“These are the best events of the year,” said Southeast President Dr. Carlos Vargas. “It is such a momentous occasion for students and their families. The entire SEMO community is proud of their accomplishments and looks forward to celebrating with them.”

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt will serve as the commencement speaker for the 2 p.m. ceremony as he is presented with the Vandiver Show Me State Award. Southeast’s Board of Governors approved the conferral of the award during its November meeting in recognition of Sen. Blunt’s public service and commitment to Southeast. Southeast professor Dr. Erin Fluegge will serve as the speaker for the 10 a.m. ceremony.

Family and friends who cannot attend the ceremonies in person can view a live stream of all ceremonies. The stream will be available at semo.edu/commencement.

Commencement Details

10 a.m. Ceremony

• Harrison College of Business & Computing
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Holland College of Arts & Media
• Speaker: Dr. Erin Fluegge, professor Department of Management

2 p.m. Ceremony

• College of Education, Health, & Human Studies
• College of Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics
• Speaker: Sen. Roy Blunt

Commencement By the Numbers

• 1,071 Graduates
  • 675 undergraduates
  • 380 master’s graduates
  • 16 specialist candidates
• 94,564 all-time Southeast graduates
• 247 students graduating with honors

• • 49 graduating summa cum laude (3.9 to 4.0 cumulative grade point average)
  • 67 graduating magna cum laude (3.75 to 3.89 cumulative grade point average)
  • 131 graduating cum laude (3.5 to 3.74 cumulative grade point average) 
• 194 students graduating with a cumulative 4.0 grade point average
  • 17 undergraduates
  • 177 master’s and specialist
• 4 Honors Scholars

Speakers’ Biographies

Dr. Erin Fluegge

Dr. Erin Rae Fluegge began her journey at Southeast in the fall of 1997 as a student and the feature twirler for the Golden Eagles Marching Band.  She earned her Bachelor of General Studies in 2002, and her Master of Business Administration - Management in 2004, both from Southeast. Dr. Fluegge then attended the University of Florida and received her PhD in business administration - management in 2008. A native of Jackson, Missouri, Dr. Fluegge was delighted to come back home to campus where she’s now in her 15th academic year as a Southeast faculty member.

As a full professor in the Department of Management in the Harrison College of Business and Computing, Dr. Fluegge teaches a wide range of management courses, including leadership, negotiation, and organizational behavior at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Fluegge is grateful to be a mentor to and an advocate for her students, and she strives to encourage them to push themselves outside their comfort zones to try new things and experiences. Dr. Fluegge’s research interests include workplace fun, affect and emotions, leadership, and experiential exercises. Her work, including projects with her students, has been published in a variety of scholarly outlets and presented at multiple national and international conferences. 

With a passion for service, Dr. Fluegge loves to give back to her local, professional, and University communities.  As a Faculty Fellow for the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, she enjoys hosting and planning Women in Entrepreneurship events. Dr. Fluegge is also a member of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, alumna of Leadership Cape and Leadership Missouri, program chair for the North American Management Society, and currently serves as the chair-elect of Faculty Senate at Southeast.

Senator Roy Blunt
Building on a background as a public servant, university president, and teacher, United States Senator Roy Blunt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010.

Senator Blunt serves as the Chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, and as the top Republican of the Senate Rules Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, & Related Agencies (Labor/HHS). He also serves on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

As a leader on the Labor/HHS appropriations subcommittee, Senator Blunt has prioritized resources to promote college access, affordability, and completion. Senator Blunt successfully worked to restore year-round Pell Grants and secured five consecutive funding increases in the maximum Pell Grant award.

Senator Blunt has advocated for significant federal investment at Southeast Missouri State University, including support for SEMO Law Enforcement Academy and cutting-edge aviation programs that will prepare students for in-demand careers.

The people of Southwest Missouri overwhelmingly elected Senator Blunt seven times to the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Blunt was elected the Majority Whip earlier in his career than any Member of Congress in eight decades, and he was elected to the Senate leadership during his first year in the Senate. Before serving in Congress, he was a history teacher, a county official, and in 1984 became the first Republican elected as Missouri’s Secretary of State in more than 50 years. Senator Blunt also served four years as the president of Southwest Baptist University, his alma mater, in Bolivar, Missouri. Senator Blunt earned an M.A. in history from Missouri State University.

Senator Blunt is a member of the Smithsonian Council for American Art and is a Trustee of the State Historical Society of Missouri. Senator Blunt is also a member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees.

Senator Blunt is married to Abigail Blunt and has four children: Matt Blunt, Amy Blunt, Andy Blunt, and Charlie. Blunt has six grandchildren: Davis Mosby, Ben Blunt, Branch Blunt, Eva Mosby, Allyson Blunt, and Brooks Blunt.