More than 1,100 students are expected to receive degrees when Clemson University hosts its fall 2013 graduation ceremonies next Thursday, Dec. 19, at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Two ceremonies will be held that day: the first at 9:30 a.m. for the colleges of Business and Behavioral Science; and Health, Education and Human Development and the latter at 1:30 p.m. for the colleges of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; Architecture, Arts and Humanities; and Engineering and Science. Both ceremonies also will be streamed live online at http://www.clemson.edu.

The academic ceremonies are the final ones that President James Barker will preside over. He announced this past April that he planned to step down after 14 years. Jim Clements, who has been president of West Virginia University since 2009, will take over Jan. 1, 2014.

James Jim E. Rogers Jr., chairman of the board for Duke Energy, will receive an honorary doctor of humanities degree at graduation. Rogers foresight and business acumen led to the creation of Duke Energy, the nations largest electric utility, where he has also served as chairman, president and CEO.

Even before his tenure with Duke Energy, Rogers took a very progressive outlook in the energy sector, advocating investing in energy efficiency, modernizing the electric infrastructure and pursuing advanced technologies and nuclear energy to grow the economy and transition to a low-carbon future. He serves as vice chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and was honored by the Alliance to Save Energy with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

During his tenure as CEO, Duke Energy was recognized as a leader in sustainability. The company was twice named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America.

Rogers served as deputy general counsel for litigation and enforcement for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and as an expert commentator in media as diverse as 60 Minutes, The New York Times Magazine, CNBC and The Colbert Report. He has also testified more than 20 times before U.S. Congressional committees and international forums including the United Nations General Assembly, the World Economic Forum and the Clinton Global Initiative.

Rogers focus on innovation, creativity and sustainability is aligned with Clemsons commitment to environmental, economic and social stewardship. Duke Energy has been a partner with Clemson University both on campus and at the Clemson University Restoration Institute in North Charleston. At this interdisciplinary facility, Clemson University engineers and scientists will collaborate with other agencies and private industry to test next-generation energy systems. The overarching goal is to accelerate innovations to market and lower the cost of meeting the nations energy needs.

Born in 1947 in Birmingham, Ala., Rogers earned Bachelor of Business Administration and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Kentucky. He and his wife, Mary Anne, have three children and 11 grandchildren.

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More than 1,100 students expected to graduate at Clemson’s commencement ceremonies next week