G RADUATE C OMMENCEMENT C EREMONY F RIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 10 A M ROBINSON G RAND P ERFORMING A RTS C ENTER BOARD OF TRUSTEES & GOVERNORS 2020 Graduate Commencement SUMMER 2020 TRUSTEES: Dr James “Tim” Barry, President Dr Ronald L Burbick ’67, ’06 Hon Mr John W Ebert Dr Philip T Ellmore ’82 Mr Stephen M Fowler ’80 Mrs Jane E Harkins, Esq ’88 Mr Thomas S Heckman ’70 Dr Rebecca A Hooman ’81, ’17 Hon Mr Jeffrey A Lamphere ’86, ’09 Dr Karen K Rainey ’89, ’91, ’07, ’11 Hon Dr Arnold D Scott ’64, ’17 Hon Dr Harry G “Chip” Shaffer III, Esq ’19 Hon Dr J Soren Sofhauser ’76, ’18 Hon Dr F Joseph Super Rev Dr Marilyn P Turner-Triplett ’17 Hon Mr Derrick R Ward Mr Thomas R Wilmink II Mrs Valerie A Woodruff ’66 GOVERNORS: Dr Jean A Cunningham ’53, ’08 Hon Mrs Lisa Q Lang Mr Scott L Northcott ’67 The Honorable Chris Phillips PHOTOGRAPHY: Metz Photography will be present to take photos of the graduates as they receive their diplomas All photos will be available online for order at www.metzphotowv.com For questions, please contact Metz Photography at metzphotowv@gmail.com GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY Faculty Marshals: F Joseph Super, Ed.D Deanna L Leach ’06, M.S ’09 PRELUDE *PROCESSIONAL FOR THE FACULTY, GRADUATES, AND PLATFORM PARTY Pomp and Circumstance Edward Elgar WELCOME James “Tim” Barry, Ed.D President, Alderson Broaddus University INTRODUCTION OF THE SPEAKER .President Barry COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS: “Preserving the Pandemic: Find Faith, Hold Hope, and Embrace Charity” Danny F Scalise II, MBA, MPH, CPH, FACHE Executive Director and Chief Lobbyist of the West Virginia State Medical Association Professor of Health Policy, West Virginia University School of Public Health PRESENTATION AND CONFERRING OF HONORARY DEGREES Dr Robert V Digman ’51 – for the degree of Doctor of Education Citation Reader: Joan L Propst ’79, Ed.D Roberta Jo Jacobs – for the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters Citation Reader: Joan L Propst ’79, Ed.D PRESENTATION OF DEGREE CANDIDATES Joan L Propst ’79, Ed.D Provost/Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs PRESENTATION OF MASTER OF EDUCATION HOODS .F Joseph Super, Ed.D Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Education PRESENTATION OF MASTER OF SCIENCE HOODS Thomas F Moore ’04, Ed.D., DMSc, PA-C ’07 Dean, College of Medical Science; Director, Physician Assistant Studies Program CONFERRING OF THE DEGREES President Barry INDUCTION INTO THE AB UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Joshua D Allen ’05, M.S Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Director of Alumni Relations CHARGE TO THE GRADUATES President Barry *BENEDICTION Carl W Gittings ’64, M Div., Hon D.D ’91 Chaplain *RECESSIONAL *If you are able, please stand Please remain standing at your seats until the conclusion of the Processional and Recessional 2020 Graduate Commencement *INVOCATION Danny L Franke, Ph.D Professor of Philosophy and Religion The Class of 2020 MASTER OF EDUCATION Brianna Danielle Burger Grand Prairie, TX Leah Christine Casarano Fraley Hancock, TN Mariah Tess Murphy Belington, WV 2020 Graduate Commencement Candice Marie Phipps Clarksburg, WV MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES Azin Akar Pittsburgh, PA Brady Theodore Huttinger Pasadena, MD Josiah Baker Douglassville, PA * Kyle Emil Lehosit Clarksburg, WV Hannah R Prontiker Elizabeth, PA Nathanial Lewis Rainey Saint Albans, WV Allyson Branham Prestonsburg, KY Aneeq A Malik Atlanta, GA Douglas L Sievers Mt Carmel, IL Jessica Lá rie Chancé Sylvania, AL Kelsea Anne Martin Amy Stewart Lavaletter, WV Taylor Morgan Chevalier Belington, WV Zane T McGuire Pittsburgh, PA Briana Nicole Stine Columbia, MD Peter Michael Cioloca Bel Air, MD Sarah Marie McMillan Ripley, WV Julia Marie Tucker Romeo, MI Brandon L Coburn Bridgeport, WV Cassandra J Mueller Fond du Lac, WI Sania Khawar Ullah Federalsburg, MD Keeley D Diggs Trappe, MD * Rachel M Graziano DeWitt, MI Noel Christian Guido Spanish Fork, UT * Scott Andrew Nesland Moatsville, WV Reid Van Bussum Lexington, KY Ashley Norman New Philadelphia, OH Damascus, MD Lauren Brianne Peyton Chapmanville, WV Shayne Aubrey Zaplitny Coatesville, PA * Jacquelyn Nicole Harper Savannah, GA Regan Houston Leesburg, VA Yuenan Sun Pitrolo Bridgeport, WV Christian Porter North Liberty, IN *Pi Alpha is the national Physician