St. Joseph, Mo. – May 7, 2012 – Missouri Western State University will hold its spring commencement ceremonies at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, May 12 in the M.O. Looney Complex. David Tushaus, professor of legal studies and chair of the department of criminal justice, legal studies and social work, will deliver the commencement address at both ceremonies. The MWSU Alumni Association will host free receptions for graduates and their families after each ceremony in the Looney small gym.

Other commencement-related activities include an ROTC commissioning ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, May 11 in the Kemper Recital Hall inside Leah Spratt Hall; a pinning ceremony for nursing graduates at 8:30 a.m. May 12 in the Fulkerson Center; and a pinning ceremony for physical therapy assistant graduates at 1:30 p.m. May 12 in the Kemper Recital Hall inside Leah Spratt Hall.

Graduates of the following programs participate in the 11 a.m. ceremony:

  • Craig School of Business
  • Criminal justice, legal studies and social work
  • Engineering technology
  • Nursing and allied health
  • Psychology
  • Master of Applied Science in Engineering Technology
  • Master of Applied Science in Human Factors and Usability Testing

Graduates of the following programs participate in the 3 p.m. ceremony:

  • Art
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Communication studies, theatre and cinema
  • Computer science, mathematics and physics
  • Economics, political science and sociology
  • Education
  • English, foreign languages and journalism
  • Health, physical education and recreation
  • History, philosophy and geography
  • Music
  • Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Master of Applied Arts in Integrated Media
  • Master of Applied Arts in Written Communication
  • Master of Applied Science in Assessment
  • Master of Applied Science in Chemistry
  • Master of Applied Science in Information Technology Management

Tushaus was recently selected for a Fulbright Award to research and teach at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, this fall, one of only about 800 Fulbright U.S. scholars sent abroad for a semester. Tushaus began teaching at Missouri Western in 1999. Before that, he worked 14 years at Legal Aid of Western Missouri.

Tushaus received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and both a master’s degree in urban and regional planning and his law degree from the University of Iowa.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu. Missouri Western is an equal opportunity institution.