Speakers announced for MSU Commencement

Dr. David Callender ('80) and John Henry Young ('66) have been announced as the speakers for spring commencement scheduled for May 12 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

Callender will speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony which will deliver degrees to those students graduating from the colleges of Fine Arts, Health Science and Human Services, and Science and Mathematics.

Callender graduated from Wichita Falls High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Midwestern State University in 1980, majoring in chemistry. He obtained the Doctor of Medicine degree from Baylor College of Medicine in 1984 and the M.B.A. from the University of Houston in 1995.

He is currently associate vice chancellor and CEO of the UCLA Hospital System in Los An Angeles and is also an adjunct professor of surgery at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. He previously held numerous positions at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, including executive vice president and chief operating officer, vice president for clinical programs and medical director of the Center's Physicians Referral Service.

Callender has been named as the sole finalist for the position of President of The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Young will speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony which will be granting degrees to students graduating from the colleges of Business Administration, Education, and Humanities and Social Sciences.

Young graduated from Doan High School in Fairfield, Texas. With no expectations of going to college, a friend encouraged him to try-out for basketball. He received a scholarship and was named NAIA All-American in 1965. In 1966 he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Midwestern with a major in physical education.

After graduation, he served two years in the army and took a position with the U.S. government Job Corp in 1967, which was the beginning of a long and successful career. Over the last 40 years, he has served Job Corps programs in eight centers in numerous states, including Georgia, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Kentucky, and McKinney, Texas.

He has received numerous awards including an Award of Merit by New York City Mayor Ed Koch, Outstanding Role Model for the Florida Liberty Council in 1994, MSU Basketball Legends Honoree in 1997, and was recipient of the Arthur f. Beyer Distinguished alumnus Award in 2001. 

Currently, John Henry is employed by Dynamic Educational Systems, Inc., as Director of the Delaware Valley Job Corps Center, Callicoon, New York.