Southeastern Spring Commencement scheduled for May 14
Press Release Date: 4-12-2011
DURANT, Okla. – Civic leader and businessman Joe Chow ('80) will be the speaker at Southeastern Oklahoma State University's Spring Commencement.
The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, at Paul Laird Field. A reception for the graduates, families, and guests will follow in the Visual & Performing Arts Center.
Chow moved from Taiwan to the United States in 1979 and completed his Master of Administrative Studies degree at Southeastern in 1980.
He is currently completing his third and final term as Mayor of Addison, Texas, a city located north of Dallas.
Chow was elected Mayor of Addison in May of 2005, was first elected to the City Council in May of 2002, and served as Mayor Pro Tempore in 2004. After working for several businesses in the restaurant industry, Chow opened his own restaurant, May Dragon, in 1986. He also holds a real estate license and is Agency Owner for Allstate Insurance. Chow returned to the Southeastern campus in January 2010 to offer remarks in conjunction with Martin Luther King Day activities. He also hosted a Southeastern alumni event at his Addison restaurant last summer.
"We are pleased to have Mayor Chow back on campus to deliver the commencement address," said Southeastern president Larry Minks. "He is a remarkable individual and a true success story in the field of public service and business. I think our graduates will be inspired by his story."
Chow is involved in numerous activities, including the Dallas Assembly, the Addison Business Association, and serves on the Board of the following organizations: North Texas Commission, World Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce, Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of North America and its Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter, Boy Scouts of America Circle 10, Contact Crisis Line, and the Greater Asian American Chamber of Commerce.
In the event of inclement weather, commencement will be held in the Bloomer Sullivan Arena. Since seating is limited in the arena, there will be two ceremonies by degrees.
The first ceremony will be held from 10-11 a.m. for the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences; Master of Behavioral Studies; and Master of Education.
The second ceremony will be held from 1-2 p.m. for the School of Arts and Sciences; John Massey School of Business; Master of Business Administration; Master of Science – both Aerospace and Safety; and Master of Technology.
In case of bad weather, the decision concerning the location will be made by noon on Friday, May 13, and posted on the Southeastern website, www. SE.edu, Blackboard (for graduates), and aired over the local radio and television stations, or you may call the Student Activity Line at 580-745-2888 or the Inclement Weather Line at 580-745-7272.