Commencement Speaker

Spring 2013 Commencement Speaker:
Dr. Kenneth R. Craycraft, Executive Vice President, Academic Partnerships

Dr. Craycraft joined Academic Partnerships in July 2010, as an Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor to the CEO after spending a long and distinguished career in higher education.  Most recently, he served as the Chief Academic Officer for the Texas State University System (TSUS) for over ten years. 

In that capacity, he had oversight of all curriculum-related programs of the member institutions and its 72,000 students, and was the liaison between the System and various government agencies on all matters related to academic affairs.

During his tenure with the System, he also served as Chancellor.   His ongoing responsibilities included working closely with the Board of Regents’ diversity, curriculum, strategic planning, and technology committees, evaluating campus presidents, and coordinating all activities associated with presidential searches.  Prior to joining the System in 2000, Dr. Craycraft served in several administrative capacities at the campus level.

Past Commencement Addresses

December 14, 2009
Dr. Larry Nelson
Assistant Professor, Pedagogy Program Director
Department of Kinesiology, College of Education and Health Professions, The University of Texas at Arlington

December 14, 2009
Dr. Mary Lynn Crow
Professor, Curriculm and Instruction
College of Education and Health Professions, The University of Texas at Arlington

August 14, 2009
Dr. Cheryl D. Cardell
Vice President, Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

May 12, 2008
Jerry Lewis
Vice President for Communications, The University of Texas at Arlington

December 15, 2007
Lois Ditto

August 10, 2007
Regent Robert A. Estrada

May 14, 2007
John H. Stevens
Executive Director, Texas Business and Education Coalition

December 16, 2006
Nancy Barry
Motivational Speaker and Author

August 11, 2006
Dr. Mary E. Ridgway
Executive Director, UT Arlington Center for Community Service Learning

May 15, 2006
Dr. George C. Wright
President, Prairie View A&M University

August 12, 2005
Dr. Michael Moore
Associate Provost and Associate Professor of Political Science, The University of Texas at Arlington

May 16, 2005
George L. Mehaffy
Vice President for Academic Leadership and Change, American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)

Brad Mayne
President/CEO, American Airlines Center