NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Dr. Karen Embry-Jenlink, Stephen F. Austin State University professor emerita of secondary education and educational leadership in the James I. Perkins College of Education, will offer the commencement address during the university’s graduation ceremonies Saturday.
Receiving her doctoral degree in education from Texas A&M University-Commerce, Embry-Jenlink worked in a variety of roles throughout her career, including bilingual science educator, graduate program coordinator, professor and academic dean. She is a prolific author and speaker with over 300 research presentations, four books and 70 publications.
Embry-Jenlink joined the SFA faculty in 1998 as associate professor and was promoted to professor in 2003. After serving as an academic dean at another Texas institution, she returned to SFA in 2009 to serve as professor of doctoral studies in educational leadership. She served as chair of the SFA Faculty Senate for two years.
Additionally, she served as the 97th national president of the Association of Teacher Educators, the president of Texas Association of Teacher Educators and board chair of the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education. She currently serves on the World Federation Association of Teacher Education board of directors.
Candidates from the Perkins College of Education and the College of Fine Arts will participate in a 9:30 a.m. ceremony. Candidates from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, the Rusche College of Business, the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, and the College of Sciences and Mathematics will participate in a 2 p.m. ceremony.
Degrees to be awarded include 298 bachelor’s, 186 master’s and five doctoral degrees. Students graduating with honors include 13 cum laude, eight magna cum laude and nine summa cum laude. Five will graduate with the university scholar designation.
To view the ceremony online, visit facebook.com/sfasu.