News Releases 2008

LeTourneau University’s December commencement ceremonies will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, in the university’s S. E. Belcher, Jr. Chapel and Performance Center, 2100 South Mobberly Ave.  LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford will officiate the ceremony awarding diplomas to 145 graduates. Those honored will include 50 traditional-age college students and 66 undergraduate nontraditional, working adult students, as well as 29 working adult students receiving their master’s degrees in business administration.

Giving the keynote address is retired U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology (IT) Robert N. McFarland. A LeTourneau University alumnus, McFarland is an esteemed IT professional with executive experience in numerous domestic and international enterprises in both the government and commercial sectors.

In his role at the Department of Veterans Affairs, McFarland served as chief information officer, advising the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs on all IT systems acquisition and management matters. President George W. Bush nominated McFarland, a Vietnam veteran, for the position in 2003. McFarland was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in January 2004 and served through April 2006.

Prior to his appointment, McFarland served as vice president of government relations for Dell Computer Corporation. After joining Dell in 1996 as vice president and general manager of the federal business segment, he held several senior executive positions in which he managed the company’s global segment, large corporate accounts and government sector. Under McFarland’s leadership, Dell became the number one supplier of computer systems to the federal government. McFarland was named one of the 1998 “Federal 100” – a joint government and industry award designating the top 100 executives in the federal marketplace. 

Approximately 82 undergraduates and 16 MBA students from LeTourneau University’s Houston and Austin Educational Centers will be honored at a commencement ceremony Thursday evening, Dec. 11, at Sagemont Church, 11300 S. Sam Houston Pkwy E., in Houston. The keynote speaker will be LETU President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford.