William J. Merriman ’73, Ph.D., To Give Keynote Address at Spring Commencement

William J. Merriman ’73, Ph.D., will deliver the keynote address and receive an honorary Doctor of Pedagogy degree at Manhattan College’s Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 21, beginning at 3 p.m. Merriman is retiring as dean of the School of Education and Health at the end of the academic year and will return to the faculty next year.

Merriman joined the Manhattan College faculty in 1987, and has served as dean of the School of Education and Health since 1997. His first position at the College was as an assistant professor in the department of physical education and human performance. He was soon promoted to an associate professor, and then promoted to professor in 1997.

Merriman received Manhattan College’s Lasallian Educator of the Year award in 2001. In 2005, Merriman led a faculty team that achieved national accreditation of the teacher education programs for the first time from the Teacher Education Accreditation Council.

Under Merriman’s leadership, the School of Education and Health received New York State Education Department approval of a master’s degree in instructional design and delivery. The program is the first of two Manhattan College degree programs to be offered fully online.

Merriman is the co-author of three books, the author or co-author of 32 journal articles and book chapters, and has made many professional presentations throughout the United States and abroad. He organized international study and service trips for School of Education and Health students, including trips to Sri Lanka, China, Namibia, Turkey, Palestine, Israel, Italy, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Jamaica and England. He has received more than $3 million in city, state and federal grants for his work with children with disabilities and the training of special education and adapted physical education teachers.

Prior to joining the Manhattan College faculty, Merriman served as a full-time faculty member at SUNY New Paltz, St. Francis College, Augsburg College and the University of Minnesota.

A New York City native, Merriman graduated magna cum laude from Manhattan College in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He earned his master’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and his doctorate from New York University.

The Spring Commencement ceremony awards master’s degrees to students graduating from the Schools of Business and Engineering, master’s degrees and professional diplomas to students from the School of Education and Health, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees to students from the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

In addition to the Spring Commencement, Manhattan College will host its 174th Undergraduate Commencement on Sunday, May 22, and award bachelor’s degrees to students in some 40 major fields of study from its five schools in liberal arts, business, education and health, engineering and science. Brother Robert Schieler, FSC, Superior General of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, will deliver the keynote address to the College’s undergraduates.

For complete information on Commencement 2016, visit manhattan.edu/commencement.