The University of Redlands will host its 107th commencement ceremonies April 21-23, 2016 in the Alumni Greek Theatre at its main campus in Redlands for students in the College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business and School of Education. Two honorary degrees will be conferred at the ceremony for the College of Arts & Sciences and each ceremony will feature a keynote speaker.

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, world-renowned conservationist, ethologist and UN Messenger of Peace, will return to the University Saturday, April 23 to receive the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters at the College of Arts & Sciences ceremony. She last visited the University in 2011 when she addressed a sold-out audience in the Memorial Chapel, and will this year offer the keynote address at the College of Arts & Sciences ceremony. Though this commencement ceremony is not open to the public, Goodall’s remarks will be posted on our website at Redlands.edu shortly after the ceremony.

Goodall is best known for her landmark study of chimpanzee behavior in what is now Tanzania. Her work at Gombe Stream would become the foundation of future primatological research and redefine the relationship between humans and animals., In 1977, Dr. Goodall established the Jane Goodall Institute, which continues the Gombe research and is a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. The Institute is widely recognized for innovative, community conservation and development programs in Africa and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, the Institute’s global environmental and humanitarian youth program. Goodall started Roots & Shoots with a group of Tanzania students 25 years ago and today the program involves hundreds of thousands of young people from preschool through university in more than 130 countries. During her 2011 visit, Goodall joined in the local Roots & Shoots program, run by University of Redlands Community Service Learning. Today, Goodall travels nearly 300 days each year, inspiring action on behalf of endangered species, particularly chimpanzees, and encouraging people to do their part to make the world a better place for people, animals, and the environment we all share.

Dr. Deborah Fallows, writer, linguist and, with journalist-spouse James Fallows, a University of Redlands Distinguished Fellow in 2015, will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the College of Arts & Sciences ceremony.  She has written extensively on language, education, families and work, China, and travel for The Atlantic, National Geographic, and The New York Times.  Her latest book, “Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language,” is based on her three-year experience living and working in China.  Most recently, she worked for the Pew Internet Project, publishing reports on Internet use in the United States and China.

University of Redlands double alumnus Jarrod Burguan ’07, ‘10 will address graduates in the School of Business April 23. Burguan has served as Chief of the San Bernardino Police Department since 2013 and worked in, supervised or managed units in every division of the department since he joined in 1992. He received international recognition and praise for his leadership in the police response to the Dec. 2, 2015 terrorist attack on the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino. Alumnus Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino said Burguan and San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon were, “The embodiment of leadership and courage.” Both men were Aguilar’s guests at the State of the Union address Jan. 12, 2016. Burguan earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree at the University of Redlands.

Nationally recognized and innovative educator Dr. Enrique G. Murillo Jr. will address graduates in the School of Education April 21. A professor at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), Murillo currently serves as executive director and founder of the Latino Education & Advocacy Days (LEAD) organization in CSUSB College of Education with an objective to promote broad-based awareness of the crisis in Latino Education and enhance the intellectual, cultural and personal development of the community’s educators. Murillo was recently elected president of the Southern California Consortium of Hispanic-Serving Institutions and was formerly California Student Aid Commissioner.