2008 Commencement Speakers at the University of Redlands
 

The founder and CEO of Men's Warehouse and two long-time University of Redlands faculty members will be featured speakers at the university’s commencement ceremonies on May 22 and May 24.

School of Music Professor Jeffrey Rickard will address approximately 600 College of Arts and Sciences graduates during a ceremony at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 24 in the Alumni Greek Theatre. Rickard received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Redlands before becoming an associate professor of music at the university in 1970.

Since 1971, Rickard has been the driving force behind the Feast of Lights, an internationally recognized Christmas pageant. He also has been director of choral activities since 1980.

Carol Ann Franklin, a professor in the School of Education, will speak to about 355 graduates at the School of Education commencement Thursday, May 22 at 6 p.m. in the Alumni Greek Theatre. Franklin has been a member of the university’s education faculty since 1976.

Franklin has served the university in a variety of administrative roles, directing teacher education, liberal studies and educational leadership programs.

She also served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as associate vice president of academic affairs, and as dean of planning and institutional research. She was particularly instrumental in advancing the university’s first-ever doctorate program, the Doctorate in Leadership for Educational Justice (Ed.D.), which was launched in 2006.

George Zimmer, the founder and CEO of Men's Warehouse, will address some 530 School of Business graduates May 24 at 4:30 p.m. in the Alumni Greek Theatre. He also will receive an honorary degree from the university. His daughter, Sarah, graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences last year.

Zimmer opened his first Men's Warehouse store in Houston in 1973. The chain is one of North America’s largest men's apparel specialty retailers, with about 580 stores in the U.S. and about 110 in Canada. He narrates and appears in many of the company’s TV commercials, often ending with the company slogan, "You're going to like the way you look. I guarantee it."

Two additional honorary degree recipients, Hendrix Bull and Charles Townes, also will be recognized during the College of Arts and Sciences ceremony.

Bull came to the University of Redlands in 1943 as part of the U.S. Navy’s V-12 program. He went on to become an internationally known expert in petroleum engineering and refining and holds claim to several key patents. He also is one of the leading philanthropists of the university’s Centennial Campaign era.

Townes received the Nobel Prize in 1964 and is widely known for his role in the invention of the maser and laser. His research opened the door for an array of inventions now commonly used in medicine, telecommunications, electronics and computers. In 2005, he received the Templeton Prize for Progress Toward Research or Discoveries about Spiritual Realities. The award recognized Townes' 30-plus years as a leading advocate of the convergence of science and religion. His granddaughter, Sydney Townes-Witzel, will graduate from the College of Arts and Sciences that morning.

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