Approximately 750 students participated in the Fall 2012 Commencement ceremony at Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum held Sunday, Dec. 16.
UIW conferred degrees to graduates at a commencement ceremony held Dec. 16 in the Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum. The commencement honored over 900 students who completed their undergraduate, graduate, or professional degrees either in August or at the end of the fall semester. Approximately 750 students participated in the ceremony.
The commencement speaker was UIW’s Moody Professor Dr. Sally Said. She joined Incarnate Word in 1988, where she has served as chair and co-chair of the modern languages department for 15 of the last 24 years and as an officer and senator of the Faculty Senate for 16 years. Said received the Mulcahy Award for Ecological Stewardship in 2010, in part for work helping to found the Headwaters Coalition; the Mother Columkille Colbert Award for Service in 2006; and the CCVI Spirit Award in 2011 in recognition of her service to the university and wider community.
The 2012 Alumna of Distinction for Professional Achievement, Gloria Berumen Kelly ’76 BA, was also presented at the ceremony. Kelly joined Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives, Inc. (RMYA) as business manager and found her passion – helping children in crisis. She became RMYA’s executive director in 1994 and has served as CEO since 1998.
In addition, Dr. Gilberto Hinojosa, professor of history, was honored with emeritus recognition. Hinojosa joined UIW in 1993, serving as dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. Later, as dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research, he worked with faculty from the School of Education to restructure the doctoral program. He plans to continue teaching at UIW part-time, pursuing his research interests, and serving the university community.
