Saint Francis Medical Center CEO and British Historical Novelist to Speak at University of Hartford Commencements

Christopher M. Dadlez, president and chief executive officer of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, Conn., and Bernard Cornwell, British author of historical novels that have been adapted into popular television films, will be the keynote speakers at the University of Hartford’s Commencement weekend, May 18–19. Dadlez will address students at the graduate Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18, and Cornwell will address students at the undergraduate Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 19. Both events begin at 10 a.m. on the lawn outside the Gengras Student Union building on the University campus, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, Conn.

More than 400 students will receive master’s and doctoral degrees during Saturday’s ceremony, including the first graduating class from the University’s Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics program. Nearly 1,100 students will receive bachelor’s and associate’s degrees at diploma presentation ceremonies at designated sites across campus following Sunday’s main ceremony. More than 40 percent of the undergraduate class of 2013 is graduating with honors: 129 cum laude, 191 magna cum laude, and 151 summa cum laude.

Dadlez and Cornwell will be presented with honorary degrees, as will Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; John Corigliano, prolific composer and professor of music at Lehman College of the City University of New York; and Walter Wick, award-winning children’s book author and photographic illustrator.

Malcolm Morrison, who served as dean of the University’s Hartt School from 1998 to 2008, will be presented the University Medal for Distinguished Service, which is presented infrequently to an individual or group who had a profound impact on the University. Nancy Stula ’83 ’85, director and curator of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, will be presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award, which is presented annually to a University graduate who has made an exceptional impact on her/his profession, community, and the University.

Also during Sunday’s ceremony, graduating senior Miles Aron will be awarded the John G. Martin Scholarship to continue his studies at Oxford University in England, graduating senior Peter Bowers will receive the John G. Lee Medal for community service, and graduating senior Dana Eckstein will receive the Belle K. Ribicoff Prize for academic excellence.

Faculty honors also will be presented to Susan Diehl who will receive the Roy E. Larsen Award for Excellence in Teaching, Robert Davis who will receive the James E. and Frances W. Bent Award for Scholarly and/or Artistic Creativity, Donn Weinholtz who will receive the Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Award for Sustained Service to the University, David Pines who will receive the Donald W. Davis All-University Curriculum Award, and Joshua Russell who will receive the Belle K. Ribicoff Junior Faculty Prize. 

Chartered in 1957 with the mission to be a “private university with a public purpose,” the University of Hartford offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in the arts, humanities, business, engineering and technology, education, and the health professions. The University’s student body of more than 7,000 represents 44 states and nearly 50 countries. For more information, visit www.hartford.edu.