More than 220 graduates are expected to receive their degrees on Tuesday, Dec. 18, during Lander University's 158th Commencement Exercises, beginning at 11 a.m. in Finis Horne Arena.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Sean Barnette, associate professor of English at Lander and winner of the university's 2018 Distinguished Professor Award, will serve as keynote speaker. Barnette earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of South Carolina, and his doctorate from the University of Tennessee.
Barnette, who joined the Lander faculty in 2005, describes himself as "definitely not a literature guy. My expertise is more in the linguistics, rhetoric and language classes," he said. When he taught Harry Potter as Literature, one of numerous Honors College courses he has taught, he focused on "the rhetoric of Harry Potter, how the books get us to think about how language works."
Ceremony Details
Doors to the arena will open at 9 a.m. and will close at 10:45 a.m. Also, tickets are required for entry. Latecomers and those without tickets will be directed to the Abney Cultural Center, where the ceremony will be broadcast via closed circuit television (CCTV) and projected onto a large screen inside the auditorium. No tickets are required to enter the auditorium.
Security Measures - Clear Bag Policy
In an effort to provide a safe environment for our graduates and their guests, university police will enforce a clear bag policy. Guests may bring a clear backpack only. Security measures also include metal detectors at both main entrances of Horne Arena. All items are subject to search.
Livestream on Website
For those who cannot attend, a live stream of the ceremony will broadcast on Lander's website at www.lander.edu. The stream begins shortly before 11 a.m. that morning.
Post Ceremony - Diploma Pickup
Upon conclusion of the ceremony, graduates will be led in formal recession to nearby Joe V. Chandler Center, where they will receive their official diplomas. Graduates will then join family, friends and faculty outside on the front lawn near the fountain for a Graduate Reception.