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PORTLAND, Maine

University of New England graduates Class of 2009

Rita R. Colwell, distinguished university professor at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and former director of the National Science Foundation, addressed graduates at the University of New England's College of Arts and Sciences and College of Health Professions 39th Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 9, 2009, held at 10:30 a.m. at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

The University awarded more than 1,077 associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, human services, education, management and the liberal arts. 

Thousands of family members and friends gathered to witness and participate in UNE's 39th Commencement ceremony.  The UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine will hold its Commencement ceremony June 6.

Commencement Speaker and Recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Science degree:

Rita R. Colwell

Rita Colwell is senior advisor and chairman emeritus, Canon US Life Sciences, Inc., and president and CEO of CosmosID, Inc.  She served as the 11th director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), 1998-2004. 

In her capacity as NSF director, she served as co-chair of the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council.  Colwell was the first woman and first microbiologist to serve in that position.  In 2006, Colwell received the National Medal of Science Award from U.S. President George Bush.
 
Colwell has held many advisory positions in the U.S. government, nonprofit science policy organizations, and private foundations, as well as in the international scientific research community. She is a nationally respected scientist and educator, and has authored or co-authored 17 books and more than 700 scientific publications. 

She produced the award-winning film, Invisible Seas, and has served on editorial boards of numerous scientific journals.
 
Prior to her appointment at the NSF, Colwell was president of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and professor of Microbiology and Biotechnology at the University of Maryland.  She was also a member of the National Science Board from 1984 to 1990.
 
Colwell has been awarded 51 honorary degrees from institutions of higher education, including her alma mater, Purdue University, and is the recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, bestowed by the Emperor of Japan, and the 2006 National Medal of Science awarded by the President of the United States. 

Colwell is also an honorary member of the microbiological societies of the UK, Australia, France, Israel, Bangladesh, and the U.S. and has held several honorary professorships, including the University of Queensland, Australia.  A geological site in Antarctica, Colwell Massif, has been named in recognition of her work in the polar regions.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.