UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler President Rodney H. Mabry to Speak at His Final Commencement

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December 14, 2016

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

Dr. Rodney H. Mabry will be a featured speaker at The University of Texas at Tyler 2016 fall commencement.

In one of his last official duties as president, Mabry will give the commencement address for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Degree candidates will be recognized Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16 and 17 in the R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center. President Mabry will speak at 6 p.m. Friday.

He will retire Dec. 31, 2016 after leading UT Tyler for 18 ½ years.

During his time as president, UT Tyler has become one of the fastest-growing institutions in Texas and boasts numerous nationally ranked and recognized programs, including nursing.

Prior to becoming the university's third president, he was dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Tulsa. President Mabry has also served in leadership roles and as a faculty member at Clemson University and Northeast Louisiana University and as a field research associate for the Brookings Institution in Washington.

In addition, he researches and writes on a variety of public policy issues—from costs of the U.S. judicial system and banking issues to state and local government tax and finance questions. He has co-authored a textbook on economics and written more than 50 articles that have appeared in numerous academic journals.

President Mabry holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Kentucky and a certificate in university management from Carnegie Mellon University.

Dr. Barbara Haas, UT Tyler David G. Braithwaite Professor of Nursing and associate dean of graduate nursing programs, will deliver the commencement address for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Haas joined the UT Tyler faculty in 1992 as a lecturer. She has served in several teaching and administrative positions, all within the college. Haas also is the executive director for the School of Nursing. Her early work with cancer patients has influenced much of her research. Haas has conducted extensive research on the effects of physical activity on symptom management and the quality of life of oncology patients. She has more than 40 publications and has worked on 10 different grant-funded projects, many of them exploring the benefits of exercise to those battling cancer.

The Honorable Bryan Hughes will deliver the commencement address for the Colleges of Business and Technology, Education and Psychology and Engineering.

A UT Tyler alumnus, State Rep. and Senator-Elect Hughes began his distinguished career in public service in 1995. He has served in the Legislature since 2002, receiving numerous accolades for his work. He currently serves as the District 5 State Representative. In addition, Hughes sits on the House Committee on Appropriations, as well as the House Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues. In 2013, Hughes was named a Distinguished Alumnus by the UT Tyler Alumni Association.

The fall 2016 commencement schedule is:

• College of Nursing and Health Sciences – 3 p.m. Dec. 16
• College of Arts and Sciences – 6 p.m. Dec. 16
• College of Business and Technology – 10 a.m. Dec. 17
• Colleges of Education and Psychology and Engineering – 1 p.m. Dec. 17

President Mabry will give remarks and confer degrees. Carroll Rogé, corporate vice president of marketing and planning of East Texas Medical Center Regional Health Care System, will give alumni association presentations.

One of the 14 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 10,000 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.