Assistant honor society organized for the promotion and recognition of both PA students and graduates Membership activities The society also encourages a high standard of character and conduct among students and graduates Once a student Always a Battler Forever an alum Congratulations on your graduation from Alderson Broaddus University, and welcome to the Alumni Association Please stay in touch and let us know about all your amazing postAlumni Relations at alumni@ab.edu or contact us at 304.457.6202 Don’t forget to follow ABAlumni on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay connected with your classmates and AB Commencement Speaker DANNY F SCALISE II, MBA, MPH, CPH, FACHE Danny Franklin Scalise II, is the executive director and chief lobbyist of the West Virginia State Medical Association and its subsidiary organizations as well as a professor of health He is considered one of the leading health policy experts in West Virginia and is a passionate advocate for public health Scalise has been a public policy adviser to two Governors He is well known across West Virginia as a problem solver and a great student of West Virginia politics and the legislative process As part of the Manchin administration, Scalise was the Recovery Czar in West Virginia, managing $1.8 billion in grants and entitlement funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Scalise earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business management from West Virginia University Institute of Technology in 2002, his Master of Business Administration from West Virginia University in 2005, and his Master of Public Health degree in health policy in 2018 In became a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives in 2019 He has been published on and regularly speaks on issues of public health, health policy, and local health department governance and organizational structure Scalise sits on the Board of Directors for the Thomas Health System in South Charleston, WV, and in 2019, Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin appointed him to serve on the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health, which governs the largest and Scalise has been recognized by Opportunity Nation in 2013 as part of their national Opportunity Leaders & Scholars program and was awarded the Health Administration Rising Star by the American Public Health Association in 2016 He is a 2012 Leadership West Virginia graduate, was on the State Journal’s 2016 Generation Next: 40 under 40 list, was named a 2019 Young Gun by West Virginia Executive Magazine, and was given the 2019 Advocacy Award by the West Virginia Immunization Network for his work to protect West Virginia’s childhood immunization laws Since joining in 2007, Scalise has been an active participant in Mensa 2020 Graduate Commencement policy at the West Virginia University School of Public Health Honorary Degree Recipient 2020 Graduate Commencement DR ROBERT V DIGMAN Dr Digman was born in Taylor County, West Virginia, on January 9, 1930 He was educated in the Taylor County public schools and was a member of the graduating Class of 1947 of Flemington High School He attended Alderson Broaddus from 1947 through 1951, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry He attended graduate school in Maine and graduated from the University of Maine with a Master of Science degree in chemistry in 1951; subsequently, completing his Ph.D in chemistry in 1963 from Penn State During his education at the University of Maine, he was a chemistry graduate assistant, later working as a research assistant in petroleum chemistry at Penn State University In 1954, he joined the faculty at Alderson Broaddus as an instructor in chemistry but later left to complete his Ph.D at Penn State He taught chemistry at Marshall University from 1963 until 1965 when he returned to Alderson Broaddus as the chairman of the Division of Natural Sciences and professor of chemistry Dr Digman held various positions of leadership at AB, including achieving the rank of professor; being named to the McClung Chair of Chemistry; promotion to the dean of instruction, academic dean, provost, and vice president for academic affairs; and, served a 1-year appointment as the interim president He remained at AB until his retirement in 1996 Dr Digman’s achievements and dedication at AB are distinguished and will remain a part of the narrative