Under the Arch

DEPUTY HIGHER ED SECRETARY TO ADDRESS DECEMBER GRADUATES

A top-level administrator with the United States Department of Education will be the keynote speaker at Gannon University’s Winter Commencement.

Wilbert Bryant, the department’s deputy assistant secretary for higher education programs, will address the graduates and their families during the ceremony, scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. Bryant also will be awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.

As deputy assistant secretary, Bryant administers programs that serve both disadvantaged college students as well as schools with a high percentage of such students. He also oversees international education and foreign language studies programs and the Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program.

In 2003, Bryant was named counselor to the secretary for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In this role, he serves as the designated federal official advising the secretary of education on strengthening HBCUs and on helping them take advantage of federally-funded programs.

A native of Goulds, Fla., Bryant earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Florida A & M University in Tallahassee and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He later earned a master of education degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and also attended the Defense Department’s highest-level military service school, The National War College.

A Vietnam veteran and highly decorated officer, Bryant served in the Army for nearly 28 years, retiring in 1990 with the rank of colonel. His numerous military awards and commendations include the Legion of Merit.

Upon his retirement from the Army he served as vice president for student affairs at Virginia Union University in Richmond and was a member of the school’s president’s cabinet. He had supervisory responsibility for a number of university departments, including Student Activities, Residence Life, Student Health Services, Career Planning and Placement, Campus Ministry, Student Leadership Development, and Student Counseling.

In 1994, then-Governor George Allen installed Bryant as Virginia’s deputy secretary of education, a position in which Bryant oversaw initiatives such as Virginia’s Standards of Learning.

In 1998, then-Governor James S. Gilmore III named Bryant Virginia’s secretary of education, giving Bryant oversight of a biennial budget of more than $17 billion. As a member of Gilmore’s cabinet, Bryant also oversaw 37 executive branch agencies, including the Virginia Department of Education, the State Council of Higher Education, the Library of Virginia, the Virginia Community College System, five public museums, and two teaching hospitals.

In addition, Bryant served on numerous boards and commissions, including The Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission, Commission on Information Technology, and the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education.

Bryant has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from Virginia State University in Petersburg, Va., Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C., Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Va., and Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo.

OUR EVENTS

Thursday, December 2 – Graduate and Adult Open House: To be held from 3:30-6 p.m. Call ext. 7474 for more info.
Saturday, December 4 – Gannon Social Work Club Christmas Dinner: To be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Hammermill Center and Yehl Room. A record crowd is expected to attend. The event again will feature a Wellness Fair as well as a full dinner, clothing, presents, and games and activities for children. For more information call ext. 7781 or 7263.
Saturday, December 4 – Jingle Mingle: The annual Gannon University Christmas party will begin with a reception at 6:15 p.m. Buffet dinner will be served at 7 p.m., and music and dancing will be offered from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Seating is first come, first served. Call human resources for more information.
Friday, December 10 – Gannon University's Erie Chamber Orchestra: This is the annual Christmas Concert Sing-Along with the St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral children’s choir. The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 130 East 4^th Street.
Sunday, December 12 – Winter Commencement: 2 p.m. in Hammermill Center. Wilbert Bryant, deputy assistant secretary for higher education programs for the U.S. Department of Education, will give the keynote address and will be awarded an honorary degree. The graduation mass will be held at 11 a.m. in the Chapel.
Sunday, December 12 – National Children’s Memorial Day: The ceremony will be held on the steps of Gannon University’s Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel at 6:45 p.m. with the registration of names to be remembered and will be followed by a candle lighting ceremony as well as music, readings, and poems. The service, which will be observed worldwide, will honor the memory of children who have died. Call ext. 5624 for more information.
Sunday, December 12 – Mid-Knight Pancake Breakfast: To be held from 9:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. in the Gannon cafeteria. Volunteers are needed to staff the two shifts: 9-10:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.-12 a.m. The breakfast is free to all Gannon students. Call ext. 5800 if you would like to volunteer or donate a door prize to be raffled off for the students.
“Our Events” is intended to serve as a random sample of campus events. For a more complete listing, refer to Eventcal.

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

J. Thomas Simmons Jr. Daniel Morales. Janice Diluzio. Kathleen Gausman. Marion Gallivan. May Bartello. Thomas Boyd. Kimberly Grove. Wendy Bowen. Ron Wasielewski. Patrick Pontzer. Herbert Sommers Jr. Stephanie Williams. Renee Thibodeau. James Thompson. Marilyn Dombrowski. Annmarie George. Lauren Foltz. Melanie Dash. Paula Barrett. Heather Turner. Gary Garnic. Karen Weston. Barry Brinkman. Ronald Lombard. Donna Green. Cheryl Rink. Ken Morgan. Timothy Tracy. David Eschenbach. Richard Zack. Judith Kelly.

THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE

Tuesday, November 30 – speaker, Erie Ambassador Training Program; City of Erie Planning Commission meeting. Wednesday, December 1 – meeting with Gannon Information Technology Services staff. Thursday, December 2 – President’s Circle dinner and play. Saturday, December 2 – Gannon Social Work Club Christmas Dinner; Gannon University Employee Holiday Dinner and Dance.

HEARD ON CAMPUS

Special thanks to Gannon colleagues for their assistance with recent media interview requests. Dr. Garibaldi provided a statement on a new grant received for Gannon’s Erie Technology Incubator (see below). Scott Miller, assistant professor and program director, accounting, did an interview with Peter Panepento of the Erie Times-News on Merck’s recent withdrawal from the marketplace of the popular drug Vioxx. Miller discussed potential legal ramifications of the company’s withdrawal of the drug, including possible class action lawsuits against the pharmaceutical company.
ETI garners additional support: Gannon University’s Erie Technology Incubator recently was selected for a $150,000 grant. The money is from the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2005 and brings total grant money received for the incubator to more than $1 million. The announcement of the grant was made by U.S. Rep. Phil English and was covered in a front-page article written by Jim Martin in the Nov. 23 edition of the Erie Times-News. Said Dr. Garibaldi of the grant, “I am very thankful to Congressman English because this additional $150,000 pushes Gannon’s ETI funding over the $1 million mark and will hopefully generate additional financial support so that this economic initiative will be operational sooner than projected.”
Dissertation defense: Elisa Seibert will defend her dissertation on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. in Palumbo room 2012. The title of her dissertation is “Clergy knowledge of basic counseling skills – helping and BIC pastors.” All are welcome to attend.