Commencement activities at Linfield University begin this week with the university hosting a series of unique, hybrid events to celebrate the university’s first graduating class.
A total of 303 graduates will be celebrated at events on the McMinnville campus, running this week, with nearly another 300 students from the Linfield University-Good Samaritan School of Nursing honored at events in Portland held on May 20-22.
Due to pandemic protocols, graduates from Linfield’s College of Arts and Sciences and School of Business will be recognized at a drive-thru “Carmencement” in-person celebration on Sunday, May 2, as well as a virtual Commencement broadcast on the university’s YouTube channel on Sunday, May 9.
Brenda DeVore Marshall, a longtime professor in the Department of Theatre and Communication Arts, will deliver the commencement address to the class of 2021 on May 9. Devore Marshall is retiring on June 30 after 34 years of service at the university. She joined the Linfield faculty in 1987 and has taught and conducted research in areas including women’s political discourse; diversity and inclusion; protest and political rhetoric; intercultural and co-cultural communication; gender and feminist studies; and rhetorical theory and criticism. During her time at Linfield, DeVore Marshall served as department chair numerous times, directed theatrical productions, coached the forensics team, oversaw the move to a new theatre building and served as the project director for a collaborative digital humanities project on the dory fleet of Pacific City. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in theatre and music from the University of Denver, a Master of Science in theatre and speech communication from North Texas State University and a doctorate in speech communication and theatre from Southern Illinois University.
Chaplain David Massey ’78 will present the baccalaureate address in a virtual event on Saturday, May 1. A Linfield graduate, Massey returned in 2001 as the university’s chaplain and assistant professor of religious studies. After graduating with degrees in business and religion from Linfield, Massey went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He is retiring on April 30 after nearly 20 years of service to Linfield University and its students.
All in-person events are invite-only. Virtual events are open to the public to view on Linfield University’s YouTube page. A full list of the events celebrating the Linfield’s McMinnville graduates is:
- Black Excellence Event: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, Outside Nicholson Library. Students only, by invite.
- Virtual Senior Awards Celebration: Thursday, April 29, Linfield University YouTube channel.
- Latinx Senior Ceremony: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 29, Outside Nicholson Library. Students only, by invite. Streamed for families.
- McMinnville Senior Celebration – GRAD Finale: 7 p.m. Friday, April 30, Memorial Stadium. Graduating seniors only. Streamed for families.
- Athletic Stole Ceremony: 10 a.m. Saturday, May 1, Ted Wilson Gymnasium. Students only, by invite. Streamed for families.
- Virtual Baccalaureate: 5 p.m. Saturday, May 1, Linfield University YouTube channel.
- McMinnville Carmencement: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 2, McMinnville campus. By appointment only.
- Virtual Commencement: 11 a.m. Sunday, May 9, Linfield University YouTube channel.
Commencement and pinning activities for the Linfield University-Good Samaritan School of Nursing are scheduled for May 20-21 on its Portland campus.
Invited attendees should be aware of Linfield’s current security and pandemic policies. Buildings are still restricted to outside community members, and everyone on Linfield property is required to wear a face covering and observe six feet of distance at all times. All members of the community are encouraged to stay at home if they feeling unwell and to wash their hands frequently.
More information about Linfield’s commencement activities is available at linfield.edu/commencement.
