2024 Founders Convocation Booklet

ounders F Observance

CONVOCATION

Friday, March 15, 2024 11:00 A.M., Julius S. Scott Sr. Chapel

Convocation Speaker

Dr. Laurie Hayes Fluker Wiley University Alumna, and daughter of Wiley’s Eleventh President, Dr. Robert E. Hayes, Sr. Associate Dean, College of Fine Arts and Communication, Tenured Associate Professor of Mass Communication Texas State University-San Marcos.

Dr. Laurie Hayes Fluker is a daughter of Wiley University in every sense of the word. She matured from a junior high school student into an adult while living in the President’s Home on Wiley’s campus, and is a thirdgeneration Wileyite, with both her father, uncle and grandfather having also graduated from Wiley. She later utilized her Wiley training and advanced training to educate other Wiley University students by being on the ground floor and establishing the KBWC radio station, serving as the founding director of the Wiley University Mass Communications Program, and teaching hundreds of Wiley students in classrooms around the campus for many years.

Dr. Fluker is the Associate Dean for the College of Fine Arts and Communication, and a tenured Associate Professor of Mass Communication at Texas State University-San Marcos. She has served in several capacities during her years in higher education, including Dean of Communications at Austin Community College, Special Assistant to the President at Texas State University, and Head of the Broadcasting sequence at Wiley University and Texas State University. Having worked in practically every type of higher educational institution, she has insight and experience at both public and private, two-year and four-year, small college and large university, predominantly white and historically black, secular and church-related institutions.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree in English and history from Wiley University, the third generation in her family to have graduated from the institution. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in broadcast journalism, and a Ph.D. in communications from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Fluker has been actively involved in a number of state and national organizations that address student issues.

While serving three years on a statewide planning committee in Texas, she helped coordinate the Annual Conference on Recruitment and Retention for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. She has served as State President and multiple terms on the State Board of the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education. As a representative of the faculty, Dr. Fluker has “gone on the road,” recruiting students for each institution where she has served and remains involved with the students once they get to campus, through mentoring and student organization advising, and teaches over 700 students each year. Her intense interest and devotion to students can be documented by the dozens of “Outstanding Professor Awards” that she has received from her students, student organizations and colleagues.

Dr. Fluker is the author of two books, Perspectives in Mass Communication, and Mastering Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation. She is a highly sought-after motivational speaker who has given inspirational keynote addresses and conducted workshops for professionals and students across the country for more than thirty years.

She has contributed countless hours to civic, statewide and national committees and taskforces. Dr. Fluker has been honored eight times nationally by six of the nation’s most prestigious broadcasting organizations through nationally competitive fellowships, and has been recognized by university, state and national organizations for her work as an outstanding educator. She lives in Austin, Texas, has been married to Dr. Rod Fluker for 44 years, and they are the proud parents of Rod, Jr., and twins, Rhea and Robert.

Order of Program Processional Welcome to Order 17th President & CEO Herman J. Felton, Jr., Ph.D., J.D. Invocation Trustee, Rev. Dr. Vincent Harris Heritage Anthem A Cappella Choir of Wiley University Greetings: What Wiley Means To Me Chairman - Board of Trustees, Billy R. Casey ‘73 WUNAA President and Trustee, Dana Simone Stovall ‘92 Founders Observance: A Celebration Introduction of Speaker SGA Vice President Bianca Bell Miss Wiley University LeAndria Jackson Miss National UNCF-Wiley University Janae Pratt Great is Thy Faithfulness A Cappella Choir of Wiley University -Soloists Terrika Dean and Destiny Day Founders Observance Speaker Dr. Laurie Hayes Fluker ‘78 Ezekiel Saw De Wheel A Cappella Choir of Wiley University Closing Remarks 17th President& CEO Herman J. Felton, Jr., Ph.D., J.D. Alma Mater A Cappella Choir of Wiley University Benediction Trustee, Rev. Dr. Vincent Harris Recessional

"Lift Every Voice and Sing" Lift Every Voice And Sing, till earth and Heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet, Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered; Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou Who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou Who hast by Thy might, led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee.

Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee.

Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land.

"Oh Wiley Dear" Written By: William Henry Smith

Oh, Wiley Dear, ever we’ll sing thy praise; With love and rapture our voices we’ll raise.

Our hearts are all swelling with joy sublime; We’ll cherish thee till the end of time.

We’ll cherish thee till the end of time.

Oh Lord, we pray, may our dear Wiley stand; A beacon light shining o’er our dear land.

And may her sons, with steadfast purpose true; Go Forth Inspired glorious deeds to do.

Go Forth Inspired glorious deeds to do.