Carl L. Shepherd, chairman of the Indiana Wesleyan University Board of Trustees, will speak at his alma mater's two December 15 graduations in the IWU Chapel Auditorium. A total of 1,998 students are scheduled to graduate in the 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ceremonies.
About 991 men and women will receive undergraduate degrees in the morning, and the other 1007 students will receive undergraduate and graduate degrees in the afternoon. Registered nurses who have completed their bachelor of science in nursing degree participate in the afternoon graduation. Eight doctoral students will also graduate in the afternoon, the second largest number of doctoral students to graduate from IWU.
Tickets, which are issued in advance to graduates, are required for admission to the Chapel Auditorium. There will be overflow seating in Phillippe Performing Arts Center to watch a live telecast of the ceremonies.
Shepherd is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. He retired in 2010 after serving for 17 years as the senior vice president, Life Operations, for Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. He also served as president of the Association of Indiana Life Insurance Companies.
Before joining Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Shepherd worked as the vice president and actuary for United Presidential Life Insurance and as the chief operating officer for Jefferson National Life Insurance Company.
Shepherd graduated from IWU in 1974 with honors and received a master's degree from Ball State University. He has served on The Wesleyan Church Board of Administration for the Indiana Central District, was appointed to the General Board of The Wesleyan Church in 2008 and is the vice chairman of the Wesleyan Investment Foundation, Inc. He has led mission trips from his local church to Europe and Central Asia.
IWU will award Shepherd the Honorary Doctor of Business Management on December 15.
"IWU is honored to pay tribute to one of it's own," said President Henry Smith. "Carl epitomizes the IWU world changer. He has selflessly shared his skills and leadership abilities impacting those around him through his career, church work and volunteer service. He faithfully honored our God and brought honor to the IWU community."
Shepherd and his wife, Vicki, live in Fishers, Indiana. They have three sons.
IWU also has three graduation ceremonies in April and two in August.