August Graduation Weekend 2016
Schedule, speaker bios, live stream and more
Andrews University’s Summer Commencement is scheduled for the weekend of July 29–July 31, 2016. Graduation weekend events begin Friday evening with the Consecration service in Pioneer Memorial Church and will continue with the Baccalaureate church service, Sabbath afternoon certification and dedication services, Saturday night vespers and the President’s reception, and conclude with Commencement on Sunday, July 31.
Deborah Weithers, dean of Campus & Student Life at Andrews University, will offer the Consecration address titled, “You Decide: Who Will You Be?” at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, July 29.
Weithers has worked in the Division of Student Life for the last four years. She serves as Title IX deputy coordinator for the University and the general sponsor for the Andrews University Student Association. Weithers also serves as chair of the Black History Committee (of which she has been a member for seven years) and the Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee.
On Saturday, July 30, Randal Wisbey, president of La Sierra University (California), will present the Baccalaureate address titled, “A Message For Your Future” during the 11:45 a.m. service at Pioneer Memorial Church.
Wisbey’s career in higher education spans 27 years and he has served as La Sierra University’s third president since 2007. He went to La Sierra from Columbia Union College (now Washington Adventist University) in Takoma Park, Maryland, where he served as president for seven years. At CUC he worked with his administrative team to develop systems to better serve students, including a new enrollment strategy that had significant results in both attracting and retaining students. Prior to his presidency at CUC, Wisbey served for two years as president of Canadian University College (now Burman University) in Alberta, Canada, and as associate professor of youth ministry at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary on the campus of Andrews University.
On Sunday, July 31, Myrna Costa, vice-president of the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, will give the Commencement address, “What God Wants to Teach You” at 9 a.m. in Pioneer Memorial Church.
Costa is a well-known professional in Adventist higher education, having worked both in the North American Division and the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Costa was director of admissions for over 15 years at La Sierra University when she received a call from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists to serve as an inter-division employee at Antillean Adventist University. She was first appointed vice president for Advancement and Enrollment Services, then vice president for Academic Affairs and then university president. In July 2010, upon her election at the General Conference World Session held in Atlanta, Georgia, Costa joined the Inter-American Division (IAD) as the first female vice president in the history of the Division. As vice president, Costa oversees various Division departments: Education, Women’s Ministry, Children and Adolescent Ministry, and Youth Ministry.
Commencement seating is by ticket only. A live streaming link will be provided at andrews.edu/graduation on the day of Commencement, Sunday, July 31. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit andrews.edu/graduation.
