CLU Graduate Commencement is May 17

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – May 10, 2013) California Lutheran University will hold its 2013 Graduate Commencement Ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday, May 17, in William Rolland Stadium.

About 520 students are eligible to receive master’s or doctoral degrees at the ceremony. This is the 50th year that CLU has held commencement ceremonies.

Kate McLean, a Westlake Village resident with four decades of leadership in the philanthropic and nonprofit world, will give the keynote address. McLean, who received an MBA from CLU in 1977, helped create Interface Children Family Services, Ventura County’s most comprehensive social services agency for children and families, and served as its executive director for 18 years. She was the president of the Ventura County Community Foundation for 13 years, during which time she increased the endowment from $300,000 to more than $70 million in current and future planned gifts. She developed programs that became models for other community foundations, including the Women’s Legacy Fund and the Civic Alliance of Ventura County. She served on the inaugural boards of the CLU School of Management, KCLU, the League of California Community Foundations, the Ventura County AIDS Partnership, the Ventura County Leadership Academy, the California Child, Youth, Family Coalition, the Ventura County Planned Giving Council, the Social Justice Fund for Ventura County and many other organizations. A former member of the CLU Board of Regents, she has received many honors including Simi Valley Citizen of the Year, Soroptimist International Camino Real Region Woman of the Distinction, Ventura County Leadership Academy Distinguished Community Leader, a California Civic Entrepreneur Leadership Award and an honorary Doctor of Laws from CLU.

Amanda Carpenter, a Camarillo resident receiving a doctorate in higher education leadership, will speak on behalf of her fellow doctoral students. The first person in her family to pursue a college degree, Carpenter previously earned a master’s degree in education from CLU and has become a role model and advocate for first-generation college students. Her research focuses include first-generation undergraduates and equitable practices to support underrepresented populations in higher education. She is the coordinator of Career Development Services and the Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo Institute Internship Program at California State University, Channel Islands.

Denise Manila of Simi Valley will speak on behalf of the students receiving master’s degrees. Dedicated to changing attitudes about at-risk students and encouraging these children to achieve their dreams, she is receiving a master’s degree in education, specializing in counseling and guidance.