Fall 2009 commencement ceremony to be held Dec. 19 in Convocation Center

Dec. 10, 2009 -- Arkansas State University in Jonesboro will hold its 2009 fall commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. in the Convocation Center. Chancellor Robert L. Potts will confer degrees upon 859 graduates, including 582 undergraduate degrees, 254 master's degrees, and 23 doctoral degrees. A reception with punch and cookies will be held following the ceremony. Dr. Anthony (Tony) Campolo, professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pa., is the featured speaker.

“I am excited that Dr. Tony Campolo will be our speaker for our commencement ceremonies,” said Dr. Potts. “He is a renowned orator and humanitarian. We have known the Campolos for many years and are looking forward to seeing him and his wife Peggy again.

“I encourage everyone to attend our commencement ceremonies on Dec. 19 if you would like to hear one of America's best speakers challenge our graduates as they continue their lives as productive, caring, and talented ASU alumni.”

Dr. Campolo previously served for 10 years on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. A graduate of Eastern College in Philadelphia, he earned his doctorate from Temple University. Founder and president of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education (EAPE), Dr. Campolo has worked to create, nurture and support programs for at-risk children in cities across North America, and he has helped establish schools and universities in several developing countries.

Dr. Campolo is a media commentator on religious, social and political matters, having been a guest on television programs like the Colbert Report, Nightline, Crossfire, Politically Incorrect, the Charlie Rose Show, Larry King Live, CNN Dayside, CNN News, and MSNBC News. He co-hosted his own television series, Hashing It Out, on the Odyssey Network, and presently hosts Across The Pond, a weekly program on the Premier Christian Radio Network in England. He is also a highly respected and sought-after guest on radio stations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

He is the author of 35 books, with the latest releases in February 2008, Red Letter Christians, A Citizen’s Guide to Faith and Politics (Regal), and July 2007, The God of Intimacy and Action (Jossey-Bass). His other recent titles are Letters to a Young Evangelical (Basic Books), Speaking My Mind, Which Jesus (W Publishing Group), Everybody Wants to Change the World, Practical Ideas for Social Justice (Co-authored by Gordon Aeschliman, Regal), Adventures in Missing the Point (Co-authored by Brian McLaren, Zondervan), The Church Enslaved (Co-authored by Michael Battle, Fortress Press), Let Me Tell You a Story: Life Lessons From Unexpected Places and Unlikely People (W Publishing Group), The Survival Guide for Christians on Campus (co-authored by Will Willimon, Howard), Revolutions and Renewal (Westminster John Knox Press), Following Jesus Without Embarrassing God (W Publishing Group), just to name a few.

An ordained minister, Dr. Campolo has served American Baptist churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and is presently recognized as an associate pastor of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia.

Dr. Campolo and his wife, Peggy, live in the Philadelphia area and have two grown children and four grandchildren.  
  

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