On Saturday, June 4, Goodwin College will hold its 17th Commencement on the grounds of the main campus at One Riverside Drive in East Hartford. More than 450 graduates are expected to walk in the annual ceremony that celebrates their earning certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees in a number of degree programs.
Commencement begins at 10 a.m. and will include remarks from Goodwin president Mark Scheinberg, board of trustees president Dr. Maria Ellis, and the 2016 valedictorian.
This year’s honorary degree recipients, representing the arts, volunteerism, education, medicine, and government leadership include:
Dr. Saud Anwar
Saud Anwar is a pulmonary and critical care physician specializing in lung diseases. He serves as Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine of Manchester Memorial and Rockville General Hospitals. Dr. Anwar has been involved in international and national humanitarian and peace initiatives, frequently consults for the FBI and Homeland Security, and has organized medical missions for disaster relief. Dr. Anwar has received citations for his service from the Governor of Connecticut, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and the Connecticut General Assembly. Dr. Anwar is an expert on international affairs. His interviews on national and international television and radio have included CNN, NBC 30, CTN, Fox-61, NPR, Geo TV-Forum, and the Voice of America-International. He is the former mayor of South Windsor, Connecticut.
Dr. Walter Harrison
Walter Harrison is president of the University of Hartford and serves on many boards in the Hartford area, including Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, World Business Capital, The Hartford Consortium for Higher Education, and the MetroHartford Alliance. He is a past president of Hartford Stage and was one of the founders of The Connecticut Science Center. Dr. Harrison is a recent recipient of the NCAA Gerald R. Ford Award for his work to improve the academic success of student-athletes. A native of Pittsburgh, he graduated from Trinity College in Hartford in 1968 and then earned a master’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1969. After three years serving as an officer in the United States Air Force, he earned a doctorate from the University of California, Davis.
Susan Saint James
Susan Saint James is best known for her TV roles in Name of the Game (Emmy Award), MacMillan & Wife, and Kate & Allie. She has been honored for her film and TV work with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ms. Saint James began her involvement with the Special Olympics in 1972, serving on the board of CT Special Olympics since 1983 and as an executive member of the 1995 Special Olympics World Games. She continues as an advisor, cheerleader, and fundraiser for Special Olympics worldwide. She has been honored by many organizations including the Caritas Society, Knights of Columbus, and Rotary Clubs International, and is the proud recipient of five honorary doctorates from Connecticut colleges and universities. She is a board member of the Telluride Foundation, which provides support for the arts, education, athletics, and other causes. Her candid sharing about the loss of her son Teddy in a 2004 plane crash been an inspiration to countless individuals. At the Women’s Conference in 2007, she was a featured speaker on “Beyond Courage: Overcoming the Unimaginable.”
Members of the media are invited to attend and are encouraged to contact Rob Muirhead, Media Relations Coordinator, at 860-913-2033 or rmuirhead@goodwin.edu.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.