hallway or in my office.

And when I had to say goodbye to that perfect little stinker, they wrote emails and gave me cards expressing their condolences. They brought me flowers and Oreos. One student even knitted a little dog-bone with Colby’s name for me. Absolutely none of this was expected, but it was so incredibly thoughtful and so incredibly appreciated. And it lightened the load more than they could possibly know.

It was also emblematic of the type of human beings our students are. You know, when universities design marketing materials, they often—and rightfully—focus on what they can offer you. Recruitment events are designed to persuade prospective students that getting a Millersville degree is worthwhile; that coming to here will teach you to think critically and prepare you for a job. And it is. And it does. And it will.

But that isn’t all that makes coming to Millersville worthwhile. That tenured faculty member who spoke at my orientation was right—more than anything, it’s our students that make this a great place to be. Not just because of your academic prowess in the classroom, but because of the people you are and the way you treat others. What makes Millersville a worthwhile place to be is the vibrant, engaging, and caring community that you help create.

So... yes, congratulations, on all of your academic accomplishments—you have earned it. But also, thank you for spending the past four (-ish) years of your lives with us, and for showing us grace and kindness when we’ve needed it. I wish you all health, happiness, and success as you move on to whatever comes next.

Thank you.

Annually, the Educator of the Year Award is presented to a single faculty or staff member as a recognition of their exceptional teaching, counseling, mentoring, and advising efforts. Given that there are many forms of outstanding teaching and advising, it is difficult to provide an exhaustive list of award-worthy characteristics. The individual who has been chosen by their peers as the Educator of the Year for the current academic year has been instrumental in co-founding a new Action Research Conference for student teachers to showcase research conducted in their classrooms. Additionally, she provides students with learning opportunities outside the classroom, such as organizing a trip to Italy to learn about the Regio Emilia approach and leading an Assistive Technology Conference where students and colleagues design low tech assistive technology that is donated to the IU 13. Collaborating with colleagues like Drs. Jason Petula, Beth Powers, and Sharon Brusic, she works on projects that offer culturally responsive professional development opportunities to other educators. I am delighted to present the Millersville University Educator of the Year award to Dr. Deborah Tamakloe.

Friends, family, special guests, President Wubah and most importantly the class of 2023, today is the day! Congratulations class of 2023!! We have reached the day we have waited for over the past 4 years!  I bet you could all agree this is not the exact journey you thought you would take to arrive at today. Let’s take 30 seconds to reflect on your journey. Graduates look at your friends and peers around you and think of a memory that has happened in the past four years, I hope to see some laughs and smiles.

Thank you for that moment of reflection. Over the past few weeks, I have done a lot of reflection on all four years, and my two years as your student body president.  The past four years have been how do I put this simply? Absolutely crazy...We as a class came into college in the fall of 2019 with the expectation that these would be the best years of our lives. We are going to live on campus, attend classes, make friends and then spring finals came and it all stopped. We were sent home and told to have an amazing two-week spring break. And then three days later it was nope see you in the fall and then July rolled around and the COVID pandemic kept us at home one more year.  Finally, in the Fall of 2021 we returned to campus as Juniors. We have to now run our student organizations, go to classes, figure out what campus was like because we were here for what - a few months? But do you know what we have done in the past two years? Overcome. We overcame everything thrown at us; we overcame the struggles of not only the global pandemic but also the results of it as college students. Our campus may not be back to the precovid campus it once was, but it is Millersville, the campus we loved when we chose to come here and now, we walk the stage. Where did the time go? Where did the late nights in the SMC go, the club meetings we have attended or ran? They are over now but we came, we overcame and now we go out and take on the world with the many EPPIIC lessons of Millersville University in our pockets.

I hope you take these lessons, go out in the world and be the amazing humans that I have had the honor to serve this year. Remember to explore, be professional), strive to help others, be inclusive, have integrity and carry your heart with compassion. I will leave you this one last quote that I choose to put on my graduation cap but something I have carried with me over the years, “Be bold enough to use your voice, be brave enough to listen to your heart and be strong enough to live the life you have always imagined!” - Winne the Pooh.

Once again congratulations class of 2023!! It has been a ride and I cannot wait to see where you all go! I am so proud of you! Thank you!

Good afternoon. Welcome to our graduating students, faculty, staff, family members, friends, and distinguished guests. This morning, we have gathered to celebrate the achievement of our graduates.

Before we start the celebration, let’s recognize those who have made it possible for you to get to this point in your lives.

First, let’s thank your families and your friends for the role they played in getting you here.  Family and friends, kindly rise, or wave to be recognized. Let’s give them and those who are watching online a round of applause (PAUSE). 

We are fortunate to have loyal alumni, many of whom are proud to have their children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews attending their alma mater. A special thank you to all our legacy families and their graduates here today.  

