Mixon to speak at Commencement

Dr. Wayne Mixon

Nearly 360 students will receive degrees at Fall Commencement services, scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

This year’s graduation speaker will be Dr. Wayne Mixon, the Outstanding Faculty Member for 2003. The honor of speaking at the December Commencement ceremony is given to the faculty member who is selected by colleagues and students as the year’s Outstanding Faculty Member.

Dr. Mixon is the chair of the Department of History and Anthropology. He has been a faculty member at Augusta State since 1996. He is the author of several books, including his most recent, The People's Writer: Erskine Caldwell and the South. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of South Carolina and his doctoral degree in American history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

During the ceremony, Lillie B. Johnson, recipient of this year’s Distinguished Alumna Award, will be recognized. The award is given annually to alumni who have achieved a level of excellence professionally. Dr. Johnson is the chair of the Department of Languages, Literature, and Communications. She was selected because of her outstanding performance as a student, faculty member, and department chair at Augusta College and Augusta State University.

Dr. Johnson was one of the first African American students enrolled at Augusta College in 1967. She was the valedictorian of her graduating class in 1971, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English. In 1972, Dr. Johnson received a master’s degree from the University of Chicago in English Languages and Literature. Eight years later, she earned her doctorate in English from the University of Georgia. In 1978, Dr. Johnson joined then-Augusta College, where she was an instructor of English, and in 1989, she became a professor of English. Six years later in 1995, Dr. Johnson became chair of the Department of Languages, Literature, and Communications.

After commencement, six graduating ROTC cadets will receive commissions to enter the U.S. Army after successfully completing the military science program at Augusta State. The commissioning ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in 101 A and B Galloway Hall.

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