UT systemwide President Dr. John Petersen’s next visit to UTM will generate a little more pomp and circumstance than usual.

Petersen will be the keynote speaker at UTM’s fall commencement ceremony Dec. 16 in the Elam Center. Petersen will become the first UT president to deliver a commencement address at UTM since Dr. Joe Johnson spoke at the 1998 fall ceremony.

About 425 degrees are expected to be awarded, although UTM Registrar Brandy Cartmell says that number will probably change.

“It will fluctuate right up until the day [of commencement],” Cartmell says.

Because of the smaller number of students graduating this semester, soon-to-be graduates will not be limited as to how many guests they may invite. Last spring’s commencement ceremony was UTM’s first to limit how many guests each graduating student could invite by requiring each guest to have a ticket.

“When we haven’t used tickets in the past there hasn’t been a limit as to the number of guests graduates can invite,” says Dorothy Gillon, UTM’s public occasions coordinator.

Petersen became UT’s 23rd president in July 2004. While at UT, Petersen has concentrated on developing a strategic plan for the university that focuses on helping more students in Tennessee earn bachelor’s degrees and on research that supports economic development in the state.

The plan, along with UT’s new “fUTure” branding campaign, was launched at the first State of the University Celebration in September.

Previously, Petersen served four years as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Connecticut.

Before his stint at Connecticut, Petersen was a chemistry professor and dean of the College of Science at Wayne State University from 1994 to 2000.

Petersen also served as the head of chemistry and associate dean for research in the College of Sciences at Clemson University.

Petersen received a doctorate in inorganic chemistry from the University of California at Santa Barbara and a bachelor of science in chemistry from California State University.

UTM Chancellor Nick Dunagan will preside over the ceremony and confer degrees. Dr. Jerry Gresham, UT National Alumni Association Alumni Distinguished Service Professor, will serve as mace bearer.

The processional marshals will be Dr. John Schommer, faculty senate president; Dr. Elaine Harriss, faculty senate vice president; Al Hooten, vice chancellor for finance and administration; and Dr. Jerald Ogg, interim vice chancellor for student affairs.

The UTM Student Brass Quintet will perform special music and music professor Amy Yeung will sing the alma mater. A reception will be held in the Skyhawk Fieldhouse immediately following commencement.