The University of North Georgia (UNG) will celebrate its summer graduates at 5 p.m. July 26 in the Convocation Center at UNG's Dahlonega Campus. Students are scheduled to earn more than 500 degrees and certificates this summer, and about 250 graduates plan to take part in the summer commencement ceremony.

Dr. Michallene McDaniel, professor of sociology and human services, will serve as the keynote speaker. 

McDaniel earned her Ph.D. in sociology, master's degree in sociology and graduate certificate in women's studies from the University of Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in sociology at the University of North Florida and her associate degree in communications from Florida State University.

She has taught at UNG since 2001. In that time, McDaniel has won the Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award twice, has been recognized as Advisor of the Year and was included in The Princeton Review’s 2012 publication "The Best 300 Professors." Most recently, McDaniel was named this year’s UNG Alumni Association Distinguished Professor.

McDaniel is active in service to her profession and community. She has served on the boards of several organizations in the northeast Georgia region and was a founding board member for a thriving nonprofit recovery organization in Athens. She has served as a member of the Executive Board of the Georgia Sociological Association in various capacities, including president, since 2002. Currently, she serves as the financial officer for the organization.

McDaniel's teaching and research interests are varied but tend to revolve around issues of identity and inequality. Her recent publications have centered on the impact of the UNG Food Pantry on its student workers and volunteers.

Frederyck Odom, '15, will serve as the alumni speaker. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and was selected as a New Student Orientation leader, rush chairman for Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Homecoming King, and Mr. UNG.

Odom began his career in technology sales at SAS in North Carolina, and he now works at the Chick-fil-A Support Center on the team that produces their annual business and leadership conferences. Odom has also served as keynote speaker for organizations around the country.

Graduates are encouraged to arrive one hour before their ceremony dressed in their gown and cap with its tassel. 

To attend, all guests 2 years old and older must have a ticket. Each student was able to electronically claim up to nine tickets, which can be printed or shown electronically.

For those unable to attend the in-person event, the ceremonies will be streamed live on UNG's Facebook page. UNG encourages everyone to celebrate their graduates with the hashtag #UNG24grad on social media. 

About 20 members of the Corps of Cadets are entering the U.S. Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve and will be commissioned collectively at 10 a.m. July 25 in the Hoag Auditorium on the Dahlonega Campus. Graduating National Service Leadership Track cadets will also be honored at the ceremony.