Augusta University has announced the keynote and student speakers for its December undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies, which will be held Dec. 10–11 at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center.
The Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, according to a press release from Augusta University. The Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11.
Zach Powell, DMD ’99, will deliver the keynote address at the graduate ceremony. Powell, a first-generation college student who grew up near Lake Lanier in north Georgia, graduated from what was then the Medical College of Georgia’s School of Dentistry.
Powell now serves as CEO and chief dental clinician of The Georgia Smile Group, which has owned and managed 18 dental practices across the state over the past two decades.
“What is great about the Medical College of Georgia’s School of Dentistry, which is now the Dental College of Georgia, is that students see patients very early in their academic career, and I was hooked because I love people,” Powell said. “Seeing patients early on helped me really buy into dental school and know that it was the career for me.”
Georgia Speaker of the House Jon Burns, R-Newington, will address undergraduates during the Dec. 11 ceremony, according to a press release from Augusta University.
Burns represents House District 159, which includes Screven County and parts of Effingham and Bulloch counties. A native of Effingham County, he grew up on his family farm, where he learned “the values of hard work and service,” according to the university.
“Speaker Jon Burns’ life tells a story of being a good neighbor, a passionate family man and a principled leader for our state,” Augusta University President Russell T. Keen said. “His steadfast support of Augusta University’s mission of offering life-changing, life-saving education, clinical care and research has led to an expansion of our research facilities and ever-growing statewide presence for Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia and Dental College of Georgia.”
Keen shared that he considers Burns a dear friend, “and I know our students and their families will enjoy hearing about his journey during our commencement ceremony,” according to a press release from Augusta University.
Natalie Mseis-Jackson has been selected as the student speaker for the Graduate Hooding Ceremony. Born and raised in Jerusalem, the Palestinian-American student came to the United States seeking an academic environment supportive of learners with dyslexia and dyscalculia.
She will graduate with a Ph.D. in Neuroscience through the Biomedical Sciences PhD Program and the Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, according to a press release from Augusta University.
Landon Gilbert will serve as the student speaker for the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. Gilbert is earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from the James M. Hull College of Business.
Inspired by his father’s guidance to “give back to your community so it can give back to you,” Gilbert volunteered more than 500 hours in high school and remained active in service and student organizations throughout his four years at Augusta University.
