CALDWELL COLLEGE PRESIDENT SISTER PATRICE WERNER TO DELIVER COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AND RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREE

Graduation Weekend at Caldwell College will culminate with the commencement address by College President Sister Patrice Werner on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in the Newman Center on the campus. Sister Patrice, who will be retiring June 30 after 15 years as president, will also receive an honorary degree from the College.

Caldwell College President Sister Patrice Werner will also confer degrees on the Caldwell College Class of 2009. The president will present undergraduates with their Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. Those receiving degrees include full-time traditional, adult undergraduate and graduate students. Students enrolled in graduate studies will receive either their Master of Arts or Master of Business Administration degrees.

A member of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, Sister Patrice has been at Caldwell College for over 35 years. Prior to becoming president, she held several different positions on campus-French teacher, Director of Continuing Education, Chair of the Foreign Languages Department, Prefect in Mother Joseph Residence Hall and Academic Dean.

During her tenure as President, Sister Patrice has overseen great growth and expansion in all areas of campus life. Those accomplishments include graduate program growth, substantial enrollment increases and facility and technology expansion Under Sister's leadership, the College became a fully accredited member of the NCAA Division II and today the Athletics Department has eleven varsity programs and many scholar-athletes. She has overseen the addition of a number of facilities including: The George R. Newman Recreation and Athletic Center, the 60,000 square-foot center that features a 1,600 seat basketball arena; a new entrance to campus directly from Bloomfield Avenue; a new state of the art apartment style residence hall—Dominican Hall; a new Academic Building and completely renovated Science labs. Among the many graduate programs that have been added during Sister Patrice's time, is the Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a highly effective treatment for Autism. The popular program was the first master's in ABA in the state of New Jersey.

The Baccalaureate Liturgy and Honors Convocation will be held Saturday May 16 at 4 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center on campus.