The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

 


Media Contact: Laurie Mellas, 277-5915

May 3, 2006

UNM Spring Commencement May 13 at Pit
Luján, Phone and Perovich to receive honorary degrees

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will deliver the keynote address at the University of New Mexico 's spring commencement Saturday, May 13, at 9 a.m. in the University Arena, “the Pit.”

Former member of Congress Manuel Luján, Jr., former UNM President John Perovich, and foremost Jicarilla language linguist Wilhelmina Phone will receive honorary degrees at the ceremony.

UNM Acting President David Harris will confer a projected total of 3,059 degrees upon UNM main campus graduates – 1,969 bachelor's degrees, 685 master's degrees, five post-master's degrees, 151 doctorates, 108 juris doctorates, 63 medical doctorates, 63 pharmacy doctorates, six graduate certificates and nine education specialists.

UNM Board of Regents President James Koch, fellow regents, administrators, deans, faculty and staff are among the platform group. Richard W. Holder, deputy provost, is master of ceremonies, and Vivian Valencia, University Secretary, chief marshal.

Dahlia Dorman, earning a degree in political science with departmental and university honors, will give the undergraduate address. Dorman has been active on campus participating in the student senate, Emerging Leaders program and Black Student Union. She took part in numerous community service projects and has been accepted to the UNM School of Law.

The University Band, conducted by Eric Rombach-Kendall will play a selection of music for the ceremony's prelude and processional. Michael Holderer, who is graduating with a master's in music, will sing the national anthem and alma mater.

Provost Reed Dasenbrock will recognize honors graduates and award the Tom L. Popejoy Dissertation Prize to Bradley Ratliff.

Following the ceremony, President Harris and the UNM Alumni Association invite graduates, their family and friends to a reception under the big tent at the Pit. The association will also hold an open house for graduating seniors Monday – Friday, May 8-12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Hodgin Hall.

Individual convocation ceremonies are scheduled at various departments and colleges May 12-13.

Honorary Degree Recipients

Manuel Luján, Jr

First elected in 1968, Manuel Luján, Jr., represented the State of New Mexico and Republican Party for 10 distinguished terms in the United States Congress. In 1989, President George Bush appointed him U.S. Secretary of the Interior for a four-year term.

Currently, he serves as a lobbyist in Washington , D.C., through his company Manuel Luján Associates, promoting primarily Native American and healthcare interests.

John Perovich

UNM graduate John Perovich (BABA '48, MBA '50) was named UNM's 12th president in 1982. Perovich also served as assistant comptroller and vice president of business and finance. He helped found the UNM Foundation in 1980 and served two terms on its board. Perovich was instrumental in the establishment of the Sandia Foundation and is credited with the remarkable financial support Sandia provides UNM, which totals nearly $31 million in trust.

Wilhelmina Phone

Documenting and preserving the intricacies of her language became a life's passion for Wilhelmina Phone, language activist and retired teacher for the Jicarilla Apache Nation in Dulce, N.M.

Phone has been involved in the ongoing collection, performance and translation of Jicarilla stories and songs. She collaborated with a team of linguists, including UNM Prof. Melissa Axelrod, to create the first large-scale dictionary of any Eastern Apachean language. Nominators noted, “The Abáachi Mizaa Iikee' Siijai: Dictionary of Jicarilla Language is a major contribution to comparative work in the Athabaskan language family.”

 


The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

www.unm.edu