Augustana names commencement speaker
Higher education leader Dr. Lisa Durant-Jones will deliver the commencement address at Augustana College’s 164th annual convocation on May 25, 2024.
She will also be awarded a doctor of humane letters during the 2 p.m. ceremony at the Vibrant Arena at The MARK.
Durant-Jones served Augustana as interim vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion during the 2023-2024 academic year, during which time she provided strategic leadership for campus-wide initiatives and committees. She oversaw Augustana’s Office for International Student Scholar Supports and the Office for Student Inclusion and Diversity and served as a member of the Student First Committee of the Board of Trustees.
She is credited with facilitating improved processes for recognizing and addressing equity gaps within the student experience for under-represented and international student populations.
President Andrea Talentino said Durant-Jones was selected for this honor for the same reasons she was selected to serve at Augustana, according to a college release.
“Lisa is an extraordinary leader in higher education,” Talentino said. “Her time at Augustana was impactful and ensured Augustana continued its forward momentum in creating a more inclusive, equitable and just community. She has a deep empathy for and commitment to helping people achieve their best.”
Prior to her time at Augustana, Durant-Jones served as associate vice president of academic affairs and then vice president of community and belonging at Nazareth University, Rochester, N.Y. She is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist in the state of New York and was named Nazareth faculty emerita in August 2022.
Ashley Allen, director of the Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity, said Durant-Jones was a familiar face around campus interacting with students and staff.
“This was a testament to how she served our institution as an engaged leader,” Allen said. “Her visibility, genuine care for our students and community, and ability to empower her team, were qualities I observed and admired as I worked closely with her.
“In her brief tenure at Augustana, Dr. Durant-Jones not only made an impact, but truly made us a better community because of her leadership and devotion to diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Augustana’s Class of 2024 will represent 68 majors with students from 20 states and 14 countries. A complete list of commencement related events is available HERE.
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