Kennesaw State, which began as a junior college on Oct. 9, 1963, became a four-year college in 1978. It awarded its first bachelor’s degrees in 1980. At the time, fewer than 30 programs were offered. Today, the University has more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including an increasing number of doctoral programs.

JULY 29, KENNESAW CAMPUS COMMENCEMENT SCHEDULE:

Speaker: Dr. Dwight “Ike” Reighard

College of the Arts, Michael J. Coles College of Business, WellStar College of Health and Human Services, and University College –10 a.m.

Leland and Clarice C. Bagwell College of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and College of Science and Mathematics – 3 p.m.

Dr. Dwight “Ike” Reighard is the president and CEO of MUST Ministries and the senior pastor of Piedmont Church in Marietta. Reighard has served at Piedmont Church since 2006 and became the Senior Pastor in 2007. He is the author and co-author of several books, including “Tightrope Tango: Unleashing the Power of Balance,” “Treasures From The Dark,” “Discovering Your North Star” and “Discovering Your North Star Journal,” and a daily inspirational book, “Daily Insights.”

Reighard is a magna cum laude graduate of Mercer University with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion. He earned his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Luther Rice Seminary.

(click here for downloadable photo of Dr. Dwight “Ike” Reighard)

Speaker: Mason Zimmerman

Graduate College – 7 p.m.

Mason Zimmerman is the senior vice president and development partner for Pope & Land Enterprises, Inc. and a founding member and chairman of the Town Center Area Community Improvement District. His responsibilities at Pope & Land include office and mixed-use development in Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C. Pope & Land is a consultant to the Atlanta Braves for the design of the overall mixed-use development in Cobb County. Zimmerman is an active member of the Urban Land Institute.

Zimmerman, a 1984 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, holds several commercial real estate designations. He and his wife live in Peachtree Corners and have three children.

(click here for downloadable photo of Mason Zimmerman)

Kennesaw State University Convocation Center, 1000 Chastain Road, Kennesaw, Ga., 30144

For directions and campus map: http://www.kennesaw.edu/commencement/visit/directions.php.

AUG. 1, MARIETTA CAMPUS COMMENCEMENT SCHEDULE:

Speaker: Ron R. Koger

School of Architecture and Construction Management, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, and School of Engineering Technology and Management – 10 a.m.

School of Engineering Technology and Management, and School of Computing and Software Engineering – 2 p.m.

Ron R. Koger became special assistant to the president of Kennesaw State University in January 2015. He had previously served as interim president of Southern Polytechnic State University. He also has been interim chief information officer and interim executive director for advancement at SPSU. Koger has served as president of SACAC (Southern Association of College Admission Counseling), NACAC (National Association of College Admission Counseling) and the ACT Council of Georgia.

Koger graduated from Pittsburg State University (Math Education) in Pittsburg, Kansas, and received his master’s and doctorate from the University of Kansas. He is married to Gerre Thiebaud Koger. 

(click here for downloadable photo of Ron R. Koger)

Kennesaw State University Gymnasium, 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, Ga., 30060

For Marietta campus map: http://kennesaw.edu/maps/docs/marietta_printable_campus_map.pdf