Enlarge

Dr. Sherilyn Emberton

Dr. Sherilyn Emberton will speak at Panola College Commencement at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9.

The event will be held in the A.J. Johnson Gymnasium.

Dr. Emberton, a native of Carthage and an alumnus of Panola College, now serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall.

Graduating this fall will be 149 students who will receive associate degrees in arts and sciences and certificates. Graduates will include students who have completed the Occupational Therapy Assistant, Associate Degree Nursing, and Licensed Vocational Nursing programs.

Dr. Emberton graduated from Panola College in 1978, where she was a member of the Panola Pipers, a cheerleader and a representative for student government. She completed her baccalaureate and master's degree at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) in 1981 and earned her doctorate in higher education leadership at Texas A&M University in 1999.

Dr. Emberton began her career in higher education as the dean of education at LeTourneau University. She served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee prior to accepting her current position as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at East Texas Baptist University.

Dr. Emberton is a recipient of SFASU's John O. Stephens Outstanding Alumnus Award, as well as the Outstanding Leadership Award given by the Texas Association of Colleges and Schools. She is past president of the Texas Teacher Educators, the Education Deans of Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, and the Piney Woods Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. She currently serves on the boards of the Marshall-Harrison County Literacy Council, Artsview Children's Theatre, and the Executive Board of the Greater Longview Organization of Business and Industry.