University of Memphis Will Hold Summer Commencement Aug. 6

July 31, 2017 - The University of Memphis will hold its summer commencement Sunday, Aug. 6, at noon at FedExForum. Degrees will be awarded to 706 students, including 48 doctoral degrees.

The featured speaker will be Dr. Abby Parrill-Baker, recipient of the 2017 Willard R. Sparks Eminent Faculty Award. A professor of chemistry, she has distinguished herself as a research scientist with more than $5.3 million in shared external research funding, co-authorship or co-editorship of 100 publications, co-inventor on six patents, and contributions to more than 200 scientific presentations. Parrill's research has focused on the characterization of three-dimensional structures and the application of such structures in the drug discovery process.

Parrill also excels in teaching. She has received teaching awards from all three academic institutions at which she has served – the University of Arizona, Michigan State University and the UofM. She also has made important administrative contributions to the University of Memphis, first as chair of the Department of Chemistry from 2010 to 2014 and now as associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Gabrielle Maxey
901.678.2135
gmaxey@memphis.edu