“We are so proud of our fall 2023 graduates,” said Southeast President Dr. Carlos Vargas. “This is the day to celebrate their success with friends, family, and the entire SEMO community.”

Dr. Michelle Kilburn will serve as the commencement speaker in the 10 a.m. ceremony, while Dr. R. Larry Bohannon will speak for the 2 p.m. ceremony. Dr. Kilburn is a professor with the Department of Criminal Justice, Social Work, and Sociology, while Dr. Bohannon serves as a professor in the Department of Elementary, Early, and Special Eduation. 

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 - Speaker: Dr. Michelle Kilburn

• Harrison College of Business & Computing
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Holland College of Arts & Media

2 p.m. Ceremony - Speaker: Dr. R. Larry Bohannon

• College of Education, Health, & Human Studies
• College of Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics

Commencement By the Numbers

• 856 Graduates
  • 580 undergraduates
  • 267 master’s graduates
  • 9 specialist candidates
• 16 students graduating from the Jane Stephens Honors Program
• 56 graduating summa cum laude (3.9 to 4.0 cumulative grade point average)
• 61 graduating magna cum laude (3.75 to 3.89 cumulative grade point average)
• 109 graduating cum laude (3.5 to 3.74 cumulative grade point average) 

• 119 students graduating with a cumulative 4.0 grade point average
  • 24 undergraduates
  • 95 master’s and specialist

Speakers’ Biographies

Dr. Michelle Kilburn

Dr. Michelle Kilburn is a professor in the Department of Criminal Justice, Social Work, & Sociology at Southeast Missouri State University. Her roles have been diverse including working part-time as the administrative assistant for the MBA program while earning her undergraduate degree, to serving as the first director of Southeast Online after completing her doctorate. She has also served as the graduate coordinator and the interim chairperson for her department. 

Kilburn often incorporates students in her research endeavors which include serving as the primary investigator for a statewide study of client perceptions of Missouri Probation and Parole initiatives and co-editor of the book, Invisible Victims and the Pursuit of Justice: Analyzing Frequently Victimized Yet Rarely Discussed Populations.  She is passionate about helping students see the value in research and evidence-based policies. Her most recent work, grounded in volunteering at the maximum-security Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston, Missouri, was selected for the Special Edition of “What Else Works” in the Journal of Advancing Corrections. 

She has presented her research to the FBI National Academy Eastern Missouri Chapter and at more than 30 international and national conferences, including Harvard University. Kilburn has several recognitions for teaching, research, and service at Southeast, such as the Provost’s Award for Excellence in the Scholarship for Teaching and Learning, the College of Health & Human Services Outstanding Service Provider Award and the Outstanding Teacher Award, as well as multiple department awards. 

Kilburn and her husband, Thomas, along with their three children Nora, Eva, and Brock live in the countryside near Jackson, Missouri. Kilburn is proud of her long-standing connection to Southeast. Her mother, aunt, sister, brother, husband, and multiple in-laws, all hold degrees from Southeast. Kilburn’s daughter, Nora, is carrying on the tradition and is currently a junior majoring in anthropology. 

Dr. R. Larry Bohannon

Larry Bohannon is a professor in the Department of Elementary, Early and Special Education serving as the elementary program coordinator. He has taught in the areas of literacy, field supervision, educational psychology, and autism at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. He received honors faculty status and serves as a senator on Faculty Senate these past 14 years.

Bohannon holds a Ph.D. Summa Cum Laude in administration and higher learning from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He also received a Bachelor of Science Magna Cum Laude from Murray State University (KY) as well as master’s and specialist degrees both Summa Cum Laude from Southeast Missouri State University. 

Bohannon joined the University in 2007, and has received multiple awards including, the Provost’s Award, Outstanding Advisor Award, Greek Week Professor of the Year, College Teacher Effectiveness Award, College Professional Growth Award, and College Service Award. He also received the prestigious MSTA Meritorious Award and the Southeast Missouri State University Meritorious Award during his 28-year tenure at Sikeston Public Schools. He cherishes his First Year Teacher Award in 1976-77. 

At Southeast, Bohannon has served as faculty sponsor of the Student Missouri State Teachers Association (SMSTA) as well as a co-sponsor of Kappa Delta Pi. Southeast Missouri State University SMSTA is the largest in the state and is used as an exemplary model for other institutions. 

Bohannon has published in the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education; The National FORUM of Special Education Journal; Journal of Teacher Education; Forum for International Research in Education (FIRE); Journal of Education and Practice; The Journal of Education and Human Development; The Missouri Reader; The Oklahoma Reader; The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin; The OrffEcho Journal; General Music Today, and The Transescent-- Journal of the Missouri Association of Middle Schools. He has also made presentations throughout the United States. Currently, Bohannon is the president of the Missouri Unit of Association of Teacher Educators (MUATE).

He is a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association, Association of Teacher Educators, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, International Literacy Association and the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education. Bohannon is a 20-year founding board member for the Sikeston Depot Museum and Cultural Center and served several years on the Sikeston Library Board.

Bohannon married Sheila Williams (B.S. Ed SEMO Class of 1975) both first-generation graduates and they have two sons, Chris Bohannon (B.S. SEMO Class of 2009 and 2019) and Dr. Clint Bohannon, (MBA SEMO Class of 2019). They also have three grandchildren, Cole, Noelle, and Melody.