An alumnus known internationally for groundbreaking work in mathematic biology will address University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduates and their families at the winter commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 16.
Carlos Castillo-Chavez will speak to more than 600 graduates who have earned associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. in the UW-Stevens Point Health Enhancement Center. Guests may park in any campus lot (for free) except Lot F West, which will be used for handicap access.
The student speaker will be Ciana Rose, an economic development graduate from Stevens Point. Chancellor Bernie Patterson will preside over the ceremonies and give the welcome and charge to the graduates. The new alumni will be welcomed by David and Sharon Bruha, alumni from Wisconsin Rapids.
Samantha Olson, a choral and general music education graduate from New Lisbon, will sing the national anthem and UW-Stevens Point's alma mater. She will be accompanied by the UW-Stevens Point Orchestra, directed by Assistant Professor Andy Moran.
Castillo-Chavez graduated from UW-Stevens Point in 1976, and won the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999. He holds several distinguished faculty appointments at Arizona State University, where he has taught since 2004. He is also the rector of Yachay University of Experimental Technical Research in Ecuador.
He holds additional degrees from UW-Milwaukee and UW-Madison, and also taught at Cornell University for 18 years. During his 30 years in academia, he has mentored more than 550 Ph.D., doctoral and undergraduate students. He has won multiple awards for mathematical and biological research in disease evolution, epidemiology, addiction and sustainability, among others.
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