July 21, 2015

Four thousand expected at mid-year graduations

The mid-year graduation ceremonies at the University of Wollongong will attract about 4,000 visitors, including an estimated 1,140 graduands, to campus this week from Wednesday 22 July to Friday 24 July.

Graduation presents an opportunity to showcase a range of people who are pursuing their passion, their career and furthering their education.

Professional athlete Oscar Forman, who recently signed with the Illawarra Hawks, will receive a Bachelor of Business degree on Wednesday morning.

Ann Rogerson and her daughter, Claire Rogerson, will be awarded a Doctor of Business Administration and a first class honours in a Bachelor of Primary Education degree respectively on Wednesday afternoon.

Sarah Willard Gray is a painter from the Southern Highlands and will receive her PhD in Creative Arts for her thesis, which aims to explain the role of mapping in depicting place and identity in Australian Aboriginal art. Her daughter is flying in from Brisbane for the ceremony on Thursday afternoon.

Maria Mashiri, after completing an undergraduate engineering degree in Chile, travelling around the world, had children and then in mid life returned to do PhD studies at UOW. She decided on her thesis after a big earthquake hit Chile hence her project is focused on quakeproofing homes in poor countries. Ms Mashiri will graduate on Friday afternoon.

The University Medallist for 2014 is Adam Reich from the Faculty of Business.

Four prominent businesspeople and educators will receive honorary doctorates and Emeritus Professorships will be bestowed on two Professors.

Internationally recognised novelist and committed social justice activist Thomas Keneally AO (pictured below) will receive a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) on Thursday afternoon. Mr Keneally will also deliver the Occasional Address at the ceremony.

Internationally recognised novelist and historical writer Thomas Keneally will be conferred a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) on Thursday 23 July.

 For her significant contribution to AIDS/HIV, mental health and ageing in Australia, and her advocacy for the respectful treatment of our seniors, UOW has chosen to recognise Ms Ita Buttrose AO OBE as a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) during the final graduation ceremony on Friday 24 July.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Laureate Education Mr Douglas Becker will receive a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) and deliver the Occasional Address on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Becker is being recognised for his commitment to broadening access to higher education and his outstanding contribution to youth leadership.

An internationally renowned expert in the areas of financial mathematics and economics, Professor Carl Chiarella will receive a Doctor of Science (honoris causa) on Thursday morning.

Emeritus Professorships will be bestowed on two Professors: Edward (Ted) Wolfers, who joined UOW in 1987, for his outstanding contribution to education, international development, governance and peace-building; and Jennifer Seberry, for her outstanding contributions to computer security research and education. Jared Wolfers, son of Edward Wolfers, will graduate during the same ceremony with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

UOW is live streaming all main campus Graduation ceremonies so that family and friends can watch the ceremony, no matter where they are in the world. Streaming will begin a few minutes before each ceremony.