Assisi Foundation Director Addresss U of M Graduates

Jan Young, executive director of the Assisi Foundation, addressed graduates at the winter commencement of the University of Memphis on Saturday, Dec. 17, at FedExForum. The University awarded a total of 1,549 degrees, including 38 doctorates, in two ceremonies.

Dr. Jan Young

In a 10 a.m. ceremony, the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Communication and Fine Arts, the University College, and the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law conferred degrees.

At 2 p.m., Commencement was held for the Fogelman College of Business & Economics, the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, the Herff College of Engineering, the Loewenberg School of Nursing, the School of Public Health, and the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Young (BSN '83) has had a distinguished career in education, health care, the military, and philanthropy. As executive director of The Assisi Foundation, she has overall accountability for the implementation of the foundation's philanthropic activities, strategic direction, community relations, and staff management.

Her military service began with the U.S. Army Nursing Corps Reserves. She transferred to the Air National Guard and in 1990 received the Outstanding Air National Guard Nurse Award. In 2005 Young was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. In 2009 she was promoted to major general, the highest rank awarded to a traditional Guard member. Young currently serves as the Air National Guard liaison to the Air Education and Training Command.

In February, Young was presented with the U of M Alumni Association's highest honor, the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Signage on Wilder Tower Lit in Honor of 100th Commencement

The lighting of Wilder Tower’s new U of M signage took place at dusk on Saturday, December 17th, on campus, near the intersection of Patterson and Walker.

“The University of Memphis” wordmark logo was installed at the top of the east and west sides of Wilder Tower as part of an overall package of improved, updated signage for the U of M campus.  The signs are backlit with low-voltage, white LED lights, activated by photocell, from dusk to dawn.

They were illuminated for the first time on Saturday in honor of the University’s 100th fall Commencement.