SEMO's Wallhausen to speak at commencement

Southeast Missouri State University is looking no further than its own institution for a commencement speaker this year. Art Wallhausen, associate to the president, will deliver the address to 1,082 students today.

Wallhausen has worked at the university since 1984, first as the coordinator of News Services and then as the assistant to the president, becoming associate to the president in 2000. He will retire this summer.

After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia and then studying at Princeton University, Wallhausen served as an artillery officer in the Army. He also worked as an editor of the Enterprise-Courier in Charleston, Mo., his hometown. He has won many awards throughout his career, including the "Outstanding Young Man in the State" Award from the Missouri Jaycees.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson spoke at commencement in 2006, and alumni Dr. Jerry Caulder of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., an expert in agricultural biotechnology, spoke in 2007.

-- Lindy Bavolek