Gov. Jim Hunt

GREENSBORO – The University of North Carolina at Greensboro will hold its 112th commencement exercises Friday, May 14, with James B. “Jim” Hunt Jr., who served four terms as governor of the Tar Heel State, as the featured speaker.

Hunt also will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the program, which begins at 10 a.m. in the Greensboro Coliseum. UNCG will recognize over 2,000 students who have completed degrees at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels during spring semester. UNCG Chancellor Patricia A. Sullivan will welcome the graduates and their families, and will play a central role in the ceremony.

Further details are available at the "Commencement Central" webpage.

Hunt was governor from 1977-85 and again from 1993-2001, and is now a partner in the Raleigh office of one of the state’s largest law firms, Womble Carlyle Sandridge and Rice. He chairs the board of the James B. Hunt Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy, which was established in 2001 as part of the University of North Carolina system.

During his terms as governor, Hunt emerged as a nationally known leader in education. In addition to leading North Carolina through periods of economic change, he has been at the forefront of educational reform in North Carolina and in the nation. The Rand Corporation has reported that North Carolina public schools improved test scores more than any other state in the 1990s.

As governor, Hunt focused several initiatives on early childhood development and improving the quality of teaching. His Smart Start program is a nonprofit, public-private partnership rooted in each of the state’s 100 counties providing quality child care, health care, and family support for each child who needs it. It is funded primarily by the state but is also supported heavily by private corporations and individuals. A more complete profile is available here.

Smart Start has been visited and studied by early childhood leaders from all 50 states and many foreign countries. It received the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award from the Ford Foundation and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Hunt received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from N.C. State University and his law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill.

In addition to Sullivan and Hunt, other participants will include Provost Edward Uprichard; Dr. Walter Salinger, chair of the Faculty Senate; Kenneth C. Mayer Jr., representing the UNCG Board of Trustees; Bert Collins, a representative of the UNC Board of Governors and UNC General Administration; C. Thomas Martin, president of the UNCG Alumni Association; Dr. James Petersen, dean of the Graduate School; and Rachel “Rae” Marcus, who is the speaker for the Class of 2004.

Also taking part in the ceremonies will be UNCG’s academic deans; Dr. Bert Goldman, who is faculty marshal and mace bearer; and Emily Ruth Johnson, chief marshal. At the conclusion, the University Bell will be rung by Alice J. Irby, an alumna of the Class of 1954, and Kevin Jay Barham, who is the Class of 2004 alumni representative. The Commencement Brass and Chorus will provide music.

In conjunction with commencement exercises, the professional schools and many departments in the College of Arts and Sciences will conduct diploma ceremonies on campus or nearby. The following schools and departments will conduct recognition ceremonies or have receptions on:

• Wednesday, May 5 – noon, Women’s and Gender Studies Program, State Room, Dining Hall.

 
• Thursday, May 13 – 10 a.m., School of Nursing, Fleming Gymnasium; 2 p.m., School of Human Environmental Sciences, Fleming Gymnasium; 1 p.m., Department of Communication, Elliott University Center (EUC) Auditorium; 6 p.m., Department of History, EUC Auditorium; Department of Classical Studies, home of Dr. Jeffrey Soles, 212 S. Park Drive, Greensboro; 7:30 p.m., Department of Sociology, School of Music Recital Hall.

 
• Friday, May 14 – 1 p.m., Department of Anthropology, Room 424, Graham Building; Department of Art, School of Music Recital Hall; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Syngenta Lobby, first floor, Science Building; Department of Geography, Room 109, Graham Building; Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program, Maple Room, EUC.; Department of Mathematical Sciences (floating reception 1-3 p.m.), Room 416, Bryan Building;  Department of Philosophy, Faculty Center; 2 p.m., Department of Theatre, Taylor Building Theatre; 2:30 p.m., Department of Broadcasting and Cinema, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 2105 W. Market St., Greensboro; Bryan School of Business and Economics, Special Events Center, Greensboro Coliseum Complex; Department of English, EUC Auditorium; Department of German, Russian and Japanese Studies, Birch Room, EUC; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Room 116, Petty Science Building; Department of Political Science, Room 160, Bryan Building; Department of Psychology, Curry Building Auditorium; Department of Romance Languages, Kirkland Room, EUC; School of Health and Human Performance, Fleming Gymnasium; 3 p.m., School of Music, West Market United Methodist Church, 302 W. Market St., Greensboro; 3:30 p.m., Department of Religious Studies, home of Dr. Greg Grieve, 225 Florence St., Greensboro; 4 p.m., Department of Biology, Science Building Auditorium, first floor.

 
• Saturday, May 15 – 10 a.m., School of Education, Aycock Auditorium.

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