Fall commencement a time for celebration
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
The weather outside may have been a little cold and blustery, but inside Allen Arena it was warm and festive as nearly 400 graduates, their families and friends celebrated December commencement on Saturday, Dec. 13.
One of the largest fall graduating classes in university history, the ceremony included the institution’s first education specialist degree recipients as well as the first Master of Arts in film and creative media.
The faculty procession was led by members of the Nashville Pipes and Drums. Dr. Klarissa D. Hardy, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences, gave the faculty charge to the class.
At the ceremony, nearly 300 doctoral degrees, educational specialist degrees and master’s degrees were awarded. Among those students was Saber Abdelhalim, who completed a Master of Arts in conflict management. Abdelhalim had a long journey to this day.
Solving conflict worldwide
At the age of 31, Abdelhalim fled his native Sudan for Egypt in 1999 as a political refugee, escaping the torture of Sudanese security. He was one of thousands of political refugees who moved to Cairo after surviving years of turmoil and unrest. Abdelhalim saw a great need for civil activists to document torture stories and human rights violations in Sudan to help rehabilitate the refugees physically, psychologically and financially.
After he resettled in the United States in 2004, Abdelhalim, along with other humanitarians, established the American African Foundation Against Torture, a New York-based organization that focuses on human rights, refugees and political and social groups. A 1994 graduate of the University of Khartoum in Sudan, Abdelhalim read about Lipscomb’s conflict management program and, “almost immediately knew that this was for me.”
“I think basic classes on conflict management should be a choice for children and adult learners alike,” he said. “Conflicts are practically everywhere and could happen virtually any time. This could be on a school bus, in a home, a workplace, in a community or religious setting. It’s always useful to possess tools and the soft skills to tackle conflict.”
Abdelhalim said his experience in the Institute for Conflict Management has impacted him in a profound way.
“My way of thinking has been entirely shifted,” said Abdelhalim, who now lives in Nashville with his wife and their two young children. “As a result I have started to look at my traditional enemies in a new way that amazes me sometimes. I came to realize the fact that you can’t solve any problem unless you convince adversaries to sit down and face one another. Once that happens, there will be no conflict on earth without a solution.
“I’ve learned this in the classroom, in my community work during and after my internship as well as from the living examples around me at Lipscomb. I consider myself lucky to get to know the wonderful people in the conflict management program and just to be a part of this place at this particular time.”
Abdelhalim said for this last few months he has been thinking about the best way to use his new graduate degree in conflict management and to help the people in his homeland. He recently launched U.Sudan Peace & Development Foundation, which he has registered as a nonprofit, public-benefit and international aid agency, as a 501(c) 3 organization. In just two months’ time, he has established offices in Europe, Australia and Canada in addition to offices in the United States and Sudan.
Lipscomb’s own earn degrees
Among this fall’s graduating class were also several Lipscomb employees who were completing undergraduate or graduate degrees.
Lori Ligon, administrative assistant to Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry, received her bachelor’s degree. She began her educational journey in 1982 at Middle Tennessee State University. A year later, she transferred to the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, from which she earned an associate degree in fashion merchandising and soon became a buyer for china, gifts, silver and Christmas décor for Castner Knott Department Store.
When she came to work at Lipscomb 13 years ago as a mother of two young children, Ligon felt a desire to pursue her bachelor’s degree.
“When I came to work at Lipscomb, I was surrounded by academics. I started taking general education classes ‘just in case’ I wanted to continue someday,” she recalled. “In 2007, Dr. Lowry encouraged me to think about finishing my degree and slowly but surely I finished.”
Ligon, an organizational communication major, completed her studies through the College of Professional Studies’ competency-based assessment program that gives college credit for attributes such as life and professional experiences, as well as personal and behavioral skills. She enjoyed her experience as well as attending classes with traditional students.
“Just do it,” she said she would tell others who are considering returning to college to complete their degrees. “Stretch yourself. You are smarter than you think. It really is fun, and it's worth it.”
Sonya Colvert, academic program coordinator in the College of Business, also completed her bachelor’s degree this fall. She majored in the College of Professional Studies’ integrated studies program with an emphasis in Bible and organizational leadership. She began her journey nearly four decades ago at Freed-Hardeman University, where she received an associate degree. She soon married and began a family, which put her goal of earning a four-year degree on hold.
“With work, church, a child at home, grandchildren, aging parents and school, life was more than overwhelming at times. But, by staying focused on the goal and with the encouragement of everyone, I hung in there,” said Colvert, who has worked at Lipscomb nearly six years.
“As expected, it is a great sense of accomplishment to know that I was able to focus on a goal, despite all of the obstacles that came along the way, and finish something that was important to me. I believe it teaches my children that it is never too late to do anything that you put your mind to. I am thankful to Lipscomb for making this goal achievable.”