President to travel overseas to International graduations
FAYETTE, Iowa (November 21, 2008) - Upper Iowa University will hold formal graduation ceremonies at its Hong Kong and Malaysia international centers on Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, respectively.
President Alan G. Walker and DeWayne Frazier, Sr. Vice President for International Programs will accompany a delegation of additional faculty, staff and administrators from the Fayette campus. Various media outlets will feature the ceremony, as well as New York-based New Tang Dynasty television, aimed at Chinese people around the world.
"We feel the presence of the University president and Dr. Frazier, who works closely with our international students, is essential in keeping with our mission of respecting, encouraging, and nurturing global citizens," said Walker. "Our being there for this esteemed occasion validates the importance of all of our students, no matter where they attend Upper Iowa University."
A total of 77 students will receive B.S. and M.B.A. degrees during the two ceremonies, which will mirror the annual graduation ceremony held on Upper Iowa's Fayette campus in May. The protocol will include regalia, a procession, singing of the alma mater, and other American pomp and circumstance.
Two prominent dignitaries will serve as keynote speakers. Jeffrey Hilsgen, Consul in the Economic Section-United States Consulate General in Hong Kong, will speak at the Hong Kong graduation. Dr. Marjorie Harrison, Cultural Attache-United States Embassy in Malaysia, will speak at the Malaysian ceremony.
As Consul, Hilsgen covers trade policy, intellectual property rights protection, market access, product safety and other economic issues. Prior to this assignment, he served as a consular officer adjudicating non-immigrant visas in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; a political officer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and an Iraq Provincial Action Officer in Erbil, Iraq, serving as the Department's primary reporting officer and analyst for Iraq's Dohuk Province. Before entering the Foreign Service, Hilsgen held numerous top executive positions in the U.S. private sector. The St. Cloud, Minnesota native is a graduate of St. Cloud State University (International Finance) and the University of South Carolina (International MBA). He speaks German, Spanish and Arabic, and is learning Mandarin.
Marjorie Harrison has been Malaysia's Cultural Attaché since June 2006. This is her second time in Malaysia, having served here as a Peace Corps volunteer in the late 1970s. Previous Foreign Service assignments include Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Caracas (Venezuela), Washington, Cotonou (Benin), New Delhi (India), and Port Louis (Mauritius). Prior to the Foreign Service, Marjorie worked in higher education as Dean of Students at Chatham University (Pittsburgh) and Assistant Dean at Colgate University (New York). She is a graduate of Brandeis University (Boston) and earned her doctorate in educational administration from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst.
"Upper Iowa is committed to ensuring our students receive the complete American educational experience in Asia and around the world and these graduation ceremonies are part of that experience," said Frazier. "Each will feature senior officials from the U.S. government, as well University administration and faculty." He added, "Most important, it will be an opportunity to honor our students on reaching an significant milestone in their lives."
The UIU mascot, Pete the Peacock, will appear prior to each ceremony for student photos and interaction.
The Hong Kong graduation will take place Sunday, Dec. 7 at 12:00 p.m. in the Diamond Ballroom at the Eaton Hotel. The Malaysia graduation will be Sunday, Dec. 14 at 11:00 a.m. at the Prince Hotel and Residence in Kuala Lumpur.
Contact:
Sheila Miller
Director of Public Relations
Work - 563-425-5326
Cell - 319-610-7108
Fax - 563-425-5701
millers@uiu.edu
www.uiu.edu