The University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) will hold its 54th Commencement Ceremony celebrating the class of 2022 at the Augusta Civic Center at 10 a.m. on May 14, 2022. This year will be the first since 2019 in which UMA (and all institutions in the University of Maine System) will host an in-person commencement event. Universities held virtual and hybrid ceremonies during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 500 graduates in the Class of 2022 will be honored through a Commencement program that will also be live streamed at 10:00 a.m. on May 14, 2022. The link to view the live stream ceremony will be available at uma.edu/commencement.
The ceremony will incorporate UMA’s traditions of this milestone event, including a Commencement address and student speakers, as well as the presentation of awards and honorary degrees and, most importantly, the conferring of degrees to UMA’s graduates. The class of 2022 will also include graduates of UMA’s first graduate programs: the Master of Science in Cybersecurity and a graduate certificate in Substance Use Disorders.
After the initial broadcast, the 2022 Commencement will be posted on the UMA website. This will allow graduates to plan viewing events with family and friends at a date and time convenient to them.
Following are a few highlights of the speakers and honorees for this year’s Commencement Ceremony:
Commencement Address
Anthony James, Jr., Ph.D.
2021- 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant at UMA
Associate Professor of Family Science and Social Work
Miami University
Honorary Degree Recipient
Shawn Yardley
CEO, Community Concepts
Student Remarks
Cassidy Lessner, Corinth, ME
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Dexter Distinguished Student Award
Celena Zacchai, Camden, ME
Bachelor of Arts in Social Science
Distinguished Alumni Award
Lina Cloutier Michaud, ‘10
Bachelor of Science in Mental Health & Human Services
Emeriti
Kenneth Elliott, Ph.D.
Former Professor of Psychology
Frank Ellis, Ph.D.
Former Professor of Psychology and Human Services
Thomas Abbott, Ph.D.
Former Dean of Libraries and Distance Education