Achievement honored at 288th BGSU commencement

Degree candidates at the University’s commencement ceremonies Friday (May 5) and Saturday (May 6) heard from alumni who have gone on to distinguished careers in academia, the Coast Guard and the financial services industry. 

The Bowling Green campus held three ceremonies, all in the Stroh Center. The 7 p.m. Friday event included the Graduate College and the colleges of Health and Human Services, Musical Arts, and Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering.

Giving the commencement address was Anthony Rucci, who received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s and doctoral degrees in industrial/organizational psychology from BGSU. Rucci is now a clinical professor of management in the Fisher School of Business at the Ohio State University and a Distinguished Teaching Professor.

The 9 a.m. Saturday commencement for the College of Arts and Sciences featured an address by Rear Admiral June Ryan, who earned a Bachelor of Science in biology in 1985. Ryan serves as the Ninth Coast Guard district commander, a position she assumed in June 2015. She is the senior Coast Guard commander for the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway.

The colleges of Business Administration and Education and Human Development held commencement at 2 p.m. Saturday. Susan Mucciarone, who earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration in 1979, gave the commencement address. She is the managing director of Private Client Relationship Management at The Glenmede Trust Co. and a member of the Glenmede Management Committee. In this role, she leads private client investment and wealth advisory for individuals and families throughout the country.

BGSU Firelands’ commencement ceremony was held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. William McDonald, executive dean of regional campuses at Ohio State, addressed the candidates. He received three degrees from BGSU: a bachelor’s in interpersonal and public communication and master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology.

Of the total 2,328 degrees awarded this weekend, 664 were with honors. The Graduate College awarded 436 degrees, including 404 candidates for master’s degrees and 32 for doctorates. 

Those graduating included 102 international students from 30 countries. 

With this commencement, BGSU presented three honorary degrees. Dr. William Easterly, one of the most cited economists in the world, was honored at the Arts and Sciences commencement with an honorary doctorate of social sciences. A professor of economics at New York University and co-director of its award-winning Development Research Institute, he is the author of best-selling books including “The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Harm and So Little Good” (2006). He received his Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from BSGU in 1979.

David Winstanley received his honorary doctorate of business administration at the College of Business Administration exercises Saturday afternoon. He received his Bachelor of Science in mathematics and chemistry from BGSU in 1964. Headquartered in the New England region, during his 44 years in real estate he acquired, developed and redeveloped more than 100 properties, representing more than 20 million square feet of buildings. In addition, he has planned and developed 3,500 acres of unimproved land for a multitude of uses.

Stefan Sanderling, chief conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Principality of Liechtenstein, is soon to step down as principal conductor and music adviser of the Toledo Symphony, where he has served since 2002. He has brought national and international attention to the symphony, including a notable appearance at Carnegie Hall in 2011 for the Spring for Spring Series. He has fostered engagement with community groups and collaborations with BGSU’s College of Musical Arts students and faculty. Sanderling was presented an honorary doctorate of musical arts at a performance of the Toledo Symphony on April 28.