May 6, 2009

Purdue to award 10 honorary degrees during spring commencement

Six honorees will be honored during ceremonies May 15-17 at Purdue's Elliott Hall of Music on the West Lafayette campus. Two will be honored at the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne commencement May 13 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Two more will honored during two ceremonies at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis on Sunday (May 10).

The 2009 recipients at the West Lafayette campus are:

- Arthur J. Bond, Ala., who is a retired dean of Alabama A&M University. He also is the founder of the National Society of Black Engineers, which has grown to 20,000 members. His doctor of engineering degree will be awarded at 9:30 a.m. May 16.

- Moira A. Gunn of San Francisco, who is host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Tech Nation" and its affiliated segment "BioTech Nation." She also is a member of Purdue's College of Science Dean's Leadership Council and the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Council. Her doctor of science degree will be awarded at 8 p.m. May 15.

- Milton B. Hollander, of Stamford, Conn., who is chairman and chief executive officer of Newport Electronics Inc. He also is registered as a professional engineer in six states and is a real estate developer. His doctor of engineering degree will be awarded at 9:30 a.m. May 16.

- Renu M. Khator, of Houston, who is president of the University of Houston and chancellor of the University of Houston system. She also is a co-author of five books and more than 50 book chapters and articles. Her doctor of letters degree will be awarded at 8 p.m. May 15.

- Steven A. Webster, of Houston, who is co-founder, managing partner and president of Avista Capital Holdings. He also has served Purdue's Krannert School of Management as a member of its Dean's Advisory Council since 1998 and was recognized as one of its Distinguished Alumni. His doctor of management degree will be awarded at 9:30 a.m. May 17.

- K. Kelly Wise, of Jamaica Plain, Mass., who is founder and executive director of the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers. He also is a secondary school administrator and a former art critic for The Boston Globe. His doctor of letters degree will be awarded at 8 p.m. May 15.

The 2009 honorary degree recipients at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis are:

- Wayne Eckerle, of Columbus, Ind., who is vice president of corporate research and technology at Cummins Inc. He also is a member of the Dean's Industrial Advisory Council for IUPUI's School of Engineering and Technology. His doctor of engineering degree will be awarded at 10 a.m. Sunday (May 10) in Halls A-B-C of the Indiana Convention Center.

- Gerald L. Bepko, of Indianapolis, who is chancellor emeritus at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. He has served as an instructor and has taught at least one course each year, even after becoming chancellor. His doctor of laws degree will be awarded at 3 p.m. May 10 in Halls A-B-C of the Indiana Convention Center.

The 2009 honorary degree recipients at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne are:

- Mark F. Hagerman, of Fort Wayne, Ind., who is chief executive officer of The Hagerman Group, a construction firm that consists of three companies, including Hagerman Construction. The company is responsible for several buildings on the IPFW and Purdue West Lafayette campuses. His doctor of letters degree will be awarded at 7 p.m. May 13 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

- Robert L. Meeks, of LaGrange, Ind., who has served the northeast Indiana area in many roles, including a 20-year tenure as a state senator, 21 years with the Indiana State Police and time with the Allen County Sheriff's Department. His doctor of letters degree will be awarded at 7 p.m. May 13 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

Writer: Christy Jones, 765-494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Mary King, communications director for the Office of Marketing and Media, 765-496-1074, king36@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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