Dec. 5, 2003 CONTACT: Carol Anderson 734.487.4400 carol.anderson@emich.edu

1,600 Students Eligible for EMU Commencement Ceremony, Dec. 14

YPSILANTI – Kevin Klose, president and CEO of National Public Radio (NPR), will be the keynote speaker for Eastern Michigan University’s winter commencement, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2 p.m., at the Convocation Center. Doors open at 12:45 p.m.

EMU President Samuel A. Kirkpatrick will preside over the ceremony. Approximately 1,100 undergraduates, 500 graduates and 27 honors candidates are eligible to participate.

Ten candidates are eligible to receive a doctor of education degree in educational leadership. They are Norman Abdella, Ned Cooper, Sally Covert, Sharon Donahue-Rascke, Daniel Guernsey, Jefferson Hamlin, William Hathaway, Daniel Jonkers, David Maile and Barbara Sofferdine.

Serving as grand marshal for the ceremony will be Sally McCracken, professor of communication and theatre arts. Faculty marshals are Catherine Bach, biology; and Joseph Csicsila, English language and literature.

The EMU Symphonic Band, conducted by Mark Waymire, will provide music. The Army ROTC will provide the Color Guard.
Klose is an award-winning author and international broadcasting executive. Prior to joining NPR in December 1998, Klose served successively as director of U.S. International Broadcasting, overseeing the U.S. Government’s global radio and television news services.
He also was president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) broadcasting to Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. Klose first joined RFE/RL in 1992 as director of Radio Liberty, broadcasting to the former Soviet Union in its national languages.

Prior to RFE/RL, Klose was an editor, reporter and national and foreign correspondent with The Washington Post for 25 years. His various positions at the newspaper included city editor, Moscow bureau chief, Midwest correspondent and deputy national editor.

Eastern Michigan University is a public, comprehensive metropolitan university that offers programs in the arts, sciences and professions. EMU prepares students with the intellectual skills and practical experiences to succeed in their careers and lives, and to be better citizens.

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Eastern Michigan University is a public, comprehensive university that offers programs in the arts, sciences and professions. EMU prepares students with the intellectual skills and practical experiences to succeed in their career and lives, and to be better citizens.

Editor's Note: Looking for an expert source for a story? Check out EMU's Eastern Experts online at www.emich.edu/univcomm/easternexperts.

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