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Commencement 2013
Date: May 9, 2013
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: UIC Pavilion
The Commencement ceremony for the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago will be held in the UIC Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, 2013. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Student Services Building Atrium located across the street from the Pavilion. For directions to the UIC Pavilion click here.
The College of Education will grant the BA, MEd, PhD, and EdD degrees to graduates who have completed their programs during the summer 2012, fall 2012, and spring 2013 terms. Graduates who wish to participate in the ceremony can click on the following links to get ceremony instructions.
Bachelor's Instructions Master's Instructions Doctoral Instructions
Commencement Speaker: Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins
Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins was appointed Superintendent of Michigan City Area Schools in Michigan City, Indiana, in 2010. In her short tenure there, she is already transforming the public perception of the city’s schools, through a renewed focus on the instructional core, an expansion of Career and Technical Education, and the establishment of new program options for students of all ability levels. She has overseen the launch of elementary magnet schools in STEM and the Arts, a multiage gifted and talented program, and three themed middle schools (in STEM, Cultural Arts, and Environmental Science), and has more than doubled dual credit opportunities available to high school students.
Previously, she was Chief Education Officer and the lead curriculum and instruction strategist for the third-largest school district in the nation, Chicago Public Schools (CPS). There, Dr. Eason-Watkins led efforts to reform policies and institute key initiatives to diminish the achievement gap. Under her leadership, the district received the largest literacy grant in the nation ($24.5 million) from the U.S. Department of Education, increased number of students taking Advanced Placement courses, and expanded learning opportunities for pre-school through 12th grade despite budget constraints.
Dr. Eason-Watkins has spent her 39-year professional career working with schools, students, teachers, parents, and community members to improve the quality of public education. She was a nationally recognized school principal in the Chicago Woodlawn community, beginning her career at CPS as the Principal of Mollison Elementary School, where she served from 1985-1988. She also served as the Principal of McCosh Elementary School (known today as Emmett Till Math & Science Elementary) from 1988-2001. Dr. Eason-Watkins’ extensive experience in education also includes teaching in Highland Park, Michigan, near her hometown of Detroit.
Dr. Eason-Watkins received a Bachelor’s Degree with honors in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan, a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Chicago State University, and a Doctorate in Education, with a specialty in Curriculum and Instruction, from Loyola University Chicago. She has received numerous awards for her continued commitment to education, and she is also a member of several distinguished organizations.