Published Dec. 11, 2019
The University of Louisiana Monroe presents the Summer/Fall Commencement Ceremony
2019 at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14. The ceremony is in Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
President Nick J. Bruno, Jr., Ph.D., will confer 772 degrees (204 summer and 568
fall) upon 766 graduates. There are 40 associate’s degrees, 524 bachelor’s degrees,
one Doctor of Pharmacy degree; 191 master’s degrees; eight Doctor of Education degrees
and eight Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
The guest speaker will be Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter
Reed.
The processional “Pomp and Circumstance No. 1” will be performed by the ULM Commencement
Brass ensemble, conducted by Director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts
Derle Long, Ph.D. The Brass Ensemble will also perform “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Following the conferring of degrees, The Brass Ensemble will perform the recessional,
G. Verdi’s “Triumphal March” from the opera “Aida.”
The Rev. DeRon Talley, pastor of St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church of West Monroe,
will lead the invocation.
Vice President for Academic Affairs Alberto Ruiz, Ed.D., will recognize distinguished
graduates, faculty and guests.
Keynote speaker
Reed became the state Commissioner of Higher Education in 2018 and is the only female
in the country currently serving as a state higher education leader who has led higher
education in more than one state.
Working with the Louisiana Board of Regents and the state’s public and private institutions,
Reed leads the state’s talent development efforts through a focus on education, innovation
and collaboration, designed to double the number of residents with a postsecondary
credential of value by 2030.
Before being named commissioner, Reed served as executive director of the Colorado
Department of Higher Education.
Reed served in President Barack Obama’s administration as deputy undersecretary at
the U.S. Department of Education. She led the White House Initiative on Historically
Black Colleges and Universities. Before serving in the administration, Reed was a
principal at HCM Strategists LLC, a public policy and advocacy consulting firm in
Washington, D.C.
A Lake Charles native, Reed chaired Louisiana’s higher education transition team in
2015 and served as the state’s policy director. Reed also served as chief of staff
and deputy commissioner for public affairs for the Louisiana Board of Regents and
executive vice president of the University of Louisiana System.
Reed received a doctorate in public policy from Southern University, a master’s degree
in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Louisiana
State University. Reed is a wife, proud volleyball mom and relentless student advocate.
Parking
Handicap Parking (must have Handicap place card):
- Lot 13 (also known as the Triangle Lot) across Northeast Drive from the Coliseum
- Lot 18E and 18W, behind Fant-Ewing Coliseum
- Lot 19 (Handicap drop-off) on the Northeast corner of Fant-Ewing Coliseum
Faculty/Staff:
- Lot 12m South (also known as the Activity Center parking lot)
Open parking East of Bayou DeSiard:
- Lot 12m North
- Lot 12 (Brown Stadium parking lot)
- Band Lot, located on the corner of Bon Aire and Peyton (weather permitting)
- Green Lot, located behind Malone Stadium (weather permitting)
Open parking for east entrances will be from Bon Aire and University Park.
- Field House Road
- Warhawk and Peyton
- University and Northeast Dr.
- University and Claiborne St.
- Bayou Dr.
Open parking West of Bayou DeSiard:
- All parking lots located on Northeast Dr. west of the bayou
- All parking lots located on and west of University Ave.
- Parking lots located at Brown Gym, Annex, Bry Hall, and Stubbs Hall
- Bayou Dr. parking
- Strauss Hall parking lot, located next to the library
- Mitchell Ln. parking
No parking (vehicle will be towed):
- Grass area next to beach volleyball courts, located behind Heard Stadium
- Any sidewalks or grass areas
Guest Reminders
Guest seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserving seats is not allowed.
All markers placed in seats in an effort save them will be removed.
Please find a seat upon entering the coliseum. Standing in walkways or entryways,
on stairs, or along the handrails of the upper concourse during the ceremony is not
permitted.
Use of air horns and other noisemakers is not allowed during the commencement ceremony.
To ensure that every graduate's name can be heard when announced, guests are asked
not to make any noise other than that of normal applause as degrees are awarded. Guests
are not allowed on the floor of the arena to take photographs.
For disabled or mobility-impaired guests
Disabled/infirm seating is provided on the arena floor of Fant-Ewing Coliseum. All
seating is provided on a first-come, first-served basis (i.e., no saving of seats
or spaces).
Access to the arena floor is through the ramp on the east side of Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
Seating passes are not provided.
Drivers may drop off disabled/infirm guests on the east ramp of the Coliseum (ULM
Recreational Services/Activity Center side) prior to the ceremony before parking in
one of
the nearby parking lots. Parking passes are not provided. One adult is allowed to
sit with each disabled/infirm guest on the arena floor.
Unless disabled, children must be seated in the upper level of the Coliseum. Any service
animal must be identified as such by its harness/vest, card, or other appropriate
form of identification.
Upon entering the Coliseum floor, the disabled guest must notify Commencement personnel
of the animal's presence.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, all guests in the floor-level seating area are
asked to allow graduates to exit the floor before moving toward the ramp exit.
