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May 6, 2008

Calhoun Community College Announces 2008 Graduation; To Conduct College’s First Outdoor Commencement

Calhoun Community College will conduct its 2008 graduation ceremonies on Friday, May 16, 2008, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on the front lawn of the college’s new Math and Science building, located on the Decatur campus. This event marks the college’s first outdoor graduation program in its 60 year history. According to the Calhoun Admissions Office, approximately 1000 students have completed requirements for graduation during the 2007-2008 academic year. Of that number, close to 400 plan to participate in the graduation ceremony next week. Speaker for this year’s graduation service is Dr. Marshall W. Smith. Smith is the sixth president of John Tyler Community College (Virginia) and its longest serving chief executive officer. He is also a former Dean of Instruction for Calhoun.

His career began with student affairs positions in Alabama and Georgia, culminating in his service as Dean of Students at South Georgia College in the mid-1970s. He then moved to academic administration, serving as both Dean of Instruction and Dean of the College at Calhoun. Smith moved to Virginia in 1985 to assume the presidency of Germanna Community College and served as Vice Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System for four years just prior to his appointment at John Tyler. He is now in the eighteenth year of his presidency and is currently in his fortieth year of higher education administration.

Smith’s professional interests have centered on accreditation matters. He was chair of the Virginia delegation to the Commission on Colleges for three years, served on the Executive Council of the Commission for three years, and has chaired over twenty-five reaffirmation and special committees of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. He is presently an adjunct member of the Graduate Faculty of Old Dominion University, occasionally teaching a doctoral course entitled The Modern Community College. Smith is the current president of the Crater Regional Partnership in Petersburg and served twelve years as Secretary / Treasurer of the Southern Association of Community, Junior, and Technical Colleges, with a one-year stint as president of the organization.

He is married with two adult children. He and his wife, Sheila, reside in Midlothian, Virginia.

During Calhoun’s graduation ceremony, Medallions of Recognition will be presented, honoring several individuals for their service to the college. Earlier in the day, the annual Candle Lighting Ceremony for graduates of the College’s 2008 Associate Degree Nursing class will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the college’s Kelley gymnasium. On Tuesday, May 13, the Calhoun will recognize 2008 General Education Development graduates. This ceremony will take place in the Kelley Gymnasium at 6:00 p.m. Keynote speaker is Dr. Susan Price, Vice Chancellor for the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education. For more information about Calhoun’s 2008 graduation ceremonies, contact Janet Kincherlow-Martin, Public Affairs and Community Relations, at 256-306-2560.

Coverage of this release:

• Calhoun graduation ceremony moves outside, The Athens News-Courier, Wednesday, May 7, 2008 issue, p. 2A
• Calhoun to hold graduation outside, The Decatur Daily, Wednesday, May 7, 2008 issue, p. B3

Janet Kincherlow-Martin
Director of Public Relations
(256) 306-2561

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