Eastern New Mexico University Celebrates Graduating Class of 657 for Spring 2023 Commencement

Portales, NM - May 4, 2023 - Eastern New Mexico University welcomes graduates and their families to Greyhound Arena on the Eastern New Mexico University campus on Saturday, May 13 at 10 a.m. to celebrate their academic achievements as part of the one hundred forty-fourth commencement ceremony. Dr. Gay Su Pinnell, ENMU alumna and Professor Emerita in the School of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University, will give the commencement address.

Pinnell is respected nationwide for her educational work and research on classroom teaching, field-based research, and developing comprehensive literacy systems. She is the recipient of the International Literacy Association's Diane Lapp & James Flood Professional Collaborator Award, The Ohio State University Alumni Association's Medalist Award, the International Reading Association's Albert J. Harris Award for research in reading difficulties, the Ohio Governor's Award, the Charles A. Dana Foundation Award, The Eastern New Mexico University Educators Hall of Honor, and a 2018 recipient of an honorary doctorate Lesley University for her contributions to literacy education. Since 2017, Pinnell has funded education grants, donated an event facility, and most recently endowed a new chair for the ENMU College of Education, making her the most significant contributor in history. As a thank you for her career success and generous philanthropic support to ENMU, the University Board of Regents voted on Oct. 1, 2022, to rename the Education Building in her honor. The building dedication ceremony will be on August 24, 2023.

657 students are expected to graduate from ENMU, with 420 earning bachelor's degrees, 137 earning master's degrees, and 100 earning associate degrees. These students come from throughout New Mexico, 36 states, and 7 nations worldwide. "Commencement is an occasion I look forward to every year," said James Johnston, ENMU President. "It represents the culmination of ENMU's work with our students. It is also a time to celebrate with our graduates the earning of a college degree and something truly life-changing."

Additional ceremony highlights include the Faculty Excellence Awards, presented to ENMU faculty for excelling in Advising, Service, and Teaching. The Honor Guard from Cannon Air Force Base will present the colors, and the National Anthem and Alma Mater will be sung by graduating ENMU students.

The ENMU graduation will be live-streamed off the main ENMU website at enmu.edu. For more information on the ENMU commencement ceremonies, please visit enmu.edu/Commencement.