JOHNSON CITY – East Tennessee State University conferred some 1,400 degrees in two fall commencement ceremonies, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, on Dec. 15. Both August and December graduates are included in the fall exercises.

In addition to awarding bachelors, masters, and educational specialist (Ed.S.) degrees, as well as graduate certificates, ETSU bestowed doctor of education (Ed.D.), doctor of public health (Dr.P.H.), doctor of physical therapy (D.P.T.) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees on successful candidates.

Two Buchanan students were among the graduates: Logan K. Russell, DPT Physical Therapy and Melissa K. Russell, BSN Nursing.

The featured speakers were James Rogers, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Eastman Chemical Co., who spoke at the morning ceremony, and ETSU’s Dr. Allan Forsman, an associate professor at ETSU, within the College of Public Health’s Department of Health Sciences, who has earned worldwide respect for his passion for teaching and his integration of new technologies into the classroom.

The Distinguished Faculty Marshals for the ceremony were Dr. John Yao, recipient of the 2012 ETSU Distinguished Faculty Award in Research, and Dr. Rosalind Gann, recipient of the 2012 ETSU Distinguished Faculty Award in Service. The Mace Bearer was Forsman, recipient of the 2012 ETSU Distinguished Faculty Award in Teaching.