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Citation for William B. DeLauder

Click here for low-resolution video of UD’s 156th Commencement

Click here for high-resolution video of UD’s 156th Commencement

Click here for low-resolution video of Jeff Shaara's address

Click here for high-resolution video of Jeff Shaara's address

Click here for Commencement 2005 photo album

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About UD’s 156th Commencement

Graduation numbers

Commencement marshals ‘vital’ to ceremony

Academic regalia

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Commencements past

Man of vision and perseverance, you served as one of the longest serving presidents of an historically black college in modern times, centering your efforts on excellence in academic programs and the enhancement of their growth and development. Under your leadership, the number of faculty holding doctorates nearly doubled and new graduate programs in biology, chemistry and physics were added to complement undergraduate program offerings. In addition, the campus witnessed the construction of state-of-the-art buildings for science and business courses, as well as a residence hall for students. As a result of the expansion and enrichment of programs and facilities, the institution’s name changed from Delaware State College to Delaware State University to reflect the depth and quality of its offerings.

Esteemed educator, before your appointment at Delaware State University, you were dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C. Prior to your appointment as dean in 1981, you served as professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry at N.C. A&T. You served with distinction as president of Delaware State University for 17 years until your retirement in 2003. Your dedication to the University earned you the respect and deep admiration of countless students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni, and you left an indelible legacy of advancement, achievement and recognition.

Lifelong student, you earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Morgan State University and the Ph.D. degree in physical chemistry from Wayne State University. You completed postdoctorate research in physical biochemistry at Center for Molecular Biophysics in Orleans-La Source, France. In recognition of your many contributions to higher education, you received an honorary doctorate degree from Kent State University. Your message has always been clear—learning is a lifelong pursuit and is the key to greater understanding and to enhancing the quality of life for all people.

Champion of equality, for your continued efforts to build bridges of understanding, you received the Thurgood Marshall Award for outstanding contributions to the higher education of African Americans by the editors of Jet and Ebony Magazines. You have been honored by the Delaware Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and you were also honored with the Educational Leadership Award of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner presented you with the Order of the First State Award in 2002.

Respected mentor, you have served on a number of policy-making boards and committees for the U. S. Department of Agriculture, the Association of Governing Boards of Higher Education, American Council of Higher Education, the Delaware Community Foundation and the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. You also serve on the Board for International Food and Agriculture Development, the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa and the Advisory Committee for the Education and Human Resources Directorate of the National Science Foundation (NSF), among others. Your wise counsel and respected guidance are frequently sought, and you willingly and enthusiastically respond to these requests. The University of Delaware is proud of your association here as chair of the Paul Jones Collection Advisory Board.

Dr. DeLauder, institutions tell the world what they stand for and strive for by honoring those whose lives reflect the finest values that inspires them. And, we do so at this moment.

And now, under the authority of the Board of Trustees of the University of Delaware, I have the pleasure and honor of conferring upon you, William B. DeLauder, the degree of Doctor of Science and do declare you entitled to all the rights, honors and privileges to that degree appertaining throughout the world. In testimony thereof, I am pleased to present you the diploma.

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