By Valerie Fields Hill
School of Social Work
James Craig Keaton, doctoral candidate, Social Work Erin Findley, doctoral candidate, Social Work
More than 180 Social Work students will receive their graduate and undergraduate diplomas during commencement ceremonies this week.
Among the 182 Social Work graduates will be two students Erin Findley and James Craig Keaton, who will earn doctoral degrees.
Findley has long wondered how she would feel during Friday’s commencement “hooding,” the ceremonial placement of academic regalia on doctoral candidates signifying the earning of the degree.
Both Findley and Keaton will both be hooded on Friday by Social Work Professor Dr. Regina Praetorius.
“I am guessing it will feel somewhat surreal,” Findley pondered last week about being hooded on stage at commencement. “I’m glad I’ll be up there with (Professor) Regina Praetorius and Craig, who both have been an integral part of my journey.”
Keaton offered similar feelings of accomplishment and the support he received from faculty and colleagues, and the feeling of accomplishment.
"I have finally realized this life goal and dream and will be so grateful to celebrate with all of the people that have supported me along this journey,” Keaton said.
Post-graduation, Keaton hopes to land a position where he can counsel and mentor students in a college setting.
Commencement ceremonies begin at 11 a.m. Friday, May 13, at College Park Center, 600 S. Center St., in Arlington. College Park Center is a 7,000-seat, indoor arena on the University of Texas at Arlington campus. Family members and guests older than two must have tickets to attend.
The School of Social Work is one of five colleges/schools conferring degrees on Friday. The College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs, the Honors College and the Division of Student Success will join the School of Social Work in awarding diplomas during the mid-morning ceremony.
The commencement speaker will be Texas State Rep. Jessica Gonzalez, D-104. Gonzalez is the first openly gay Latina elected to the Legislature from North Texas. Gonzalez recently was named one of USA Today’s Women of the Year, an honor which recognizes women who have made a significant impact the fabric of the nation.
Gonzalez serves as the inaugural vice chair of the Texas House LGBTQ+ Caucus. In 2021, she successfully blocked more than 75 “anti-LGBTQ+ bills” from becoming law in Texas.
Gonzalez is in her second term as representative for District 104, which includes parts of Dallas.
Later Friday, the colleges of Liberal Arts, Education and Science together will host commencement ceremonies.
On Thursday, the College of Nursing and Health Innovation will host two commencements. Saturday, the colleges of Business and Engineering will confer diplomas.
In all, UTA received more than 5,400 applications for graduation, including 115 from doctoral candidates, according to the Office of University Communications. The doctoral applications are an increase of 25 percent over the number who applied in Spring 2021, University Communications officials said.
New UTA President Jennifer Cowley was scheduled to preside over commencement ceremonies for the first time. However, earlier this week, Cowley sent an email to university employees saying she had tested positive for the Coronavirus.
