Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Randy Pembrook delivered the commencement address at the SIU School of Dental Medicine commencement ceremony Saturday, June 3, in the SIUE Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom. Fifty-one students received their doctor of dental medicine degrees during the ceremony that can be viewed on siue.edu/tv.
Pembrook encouraged the graduates to utilize their time wisely in the future as they ponder replacing daily hours of courses, study, practice and research. He chose to quote late author Maya Angelou, “Since time is the one immaterial object which we cannot influence -- neither speed up nor slow down, add to nor diminish -- it is an imponderably valuable gift.”
Pembrook also focused on SIUE’s mission of shaping a changing world. After noting the class’ community outreach accomplishments, he challenged them to “make time to serve those in need wherever/whenever opportunities arise and don’t just wait for them to come to you.”
The ninth chancellor in SIUE’s history, Pembrook earned an associate’s degree from Lewis and Clark Community College before achieving both a bachelor’s and master’s in music education/piano performance from SIUE in 1978 and ’80, respectively. He earned a doctorate in music education from Florida State University in 1984.
Photo: Erin Gunderson receives her doctor of dental medicine degree from SIU SDM Dean Bruce Rotter.