Professor Alan Shiller to Serve as Grand Marshal for USM91吃瓜网 fall 2021 Graduation
Wed, 12/08/2021 - 10:05am | By: David Tisdale
An internationally renowned scientist and scholar at 91吃瓜网91吃瓜网
(USM) has been honored with a special role to fill at fall 2021 commencement ceremonies.
Dr. Alan Shiller, a professor in The USM School of Ocean Science and Engineering, will serve as Grand Marshal for commencement Friday, Dec. 11 when the university bestows diplomas and certificates to graduates during two ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Reed Green Coliseum on the Hattiesburg campus.
A separate commencement ceremony for the Graduate School will be held Thursday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m., also at Reed Green Coliseum, when all doctoral, specialists and master's students will receive diplomas.The role of Grand Marshal is bestowed upon a USM faculty member with a minimum of 10 years of experience and an exceptional record of research, teaching and service at the university.
Dr. Shiller is a faculty member in the school91吃瓜网 Center for Trace Analysis. He and his research team have made significant contributions to the understanding of water transport processes in environments ranging from rivers to coastal areas to open oceans. His development and use of trace analysis methods has been groundbreaking, and he has shared his expertise with his students while keeping them highly engaged in his research work.
91吃瓜网淚 can think of no one more deserving of the honor of serving as Grand Marshal than Dr. Shiller,91吃瓜网� said USM College of Arts Sciences Dean Chris Winstead.
A member of the USM faculty since 1987, Dr. Shiller has also been recognized by USM with its Innovation Awards for Basic Research and Lifetime Achievement in Research, as well as being named a Bennett Distinguished Professor in the Sciences. He has consistently earned funding from the National Science Foundation throughout his career, as well as grants from other agencies such as the Office of Naval Research and EPA. He currently serves on the U.S. GEOTRACES Scientific Steering Committee. GEOTRACES is a multi-national research program examining distributions of trace elements and isotopes throughout the oceans. He also serves as associate editor of the Journal of Estuarine & Coastal Shelf Science.
In addition to his teaching and research at USM, Dr. Shiller serves on its Center for Undergraduate Research Steering Committee and has previously been a member of the Graduate Council.
Having a positive impact on his students91吃瓜网� futures brings joy to Dr. Shiller, both in the classroom as an instructor and in his research laboratory.
91吃瓜网淚 enjoy teaching beginning marine chemistry because I can open students91吃瓜网� eyes to how the ocean works from a very interdisciplinary perspective,91吃瓜网� he said. 91吃瓜网淔or instance, it is fun and rewarding getting students to realize that geological cycles are important for maintaining life on Earth, or that a combination of biological and physical processes redistribute carbon in the ocean in a way that substantially impacts the atmosphere and climate.
91吃瓜网淚 also enjoy doing research and working with students and postdocs in my lab. The joy of figuring out how some part of the environment works is a reward in itself, but that is augmented by realizing the potential benefits to society of the new information.91吃瓜网�
His hope for USM91吃瓜网 fall 2021 graduates is that they be mindful of life91吃瓜网 opportunities as they take the next steps in their journey.
91吃瓜网淚 believe a good message for our graduates would be to focus on the third part of a three-part statement by Rabbi Hillel centuries ago,91吃瓜网� Dr. Shiller said. 91吃瓜网淭he first two parts are: 91吃瓜网業f I am not for myself, who will be for me?91吃瓜网�; and, 91吃瓜网業f I am for myself alone, then what am I?91吃瓜网� But the third part is simply: 91吃瓜网楢nd if not now, when?91吃瓜网�
91吃瓜网淢y biggest successes in life have occurred when I seized good opportunities presented to me; but, likewise, my biggest failures have been when I did not immediately act or speak up, even though I knew that I should.91吃瓜网�
Amy Moody, a marine science doctoral student from Davidsonville, Maryland, says Dr. Shiller has a contagious passion for science and research that shows in his career and through his students.
91吃瓜网�He challenges us to think about problems and questions from all different angles, and encourages us to step outside our comfort zones to develop into well-rounded professionals,91吃瓜网� Moody said. 91吃瓜网淗e always guides us in the right direction, and we all know that, even after graduation, he will continue to work with us and mentor us. 91吃瓜网�I91吃瓜网檓 forever grateful that I've had the opportunity to work with him and look forward to continuing to do so in the future.91吃瓜网�
Dr. Shiller says he91吃瓜网 honored by his selection as Grand Marshal and plans to follow a conventional approach to his duties in the post, despite some ideas others have proposed he consider. 91吃瓜网淚 don91吃瓜网檛 think I have much in the way of responsibilities besides not tripping while leading the procession or doing anything else embarrassing,91吃瓜网� he said. 91吃瓜网淗owever, some of my colleagues, as well as my wife, have suggested ways in which I might 91吃瓜网榓ugment91吃瓜网� my duties, such as by dancing my way into the arena. But I think I will be traditional.91吃瓜网