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April 22, 2021
Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine – Class of 2021
Contact: Anissa Riley, College of Veterinary Medicine
TUSKEGEE, Ala. – Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine will recognize the Class of Graduates of 2021 on Saturday May 1st during both an in-person and virtual graduation and oath ceremony at am CST at Tuskegee University Chapel and the virtual ceremony follows at 1:00 p.m. CST. The start of spring will recognize the 59 graduate students of the College of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with the administration of the veterinarian’s oath at the end of the ceremony.
Dr. Ruby L. Perry, Dean of the Veterinary School, will lead the program. Dr. Roslyn Casimir, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Fredrick Tippett, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs will assist during the live and virtual ceremonies.
Dr. Bonnie Barclay, 1984 class veterinary alumna, will be this year’s keynote speaker. Dr. Barclay has been a veterinarian at Boehringer Ingelheim since 2009 and has more than 25 years of extensive experience in animal health. She currently works as a veterinarian providing professional services in the North, Central, and South-Central Alabama areas. Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia; and Central and South Central Tennessee.
The in-person ceremony will also be broadcast live at 10 a.m. and the virtual ceremony will be broadcast on Tuskegee University’s YouTube channel at 1 p.m. Both ceremonies can be viewed at the following link: www.youtube.com/tuskegeeuniversity.
“Although the class had to virtually finish their curriculum by 2021, the opportunity to give the class the opportunity to hold a face-to-face ceremony was a welcome change from university given the massive changes that have occurred over the past year and a half due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some of our students are unable to take an in-person degree, so the virtual option allows all of our students to be honored for achieving this important milestone, ”said Dean Perry.
“It truly is one of the highest honors as dean of the college to lead our graduation ceremony. I am sure that family, friends, alumni, the university community and other supporters will enjoy the celebration regardless of the personal or virtual platform. Visit me on the university’s YouTube link as we celebrate the class’s top achievements of 2021 as they celebrate their big day as new doctors in the veterinary profession. “
The in-person graduation ceremony at Tuskegee University Chapel, as well as the virtual ceremony, will still incorporate many elements of the traditional graduation, including presentations of the final speaker, class challenge, and class reflection / vision for the future, as well as administration of the veterinarian’s oath.
Only a limited number of family members and friends are allowed to attend as safety measures are still in place to allow social distancing and follow university guidelines, which continue to adhere to the CDC’s COVID guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety.
Every year, Dean Perry gives graduates a personal message. In Dr. Perry’s closing message to Class 2021 graduates reads: “The family of Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM), now home to your alma mater, welcomes you on your successful journey through the professional program to achieve a PhD degree in veterinary medicine (DVM), which is the highlight of your performance. Although the COVID-19 pandemic required many of your classes to be held virtually and your trip here to be completed differently, the class of 2021 – you are being commended for resilience and ending STRONG!”
The 2021 college grade is the 72nd grade to receive DVM degrees from Tuskegee University. With this degree, the College of Veterinary Medicine has awarded 2,909 veterinary degrees.
Due to CDC COVID-19 guidelines, there will be no reception after the ceremony. However, after the live ceremony, a meal of packaged meals will be held in the foyer of the university chapel.
Via Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine
Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) is located in Alabama as one of two federally recognized veterinary programs and was founded in 1944 by Dr. Frederick D. Patterson, founder of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), envisaged and officially founded Tuskegee in 1945. TUCVM is the only veterinary faculty program on the campus of a historically black college or university (HBCU) in the United States . The college has trained more than 70 percent of the country’s African American veterinarians and has been recognized as the most diverse of all veterinary schools / colleges in the country. The primary mission of the college is to create an environment that fosters a spirit of active, independent and self-directed learning, intellectual curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, ethics and leadership. and promotes teaching, research and service in veterinary medicine and related disciplines. Further information is available at www.tuskegee.edu/vetmed.
