Mid-Year Commencement Speakers Announced

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Commissioner Raymund A. Paredes, Austin Mayor Will Wynn and Eastern Illinois University President William L. Perry will be Texas A&M University’s mid-year commencement speakers Dec. 14-15, announced Interim President Eddie J. Davis.

Perry, who was named Eastern Illinois president earlier this year after a 36-year professorial and administrative career at Texas A&M, will speak at 9 a.m. ceremonies on Friday, Dec. 14. He held the position of vice provost and professor of mathematics at the time he was named the 10th president of the Illinois university. Earlier in his Texas A&M career, he served as associate dean of science and subsequently as dean of faculties.

Wynn, a 1984 environmental design graduate of Texas A&M, will present remarks at the 2 p.m. program that day. Wynn, who had served on the Austin City Council since 2000, was elected mayor in 2003 and won reelection in 2006. He has more than 20 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry and founded CIVITAS Investments, a firm that focuses on historic restoration projects.

Paredes will be the speaker for the third and final 2007 graduation exercises, set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15. He has served as higher education commissioner for Texas since 2004. Earlier in his career, he served as associate vice chancellor of academic development at UCLA and as vice president for programs at the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

The Saturday program also will include commissioning ceremonies for members of Texas A&M’s Corps of Cadets entering one of the four branches of the armed forces.

All of the ceremonies will be in Reed Arena and open to the public.