from an anonymous author This summarizes Dr Digman’s nature and conveys the kind of “It has been a personal and professional joy to get to know our worship leader over the last two years He knows, understands, loves, and works for Alderson Broaddus with a passion that few others are capable of matching As the valedictorian of Flemington High School, he continued a high level of achievement at AB, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in chemistry His experience at AB was well-rounded and gave evidence of leadership member of the Academy of Science, and president of the Student Government He has succeeded because he has superior innate ability, and he has worked hard But true success includes more than achievement It includes a strong sense of responsibility and caring for the needs of people and the institutions which serve people The AB Class of 1951 recognized this trait in Bob Digman when they voted him “Most Likely to Succeed.” Dr Digman was formerly married to Betty Jean (Bowles) Digman, also an alumna of Alderson Broaddus Their four children, Mike, Steve, Becky, and Alan, graduated from AB as well as some of their spouses and one grandchild He is currently married to Jane (Christian) (Bryant) Digman, an AB alumna and former member of the faculty of the School of Nursing His stepchildren, Ivan and Dawn, both attended Alderson Broaddus University Dr Digman’s children Mike and Becky have served on the AB Alumni Council, and Becky currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees and Governors Mike’s spouse, Sally (Hardwick) Digman, served as a member of the faculty and as registrar after graduating from AB Honorary Degree Recipient MRS ROBERTA JO JACOBS Mrs Roberta Jo Jacobs or “Bobbie Jo,” as she is affectionately known, began a long and distinguished career with Alderson Broaddus when she accepted a part-time position on January 21, 1977, in the Admissions Department Later, she moved to a full- Mrs Jacobs has deep ties to Alderson Broaddus Her mother, Betty Jo Marteney, was an associate professor emerita of education; her daughter, Kimberly Jo Jacobs, is a graduate of the PA program with dual degrees in physician assistant studies and sports medicine; and her aunt, Jean Fenstermacher, was a former dean of students In 2014, Mrs Jacobs was honored with the naming of Room 118 in the Myers Hall of Health Sciences in her honor The student organization for physician assistant studies, the Hu C Myers Society, has honored her with various awards to acknowledge her valuable contribution to their success during their education, and she has received the Service Award from the West Virginia Association of Physician Assistants She has been named Employee of the Month, Secretary of the Year, Staff of the Year, and Mrs Jacobs has made the students and graduates of the physician assistant studies program her life work She has worked under the leadership and guidance of seven program directors and eight medical facilitated the graduation process of over 2,050 students (undergraduate, master’s, and postgraduate programs) She has developed personal relationships with the graduates so that she is conversant with who they were and have become since graduating from Alderson Broaddus University Mrs Jacobs resides in Philippi, West Virginia, and is married to Ray Jacobs They are the parents of children: Robert Ray, Kimberly Jo, and Lisa Michelle; the grandparents of eight grandchildren: Steivee, Shawn, Micah, Marteney, Mercedes, Bonlie, Bria, and Robbie; and the great-grandparents of seven great-grandchildren: Noa Jacobs, Max Beverly, Piper Ratterman, Isabella Jacobs, Finnley Jacobs, Holton Hanson, and Montani Hanson 2020 Graduate Commencement physician assistant studies program for which she is best known and has dedicated her life of service and commitment She has the distinction of being the longest-serving administrative assistant at AB and in service to the physician assistant studies program Her expertise has been noted in the work she has performed beginning with the undergraduate PA program, the rural primary care postgraduate program, the emergency medicine postgraduate program, and the hospitalist postgraduate program She provides secretarial and clerical work with the master’s program in physician assistant studies and the anatomy programs and provides coverage for the School of Nursing in the absence of their secretarial personnel ab.edu