University of the Ozarks is expected to confer degrees upon 26 graduating seniors during the 2015 Fall Commencement, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 19.
The Commencement ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in Munger-Wilson Chapel. There will be a reception for the graduates and their families in the Rogers Conference Center following the ceremony.
Dr. Douglas Jeffries, professor of biology and environmental studies at Ozarks since 1991, will provide the keynote address at the 2015 Fall Commencement ceremony on Dec. 19.
Dr. Douglas L. Jeffries, who is retiring from Ozarks in May of 2016, will serve as the keynote speaker.
Jeffries has served as professor of biology and environmental studies at Ozarks since 1991. He earned a BA degree in religion from Mid-America Nazarene College before going on to serve four years in the U.S. Navy as a cryptologic technician interpreter. He returned to college to earn a bachelor’s of science degree in biology from Wichita State University, a master’s of science degree in botany from University of Arkansas, and a Ph.D. in plant ecology from Arizona State University.
After teaching two years at Arizona State University as a visiting assistant professor and serving as director of the Central Arizona Science and Engineering Fair, he came to University of the Ozarks in 1991. At Ozarks, he received the President’s Above and Beyond and Advisor of the Year awards in 2010, and in 2011 was awarded the Bagwell Outstanding Faculty Award. In 2012, he was given the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award from the Arkansas Urban Forestry Council. During his two and half decades at Ozarks, Dr. Jeffries has led efforts to diversify and increase the number of trees throughout campus. He serves the local community as President of Clarksville’s Tree Board as a part of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program. He has also been a member of the board of directors of the River Valley Humane Society since 2009, and is the current president of the organization’s board of directors.
Graduating senior Sheryl Cambronero, an RTV and strategic communication major from La Fortuna, Costa Rica, was selected to provide the student’s welcome address for the Fall 2015 Commencement ceremony.
Cambronero has been an active member of KUOZ, TV-6 since her freshman year. She has also been involved in the Glee Club, Campus Activities Board and Enactus while also working in the Borck Cafeteria. During the spring of 2015, Cambronero and fellow RTV student Bere Osorio were chosen as the grand prize recipients in a contest for young filmmakers presented by Mitchell Communications Group in Northwest Arkansas. The two students wrote and produced a four-part soap opera titled, "Las Flores de Spandra," that was showcased on campus in the fall. She has been active in the Church of Christ in Clarksville and has been on the University’s academic honor roll each semester. She is the daughter of Rose Gertrudis Estrada.
Topics: Community Events