SPECIAL HOODING CEREMONY HELD FOR MICHELE PERKINS OF NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE

Photo caption – left to right:
Raj Bellani – Colgate University, Barbara Risser – Onondaga Community College, Mary Mazzola – University of Pennsylvania, Dawn Peleas-Bailey – Southwestern College, Nancy Morrison – New York University, Michele Perkins – New England College, Lea Johnson – formerly of Northeastern University, Elissa Tenny – Bennington College, Hilton Hallock – Director of the Executive Doctorate Program in Higher Education, University of Pennsylvania

In a special hooding ceremony on Saturday, June 16, 2007, Michele D. Perkins, President of New England College, received her Ed.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Officiating the ceremony was Dr. Hilton Hallock, Director, Executive Doctorate Program in Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania.

The official graduation date for the 24 members of the University of Pennsylvania’s two-year doctoral program in higher education was May 12, 2007. Michele Perkins was unable to attend her own graduation as a result of a prior commitment – presiding over the graduation of nearly 300 students at New England College and welcoming presidential candidate, John Edwards, as the keynote speaker.

Each year, the University of Pennsylvania receives hundreds of applications for its highly competitive executive doctorate program in higher education. From the applications of these highly qualified senior administrators, a class of 24 students is selected for the two-year program.

In recognition of Dr. Perkins’ completion of the program, Dr. Hilton Hallock, Director of the Executive Doctorate Program in Higher Education, traveled to Henniker to officially award her degree. Also attending the ceremony were several of Dr. Perkins’ classmates from the program. Dr. Perkins’ mother, husband, James, and son, Caldwell, also attended, along with her husband’s grandmother, Dorothy Young.