msub commence program 2012.indd - Montana State University ...

MSU Billings' 2012 Commencement Speaker
The Hon. Sidney Thomas
Justice, Ninth United States Circuit Court of Appeals
Judge Sidney R. Thomas was confirmed by
the United States Senate to serve as a judge
on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1996.
The Ninth Circuit hears
appeals from federal courts
and administrative agencies
in nine Western states,
including Montana. He will
become the Chief Judge of
the Circuit within the next
few years.
Judge Thomas was
born in Bozeman. He
received a B.A. in Speech-
Communication at Montana
State University in Bozeman
and his J.D. from the
University of Montana
School of Law.
During his undergraduate
years, Judge Thomas served
as a student member of the
Montana Board of Regents
of Higher Education;
member as well as on the
National Advisory Council to the Association of
Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities.
More recently, he has served as President
and member of the Board of Directors of
Yellowstone Public Radio (KEMC/KBMC);
President and member of the Board of Directors
32
of the Alberta Bair Theater; President and
founding member of the Board of Directors of
Eaglemount-Billings; member of the Board of
Directors of Saint Vincent
Hospital and Health Center;
member of the Board of
Visitors of the University
of Montana Law School;
member of the Board of
Directors of the Montana
Legal Services Corporation
For nearly 20 years, he
was engaged in the private
practice of law in Billings,
with an emphasis on complex
civil commercial litigation.
As a private practitioner,
Judge Thomas was selected
as one of the "Best Lawyers in
America" and was awarded
the highest ranking for ability
and ethics. He also taught as
an adjunct instructor in law at
Rocky Mountain College.
He is married to Martha
Sheehy, a former President of the State Bar of
Montana, who practices law in Billings. They
have two children. His sister, Susan Thomas,
was a campus pastor at MSUB. His brother-inlaw,
Curt Kochner, served as Vice Chancellor
for Student Affairs. �
2012 FACULTY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Dr. Stephen Coffman
Professor, Communication & Theatre
College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Excellence Award
Dr. Brian Dillon
Professor, English
College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Excellence Award
Ms. Elizabeth Fullon
Instructor, General Education/Writing
College of Technology
College of Technology Leadership Award
Ms. Kathy Holt
Adjunct Professor/Clinical Practice Coordinator
College of Education
Excellence Award for Non-Tenured Faculty
Dr. Joy Honea
Associate Professor, Sociology
College of Arts & Sciences
Faculty Excellence Award
Mr. Brian Kmec
Lecturer, History/Service Learning Coordinator
College of Arts & Sciences
Excellence Award for Part-Time Faculty
Ms. Jamie Porter
Lecturer, Communications & Theatre
College of Arts and Sciences
Excellence Award for Part-Time Faculty
Dr. Tom Regele
Assistant Professor, Modern Languages
& Literature
College of Arts and Sciences
Winston and Helen Cox Award