Winter Commencement ceremonies set for Sunday, Dec. 21

Update: UW-Madison alumnus and professor of political science and public affairs Dennis Dresang was scheduled to deliver the charge to the graduates, but will not be able to attend. Filling in for him will be UW–Madison alumnus Ben Schumaker, who founded The Memory Project, a nonprofit program that works with schools nationwide to create portraits and books for orphaned children around the world.

The project has helped to raise awareness among U.S children about global humanitarian issues. More than 15,000 portraits have been created by thousands of high school students around the nation.

Schumaker received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UW–Madison in 2003 and a master of social work degree from the university in 2006. This year he received a Forward Under Forty Award from the Wisconsin Alumni Association.

Original story…

University of Wisconsin–Madison alumnus and veteran professor of political science and public affairs Dennis Dresang will speak to graduates at the university’s Winter Commencement ceremonies on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

“I am deeply touched and honored to have been selected to address the graduates and I look forward to the fun and celebration,” says Dresang, who was chosen by the officers of the senior class.

He has been a faculty member on the Madison campus since 1969 and has served on many university committees and the Athletic Board. He chaired the board’s Planning and Equity Committee.

Dresang was the founding director of the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs (formerly the La Follette Institute of Public Affairs) from 1983-87, and has been the director of the school’s Center on State, Local and Tribal Governance since 1993. His research has focused on state politics, public personnel management and community issues.

His public service to the state has included chairing two gubernatorial task forces and serving on numerous tribal and local government commissions on human resource management issues.

He was the research director for Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton‘s policy initiative to improve the status of women in Wisconsin, and he received distinguished service awards from the Wisconsin Women’s Political Caucus and the Wisconsin Equal Rights Council for his research and public service regarding pay equity.

Dresang earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from UW–Madison in 1964, followed by a master’s and Ph.D from the University of California-Los Angeles.

At the 10 a.m. ceremony, the following degrees will be conferred:

All doctoral and professional degrees; all master’s degrees; and bachelor’s degrees from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the School of Education, School of Human Ecology, School of Medicine and Public Health, and the School of Nursing.

At the 2 p.m. ceremony, bachelor’s degrees from the Wisconsin School of Business, the College of Engineering, and the College of Letters and Science (including journalism, music and social work) will be conferred.

Each of the ceremonies will be approximately one and a half hours long. No tickets are required. Typically, about 1,500 students participate in the Winter Commencement ceremonies, according to Joe Farrenkopf of the Office of the Secretary of the Faculty.

Degree candidates and guests should arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of their ceremony to ensure they are seated at the appointed time.

Parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in most university ramps and lots. Complimentary shuttle bus service between Union South and the Kohl Center will be available every 10-15 minutes between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Both ceremonies will be streamed live and will be accessible via the university’s home page.