Best-Selling Author Dr. Michael Dyson to Deliver 2011 Commencement Address at Northcentral University

593 Learners, 120 of whom are expected to be present, will be awarded degrees on June 11, 2011 at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona.

Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree will be awarded to Dr. Michael Dyson in recognition of his outstanding community contributions.

Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, named by Ebony one of the 100 most influential black Americans and the author of sixteen books including April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Death And How It Changed America, Holler if You Hear Me, Is Bill Cosby Right? and I May Not Get There With You: The True Martin Luther King Jr. will deliver the commencement address to the 2011 graduating class of Northcentral University on June 11, 2011 at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Dr. Dyson is currently University Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University and a contributing editor to TIME magazine. He lives in Washington, D.C.

In recognition of his outstanding community contributions, the Board of Trustees of Northcentral University has also decided to award an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Dr. Dyson at the commencement ceremonies.

“We are honored to have Dr. Dyson address our 2011 graduating class of Learners,” Dr. Clinton Gardner, President of Northcentral University said today. “As one of the nation’s most influential writers, educators, and critical thinkers, Dr. Dyson embodies the ideals of success and accomplishment that we strive for every day at Northcentral University. Rising from a factory worker who started college at age 21 to being named one of America’s 100 most influential black Americans by Ebony magazine, Dr. Dyson’s life highlights the opportunities that quality higher education offers. Dr. Dyson will speak compellingly about hard work and self-confidence in a way that, I believe, will inspire our graduates to go forth into the world to make their own unique and valuable contributions to humanity.”

Dr. Michael Dyson is an American Book Award recipient and two-time NAACP Image Award winner. He is the author of sixteen books, two of which went on to become New York Times bestsellers. He taught at Princeton University while earning his Master’s and Doctoral degrees there. He received his Ph.D. in 1993.

In a special pre-commencement ceremony to be held June 10 at Northcentral University in Prescott Valley, three graduates will be presented with the University’s coveted Dissertation of the Year awards:

• School of Business and Technology Management: Thomas Thompson “Assessing the Determinants of Information Technology Adoption in Jamaica’s Public Sector Using the Technology Acceptance Model;”

• School of Education: Jennifer Thomson “The Relationship Between Student Achievement and Multilingualism: A Quantitative Causal - Comparative Study;”

• School of Behavioral and Health Sciences: Judy Kelly “Efficacy of Hypnosis for the Treatment of Comorbid Chronic Pain and Insomnia in Older Adults.”

Northcentral University’s Commencement 2011 will take place from 10:00AM until noon on June 11, 2011 at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Tim’s Toyota Center is located at 3201 North Main Street. The commencement will begin at 10:00 a.m. and conclude at noon. A reception will immediately follow at the center. To reserve a seat, prospective attendees are asked to call Justyna Woods at (928) 541-8152 or email her at jwoods@ncu.edu by June 1, 2011.

About Northcentral University: Since its founding in 1996 Northcentral University (www.ncu.edu) has pioneered a distinct approach to online Undergraduate, Graduate, and Post Graduate education that is dedicated to teaching individuals rather than classes. Combining the power of the Internet with an unparalleled faculty-mentoring program, Northcentral offers students the flexibility to cost-effectively study on their own schedule using their own individual style while receiving personalized attention from course instructors whenever it is needed. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the for profit, 100% online university currently serves over 8,000 students worldwide, offering Bachelor, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in the Schools of Business and Technology Management, Education, and Behavioral and Health Sciences.