Published April 30, 2015
The University of Louisiana at Monroe鈥檚 annual spring Commencement Ceremony will be
held at 10 a.m., on Saturday, May 9, in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Over 770 degrees will
be awarded.
Several honor graduates will also be recognized during the ceremony. They are designated
as summa cum laude (3.900-4.000), magna cum laude (3.750-3.899) and cum laude (3.500-3.749).
Dr. Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
will serve as the ceremony鈥檚 keynote speaker.
A native of Covington, Strain earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Louisiana
State University in 1983. Strain and his wife Susan鈥攁lso a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine鈥攐wn
and operate the Claiborne Hill Veterinary Hospital in Covington.
In 1999, Strain was elected to the first of two terms as State Representative, where
he served on the Agriculture Committee and chaired the Legislative Rural Caucus. He
was twice named Legislator of the Year by the St. Tammany Parish Alliance for Good
Government. In 2003, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine presented Strain its Distinguished
Alumni Award, and he was inducted into the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction
in May 2010.
In August 2009, Strain was awarded the Future Farmers of America鈥檚 highest national
award, the Honorary American Degree, and was named Conservationist of the Year in
January 2012, and Veterinarian of the Year in 2013.
He recently completed terms as president of SUSTA (the Southern United States Trade
Association) and SASDA (the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture),
and is the second vice president of NASDA (National Association of State Departments
of Agriculture). He is also the chair of the NASDA Animal and Plant Industries Committee,
and he holds a commission from the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Strain took the oath of office for his second four-year term as Louisiana鈥檚 Commissioner
of Agriculture and Forestry on January 9, 2012.
For those who cannot attend, the live webcast can be found at /commencement/
Shortly after the conclusion of the event, a full recording of the event will be archived
for viewing.
For seating and guest information, visit /registrar/commencement.html
