April 17, 2012
For Immediate Release

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.— Campbellsville University's 2012 May undergraduate commencement will feature Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, United States Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 5 at Powell Athletic Center, 203 Tiger Way, Campbellsville.

The graduate commencement speaker will be Dr. Gary S. Cox, president of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities, who will speak at 7 p.m. Friday, May 4 at Ransdell Chapel, 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville.

A total of 377 students are scheduled to graduate upon completion of all graduation requirements.

There are 219 bachelor's degrees, 128 master's degrees and 30 associate degrees scheduled to be presented by Dr. Michael V. Carter, president, and Dr. Frank Cheatham, vice president for academic affairs.

The bachelor's students include: bachelor of arts, nine; bachelor of music, eight; bachelor of science, 147; bachelor of social work, 18; and bachelor of science in business administration, 37; the associate degrees include: associate of nursing, 24, and associate of science, six; and master's degrees include: master of arts in organizational leadership, four; master of arts in social science, two; master of arts in special education, 19; master of business administration, 21;

Master of music in piano pedagogy, one; master of music performance, five; master of music in conducting, one; master of arts in education, three; master of arts in music, five; master of arts in teaching English to speakers of other languages, eight; master of music in music education, three; master of social work, 20; master of theology, seven; master of science in counseling, eight; teacher leader master of arts in education, six; and teacher leader master of arts in special education, 15.

On May 16, 2011, Cook was sworn in as Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. She served as the senior pastor and CEO of the Bronx Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in New York from 1996 to 2010 and is also the founder and president of Wisdom Women Worldwide Center and the owner of Charisma Speakers.

Cook was a White House Fellow on the Domestic Policy council, worked with the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development on faith-based initiatives all between the years of 1993 and 1997. She was the only woman to serve as the chaplain of the New York City Police Department for 21 years. She has travelled to five continents to promote religious freedom and also spent time living and studying in Valencia, Spain. She is the recipient of many awards including Woman of Conscience Award and the Martin Luther King Award.

Cook received her Bachelor of Science in Speech from Emerson College and a Master of Arts from Columbia University Teachers College. She completed a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary.

Cox coordinates AIKCU's legislative, public policy, advocacy, fundraising and cooperate activities.

Cox holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and History from Morehead State University and completed his Master's and Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Kentucky.

He worked for the Kentucky Council on Higher Education and also served as executive director. He also served as the acting president of the Kentucky Council of Postsecondary Education before accepting the AIKCU presidency.
Before transitioning to state government, he was a professor of political science at Morehead State University and also served as an adjunct faculty member in KSU's School of Public Affairs.

He is active in numerous education, civic and community organizations at the local, state and national levels.

Cox lives in Lawrenceburg with his wife Linda and is a member of First Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg, Ky.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.