Mount Pleasant, IA – December 8, 2022 — Iowa Wesleyan University held its annual December Graduation Ceremony in the University Chapel earlier today. The University celebrated the graduation of 31 undergraduate and nine graduate students, including seven Master of Arts in Management Leadership and two Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.
During this ceremony, Iowa Wesleyan President Christine Plunkett recognized the first two graduates of our new partnership with Southeastern Community College, the Southeast Iowa Higher Education Alliance. These graduates mark an important step in broadening the educational opportunities for students in our region.
The graduation speaker was Dr. Jeff Martinek, 2022 Chadwick Teacher of the Year. Dr. Martinek is a Professor of English and has been at IW since 2007. In his address to the graduates, Dr. Martinek challenged the students by stating, “So, my advice to you on this commencement day is to not commence – at least not fully, that is if commencing means closing the books, closing your minds, and settling for dubious consolations you will be offered for your lost youth… If all that is what commencing means, then I again implore you: don’t do it.”
Iowa Wesleyan University: As Southeast Iowa’s regional comprehensive University, Iowa Wesleyan University is a transformational learning community whose passion is to educate, empower and inspire students to lead meaningful lives and careers.