Winter Commencement on Jan. 8 to be webcast live

3:01 p.m., Jan. 2, 2005--UD alumna Jo Anne Bryant Barnhart, commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), will speak at the University’s Winter Commencement, scheduled at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 8, in the Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center.

Winter Commencement, for students who complete their degree requirements in August and December, traditionally features a distinguished UD graduate as speaker.

The ceremony will be webcast live, beginning at 10:10 a.m., Jan. 8. To view the webcast, click here. (Those planning to watch the webcast may wish to test the link in advance. If you have problems connecting, please contact the University's IT Help Center at (3302) 831-6000 during this week or visit the help page at [http://www.udel.edu/UMS/itv/realplayer]).

Earlier this year, Barnhart was inducted into UD’s Alumni Wall of Fame, which recognizes outstanding professional and public service achievements by UD graduates. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from UD in 1975.

Nominated by President George W. Bush, Barnhart became the 14th commissioner of Social Security in 2001. As head of the SSA, she has responsibility for administering the Social Security retirement, survivors and disability programs, as well as the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Some 65,000 persons work for this independent federal agency, which has more than 1,500 offices across the nation.

Before her appointment in 2001, Barnhart served for more than four years as a member of the Social Security Advisory Board, an independent body created to advise Congress on Social Security issues and policies.

A former SSA employee, she worked in the Office of Family Assistance from 1981-86, first as deputy associate commissioner and then as associate commissioner. She was minority staff director for the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs from 1986-90 and served as assistant secretary for children and families at the Department of Health and Human Services from 1990-93.

She also was legislative assistant to the late U.S. Sen. William V. Roth Jr. (R-Del.) from 1977-81 and served as his campaign manager in 1988, 1994 and 2000. In addition, she has managed her own political and public policy consulting firm.

Barnhart lives in Virginia with her husband and son.

Information about Winter Commencement will be mailed directly to degree candidates and their families. For more information on Winter Commencement activities, visit the web site at [www.udel.edu/wcommencement] or contact the Office of Alumni and University Relations at (302) 831-8741.

Photo by Kathy B. Flickinger

Editor's note: This story was updated at 11:45 a.m., Jan. 3.

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