Second, I want to thank our faculty members who walked beside our graduates on their educational journey. They have guided and assisted you in the acquisition of a holistic education that is firmly rooted in the liberal arts and sciences as well as various professions.  Faculty, kindly stand up to be recognized.

I mentioned earlier that we are here to celebrate you today and you may be wondering why? Well, it is because you are receiving your degree from Millersville University after overcoming challenges that no one could have imagined when you first enrolled at this university.

Some of you may be apprehensive about what comes next in your life. You may be asking yourself what your next steps in life might be? And that is okay because most graduates feel the same way during commencement.

While some of you have already landed jobs or have been admitted to graduate or professional schools, I am aware that others are now going to figure out your next steps. With your degree from this university, you have the skills and competence to succeed at wherever you land. 

As you leave the confines of the Ville, you are entering a world of transformation, especially brought about by technology. And I want to spend the next few minutes to share my thoughts about one of the current technological shifts requires our attention. I am talking about artificial intelligence (AI).

So, what is AI? Demis Hassabis, co-founder, and CEO of DeepMind, describes AI as “the science of making machines smart.” For example, I can assume that majority of us at this ceremony have cell phones. Well, each time your cell phone has suggested a word to you when texting, that is AI in action. So, it’s not a matter of whether or even when AI will impact our lives. But rather how it would affect us as it continues to evolve and becomes more and more incorporated into the tools that influence our daily lives.

This technology has revolutionized the way we live, work, and interact with each other. It has created numerous opportunities for innovation and growth in various industries, from healthcare through finance to education. You, our graduating students, are entering a world where AI is becoming an integral part of the workforce, and it is essential that you understand the impact that it will have on your future careers in science and applied sciences. Let’s look at a few practical examples:

Data Analysis: AI has revolutionized data analysis in STEM fields. It can quickly and accurately analyze large amounts of data, identify patterns and correlations, and make predictions. This has allowed researchers to gain insights into complex problems and develop new solutions to challenges in areas such as medicine, genetics, and climate change.

Automation: AI has automated many processes in STEM fields. For example, it can automate the design of experiments, perform complex calculations, and even write code. This has freed up researchers' time to focus on more creative and innovative aspects of their work.

Education: AI has transformed the way STEM subjects are taught. For example, it can provide personalized learning experiences, adapt to students' needs, and provide instant feedback. This has helped to improve student engagement and understanding of STEM subjects.

Robotics: AI has had a significant impact on robotics, enabling robots to learn from experience and adapt to new situations. This has led to the development of autonomous robots that can perform complex tasks, such as exploring space, underwater environments, or disaster zones.

Innovation: AI has also stimulated innovation in STEM fields. AI technologies are enabling the development of new products and services in areas such as healthcare, transportation, and energy. It is also being used to improve existing products and services, such as self-driving cars, renewable energy systems, and medical devices.

In summary, this technology has already started to transform the world in which we live, and it will continue to do so in the future. As it continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative applications in the fields of science and engineering.

It is indeed an exciting time to be entering the workforce, and this technology will present you with new opportunities and challenges. As you go forth into the world, I urge you to continue learning and adapting to both the challenges and opportunities it presents.

In closing, remember that your faculty have equipped you with the skills and competencies that you need to succeed at the next stage of your lives. It is your responsibility to use them.

Congratulations to each and every one of you, our graduates, and we look forward to seeing the amazing contributions you will make in the world.

Good afternoon,

To honor tradition, I acknowledge "The First Nations," whose ancestral homelands we gather on today, and those who shed their blood, sweat and tears in the formation of Millersville Normal School. I also acknowledge those smiling down on me today: Doris Cross, Cousin Hazel Jackson, and Dr. Rita Smith Wade El.

To President and Dr. Daniel Wubah, The Council of Trustees, The President's Cabinet, The Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement and distinguished guests.

Last but not least, those we are honoring today; the Millersville University – College of Science and Technology- class of 2023 and their invited guests.

I am humbled by the opportunity to address you this afternoon. It is said, "What looks like a setback can actually be a set-up.”  During high school, I was too busy having a good time to focus on my future. My roster consisted of all things fun, home economics, arts and crafts, marching band, and yearbook production. When I finally settled on a career path, I was discouraged by my Guidance Counselor from becoming a certified nursing assistant. Can you imagine that?

When asked to be your commencement speaker, I did not faint. I pulled it together and reached out to my childhood sister-friend Dr. Karen E. Hinton Polite. Her reply without hesitation was, "why not? You have a story to tell.”  We both have taken non-traditional educational paths. She is the first African American woman to receive a Doctorate from Millersville University. What I thought was a “set back”, after high school, was actually the best advice I could have ever received.

