ETSU fall Commencement

JOHNSON CITY (November 26, 2014) — East Tennessee State University’s Dr. Alison Barton will be the speaker at ETSU’s 10 a.m. fall Commencement exercise, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam will deliver the 2 p.m. address on Saturday, Dec. 13, in the ETSU/Mountain States Health Alliance Athletic Center (the Minidome).

Barton is the recipient of East Tennessee State University’s 2014 Distinguished Faculty Award in Teaching, as well as this year’s Clemmer College of Education Faculty Award in Teaching. In addition, she was presented with the 2012 Clemmer College of Education Faculty Award for Technology and the 2013 ETSU IntopForm fellowship. 

Barton joined the ETSU faculty in 2005 and teaches courses in developmental psychology, research methods and educational psychology. She is the coordinator of the Education Foundations program for the Department of Teaching and Learning and is helping to develop an Honors-in-Discipline program for the department.

A graduate of the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Barton earned her master’s degree in clinical psychology and a Ph.D. in school psychology from Northern Illinois University.

Haslam was re-elected as governor of Tennessee in November by the largest majority in modern Tennessee history.

Under Haslam’s results-driven, common sense leadership, Tennessee is recognized as a national leader in education, job creation and fiscal responsibility. His commitment to education is making a difference. Tennessee is the fastest improving state in the country in academic achievement. He has launched the “Tennessee Promise” - the only program in the country to give every graduating high school senior a chance to earn a certificate or two-year degree beyond high school free of charge and with a personal mentor.

Haslam has focused on making Tennessee the No. 1 location of the Southeast for high quality jobs, and Tennessee currently holds the title of “State of the Year” for economic development.

Working with the General Assembly, he has balanced the budget every year, kept taxes low, ensured Tennessee has the lowest debt in the country, and nearly doubled the state’s savings account.

Thanks to his work to make government more customer-focused, efficient and effective, Tennessee is ranked the third best managed state in the nation.

Haslam and his wife have been married for 33 years and have three children and four grandchildren.

For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.