Dr. James Catanzaro
Dr. James Catanzaro will deliver the commencement address at Lee’s summer ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 10:30 a.m. in the Conn Center.
Dr. Catanzaro resigned in 2014 from the presidency of Chattanooga State Community College, after a 24-year tenure which was marked by rapid growth in enrollment, the addition of numerous programs, and development of the physical campus. During this time, Dr. Catanzaro became a leader in the Chattanooga and higher education communities, said officials.
Lee president Dr. Paul Conn said of former president Catanzaro: "Over the years, he has been one of the most creative and visionary presidents I have known. His energy and commitment to Chatt State propelled it to a prominent role in our region, and he was a wonderful colleague to many fellow presidents throughout his tenure. I'm eager to hear what he has to say to our graduates and their families next month."
Dr. Catanzaro has been known nationally as an entrepreneurial leader in higher education for 37 years, and he has served four colleges as president. He has also hosted over 750 television interview programs, written several books and articles, served on numerous local and national boards, and spoken at conferences across the nation and as far away as the United Kingdom, the Caribbean, and Australia.
Dr. Catanzaro was the first in his family to earn a college degree. He received his doctorate in religion from Claremont Graduate University, his master’s of divinity from Biola University’s Talbot Seminary, and his bachelor’s from Barrington College (now Gordon College). He did his postdoctoral work at the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Catanzaro is an avid surfer and table tennis player. He currently resides on Signal Mountain with his wife Rhonda, and they have a son, Jim, Jr., daughter-in-law, Marybeth, and two grandchildren, Sarah and Trey.
Lee’s summer commencement is one of three graduation ceremonies held each year at the university. Over 200 undergraduates and graduates will receive degrees in the Saturday morning ceremony. The first graduates from Lee’s Masters of Business Administration will graduate as part of this group.
Prior to the Saturday commencement, a commissioning ceremony will be held Friday, July 31, at 6:30 p.m., also in the Conn Center. The commissioning service is a special occasion for students and their families to reflect on student experiences at the university. During the event, there are six student speakers who share brief stories about their time at Lee. Each graduate is presented with a personalized Bible in a traditional walk across the Conn Center stage.
A hooding ceremony for recipients of master’s and education specialist degrees will take place Friday, July 31, at 4:30 p.m. in the Lee University Chapel.
For those who wish to view the events, live streaming will be available at http://livestream.com/leeu. The hooding, commissioning, and commencement ceremonies are ticketed events.
For more information about commencement exercises, please contact the Academic Events Office at academicevents@leeuniversity.edu, 614-8117, or visit the website at http://www.leeuniversity.edu/academics/graduation-info/.