Since I was told I did not have the qualifications for a certificate program, I did what any inexperienced 18-year-old living with their mother would do; I got a job that I absolutely hated. In my excitement to escape the fast-food rat race, I quit my job to enroll in a job training program. When I showed up, I learned that the program had been defunded (let me be clear…there was no Email, no Google, and no text notifications). My friend Bridgett Boyer and I enrolled as part-time continuing - education students at Millersville State College in – Spring of 1981. No, it was not pre-historic times – I’m not that old! I was jobless; I did not have a dime to my name and had to take the bus to campus. However, Mr. Gene Lydia, unbeknownst to me, would forever change the trajectory of my life. As a recruiter for Millersville, he encouraged us to apply for full-time admission. Some of you may have a Bridgett or Gene in your life; they show up at the right time. People who have been guiding lights. Armed with a transcript filled with fun and excitement, I was unprepared for the challenges before me. But I did show up with a backpack looking the part. Thanks to that Guidance Counselor, I had a lot to learn and something to prove!

On a wing and a prayer, I made it to my sophomore year. How I was never placed on academic probation or suspension is short of a miracle. I decided to major in Psychology, figuring I could use the degree for something after graduation. About that time, something magical happened to Black and Brown students at Millersville. Dr. Rita Smith-Wade-El arrived with an energy that lit this campus on fire. We now call it "Black Girl Magic."  She, along with members of the academic support team of the Adams House, made it their mission to get us to the finish line. Dr. Rita, in particular, affirmed what many of us intuitively knew about ourselves. And that is--we were enough. She reminded us that college is a microcosm of the world, and if we could make it at Millersville University, our skin would be tough enough to make it anywhere.

The “Ville” has been a magical experience for me. My roots on this campus, in fact, run deep. Now hold on because I’m about to go way back to when I was in 2nd grade. I was part of the “Big Sisters Program” and was matched with a Millersville student named Debbie Place. Coming to this campus as a young child was like Disney. As a young girl, I never imagined that college would be attainable, yet I am a proud Alumna. The connections made on this campus are for life. I am part of a large collective here at Millersville known as "Thrillersville.”  We have formed a bond that may not exist at any other state school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. At each homecoming, hundreds of Alumni, as well as former students, converge on this campus. It keeps me anchored to the magic that is Millersville University!

The vision of Millersville University is to equip its graduates with the “skills, perspectives, and experiences to confront the problems of tomorrow.”  As a young undergraduate student, I didn’t realize the seeds that were being planted within were preparing me to be on the frontlines addressing disparities within my community, such as Mental Health, Gun Violence, Reproductive Rights, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19. The last 3 years may have been the most challenging years many of us will ever have to confront. COVID-19 left a path of destruction in its wake. It pulled the scab off wounds that just would not heal, exposing disparities, inequalities, and injustices. Despite a mandatory quarantine, many of you sitting before me did not retreat. We banded together, heading for the streets in solidarity to be a voice for the voiceless.

Millersville University Class of 2023, you are resilient. What sets you apart from any other graduating class is not only what you learned in the classroom but how world affairs will impact all decisions you make as you go forward. When I sat in your seat, I had no clue where my career would lead me. I would like to share six experiences that have impacted my life and career.

First, the job that paid the least provided me with a moral compass. I am now intentional about what I do and how it impacts others, profit, and the planet.

Secondly, little did I know when I took a Philosophy elective examining ethical dilemmas in healthcare it would lead to real-world experience. The organization I worked for challenged the medical ethics and practices in this country. The case was argued all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Third, it was a dream come true when I was blessed to visit five countries in West Africa, Including Dr. Wubah' s homeland of Ghana. The trip changed my global perspective on Public Health and my role as a citizen of the world.

Fourth, learning about “Brain Dominance Theory” helped me understand how people learn. The gifts and talents I bring to the world exist in the right hemisphere of my brain, so I am best at artistic, creative, and spontaneous tasks. Bingo, that is why in high school, I selected courses and extracurricular activities which provided an outlet for creativity. March 16, 2020, Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, a world-class center, hired me to design “creative” approaches during a global pandemic.

Fifth, being awarded Philly Magazine’s 2021 – Health Hero Champion and recognized as the Millersville University 2022 distinguished alumni lets me know that my role as a servant leader was destined.

Finally, when I received an invitation from President Joseph Biden to serve on the President's Cancer Panel for my work in decentralizing cancer screening--during the pandemic, I thought it was spam! But it was only when I began to receive congratulatory emails from Penn Medicine leadership that I understood the invitation was real. This moment was the pinacol of my career.

Class of 2023, many of you sitting in front of me may also have humble beginnings. The seeds planted within me are like the seeds that have been planted within you. In closing, I charge you with these simple tasks that require very little effort. Approach all you do with passion, be coachable, be on time, and always go the extra mile. Remember, you have within you what it takes to confront the problems of tomorrow – You are the magic of Millersville University!