Dr. Rita Colwell, director of the National Science Foundation, was the featured speaker. Colwell also received an honorary doctor of humane letters during the ceremony.

Having served as director since 1998, Colwell has spearheaded the NSF's emphases in K-12 science and mathematics education, graduate science and engineering education/training and the increased participation of women and minorities in science and engineering. Under her leadership, the Foundation has received significant budget increases, and its funding recently reached a level of more than $4.5 billion.

Before coming to NSF, Colwell was president of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, where she remains professor of microbiology and biotechnology. She was also a member of the National Science Board from 1984 to 1990. She is a nationally respected scientist and educator and has authored or co-authored 16 books and more than 600 scientific publications. She produced the award-winning film, Invisible Seas, and has served on editorial boards of numerous scientific journals.

With this graduating class, UA has awarded more than 180,000 degrees since its founding in 1831 as the state’s first public university. UA holds commencement ceremonies three times a year.

The following students from the Mobile area were listed as candidates to receive degrees:

DOCTORAL DEGREE

Furman - Cynthia Waren McCoy.

MASTER’S DEGREE

Eight Mile - Dymaneke Dinnel Mitchell.

Evergreen - James Adrian Mitchell.

Fairhope - Ashley Ann Dumas.

Jackson - Rashaad K. Beckham, Frances Louanne Green.

Mobile - Brian Allan Campbell, Stuart Thomas Jacobs, Caroline March Moore, Barcley Shane Roedder, Carrie Michelle Spain.

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

Andalusia - John Elisha Hill, Quinton Dean Matthews, Robin Michelle McDonald, Megan Sharon Powers.

Atmore - Mallory King Maxwell.

Bay Minette - Andy D'Olive McMillan.

Brewton - Jack Witherspoon Hines III, Cynthia Marie Lovelace, Beverly Brooke Sanborn.

Butler - Varian Tremaine Harrison, Wallace Andrew Scurlock, Douglas Ray Tyson Jr.

Demopolis - Katherine Leann Hudgens, Randy Douglas London, John Webb Reynolds.

Eight Mile - Jennifer Denise Moore.

Evergreen - William Lyle Bell.

Fairhope - Laura Ellen Anders, William Colton Coile Jr.

Flomaton - Melissa Joyce Holt.

Florala - Joyce Marie Clark.

Foley - Rhonda Leann Younce.

Frankville - Jermaine Herring.

Frisco City - Kimberly Grace Lavender, Devin Stacey Peacock.

Greenville - Stephanie Dawn Branch.

Gulf Shores - Brooke Louise Bengtson, Colleen C. Pedersen, Tamela Mariette Rowland.

Jackson - Stacey Dionne Campbell, Leila Suzanne Tarleton.

Leroy - Stephanie Blount Warrick.

Mobile - Brian Christopher Allen, Tiffany Chanel Bowen,Charles Poyntz Brinson, Arthur Lee Burrell, Teia Jebienia Davis, Percy Coleman Fountain III, Jennifer Elizabeth Hall, Steven Reid Holley, Erin Melissa Janes, Rachel Allison King, James Hayes Luscher, Samuel Tyrone McCants, Stuart Michael McNair, Guy Coleman Oswalt III, Brantley Elizabeth Pond, Anna Margaret Ross, Katharine G. Shackleford, Jennifer Christine Shell, Kelvin Tramond Sigler, Andre` Frank Trotter.

Monroeville - Richard Houston Deas Jr., Allyson Renea Godwin, Glen Higdon, Benjamin Turner Templin.

Orange Beach - Warren Joseph Thiry.

Point Clear - William Ross Seifert III.

Saraland - Jeremy Keith McCormick.

Satsuma - Jeremy Curtis Breland, James Sterling Weaver.

Semmes - Timothy Lamar Matheny.

Stapleton - Thomas Eli Swarts.

Stockton - Anita Mechelle Horace.

Summerdale - Justin Kennedy Flint.

Theodore - Destiny Selena Coumanis.

Thomaston - Tracy Lyn Martin.

Thomasville - Vipul Raman Patel.

Wagarville - William Theodore King.