Una's Spring Commencement To Feature Wendell Wilkie Gunn As Speaker And Honorary Degree Recipient

Apr. 18, 2017

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

Bryan Rachal,University Communications FLORENCE, Ala.-Wendell Wilkie Gunn ('65) will serve as the University of North Alabama's spring commencement speaker Saturday, May 13, at 10 a.m., and 2 p.m., in Flowers Hall. In addition to speaking at both events, Gunn will be the recipient of an honorary doctorate degree from UNA, which will be conferred at the spring 2017commencement ceremonies. Gunn became the first African-American student to enroll at Florence State Teachers College (now the University of North Alabama) on Sept. 11, 1963. He graduated with degrees in math and chemistry and later attended graduate school at the University of Chicago. Upon graduation, Gunn worked in finance with Chase Manhattan Bank and PepsiCo. In 1982, Gunn was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve as an assistant for policy development. He later founded Gunn Solutions, a consulting business for investment firms. He currently lives in Stamford, Connecticut. A full bio on Wendell Wilkie Gunn can be found here: https://www.una.edu/web/docs/WendellGunn.pdf UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Sciences, and Nursing. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals. UNA also operates a renowned collegiate athletic program in NCAA Division II's Gulf South Conference. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age or national origin. http://www.una.edu/