Commencement Summer 08

Rehearsal – ALL Candidates

Commencement:

Commencement Speaker

Dr. Frank B. Ashley

Dr. Frank B. Ashley, III currently serves as the vice chancellor for academic affairs for The Texas A&M University System. Throughout his distinguished career in education, Dr. Ashley has served in a variety of roles, including teacher, coach and administrator. For 21 years, he has served in various positions within the Texas A&M University System. At Texas A&M University, Dr. Ashley’s posts included interim assistant provost for enrollment, director of admissions and associate dean for undergraduate studies and teacher education in the College of Education. He most recently served as interim provost and vice president for academic and student affairs at Texas A&M University-Commerce and as a school board member of the Commerce Independent School District.

A recognized innovator, Dr. Ashley is skilled in leading faculty and administrators through the day-to-day responsibilities to ensure that students receive a quality education. As vice chancellor for academic affairs, Dr. Ashley coordinates academic and student affairs program development and implementation and accountability, including performance-based funding for the A&M System’s nine universities and health science center. He also leads efforts to expand enrollment of community college transfer students to system universities and leads the development of comprehensive distance education initiatives.   

He is past president of the North American Society for Sport Management. In addition, he has taught courses internationally as a faculty member of the U.S. Sports Academy, and has written numerous articles about sports management, aerobic and other types of dance and related topics in professional journals, for several of which he has served as contributing editor and editorial board member.

Dr. Ashley is active in many professional organizations and has received numerous honors, including distinguished alumnus and citizen of the year awards.  His plaudits include a Distinguished Teaching Award from Texas A&M University’s Association of Former Students, a Diversity Award from Texas A&M’s provost and dean of faculties and a Distinguished Alumni Award from Louisiana College, where he also was named Teacher of the Year.

Dr. Ashley earned a bachelor’s degree in health, physical education and safety from Louisiana College in 1975, a master’s in health, physical education and recreation from the University of Alabama in 1976 and a doctorate in physical education from the University of Alabama in 1986.

Candidates should report for Commencement Convocation at 08:00 A.M., Saturday, August 09, 2008.
Caps and Gowns may be purchased at the University Bookstore.