COMMENCEMENT FALL 2011
REHEARSAL – ALL CANDIDATES
DATE: Friday, December 16, 2011
TIME: 8:30 a.m.
LOCATION: William “Billy” J. Nicks, Sr. Health and Physical Education Building
Prairie View, Texas
Commencement Ceremonies
DATE: Saturday, December 17, 2011
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
LOCATION: William “Billy” J. Nicks, Sr. Health and Physical Education Building
Prairie View, Texas
*Ceremony for the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, Whitlowe R. Green College of Education, College of Business and Roy G. Perry College of Engineering
DATE: Saturday, December 17, 2011
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: William “Billy” J. Nicks, Sr. Health and Physical Education Building
Prairie View, Texas
*Ceremony for the Graduate School, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, School of Architecture, College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology and College of Nursing
Commencement Speaker
Craig Watkins
Criminal District Attorney
Dallas County, Texas
About Craig Watkins:
On January 1, 2007, Craig Watkins was inaugurated as the Criminal District Attorney for Dallas County, Texas. He is the first African-American elected to that position in the state. As D.A. for Dallas County, his “smart on crime” philosophy engages innovative strategies throughout the prosecutorial process and seeks to address the root causes of why offenders commit crime. Watkins’ interest in conviction integrity has led to partnering with the Innocence Project of Texas to aid the wrongfully convicted. His strategies have garnered attention from a variety of major news outlets, including CNN, ABC’s “Good Morning America,” the Dallas Morning News, New York Times, Washington Post, L.A. Times and Chicago Tribune.
Watkins received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Prairie View A&M University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. He is a member of Friendship-West Baptist Church, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Prairie View A&M University Alumni Association and is affiliated with several professional and civic organizations. Watkins is the recipient of numerous honors and awards for his outstanding accomplishments in the community. He and wife Tanya have three children: Chad, Cale and Taryn.
