POTSDAM -- SUNY Potsdam Dean Emeritus Dr. William J. Amoriell '68 is set to share wisdom from his years as an educator and administrator with graduating master's students at his alma mater this Saturday.

As featured speaker for the college's Master's Commencement Ceremony, he will deliver the keynote address to 181 master's graduates, along with their family members and friends, on Saturday, May 21 at 10:15 a.m. in Hosmer Concert Hall at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music.

"SUNY Potsdam is so happy to welcome back Dean Amoriell as our honored Master's Commencement speaker. I can't think of a more fitting choice to speak to our graduating master's students than our longtime Dean -- not to mention a fellow alumnus," said College President Dr. John F. Schwaller. "We look forward to hearing what insights he will have for the master's Class of 2012."

During his 13-year tenure as Dean of SUNY Potsdam's School of Education and Professional Studies, Dr. Amoriell accomplished a major reorganization and expansion from two departments -- Teacher Education and Health and Wellness (now called Community Health) -- to six academic departments. Furthermore, the Department of Business Administration joined the School in 2004.

Although he is quick to credit his faculty and staff, it was Amoriell's leadership that resulted in national accreditation for all programs in The School of Education and Professional Studies that have a national accrediting body. These programs include the School's Education Unit, which was granted national accreditation through the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, considered the "gold standard" accreditation of teacher education programs, and the Business Administration Department, which earned accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.

Amoriell has also significantly enhanced the College's academic programs through the new Rebecca V. Sheard Literacy Center, established in 2002, and the state-of-the-art Center of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education, created in 2008. Amoriell was instrumental in establishing the School of Education Alumni Board in 1999 and the Business Administration Advisory Council in 2009. These organizations were established as a means of reaching out in more meaningful ways to our alumni and engaging volunteers in activities that would foster the School and advance its programs.

Also during his tenure, Amoriell worked closely with the College's Advancement Office to expand the School's financial resources through endowments for scholarships, faculty development and academic programs, as well as legislative grants to enhance the Sheard Literacy Center and the Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education. He and his wife Molly continue to be prominent ambassadors for their alma mater, SUNY Potsdam.

The 2011 Master's Commencement Ceremony will take place at 10:15 a.m. this Saturday in Hosmer Hall. 181 graduate students are expected to cross the stage and receive their hood to earn their master's degrees at this ceremony.

For more information about Commencement at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/commencement/index.cfm.