Dr. William C. Harris, president and CEO of Science Foundation Arizona (SFA), will address the 2008 graduating class of Cochise College during commencement ceremonies Friday, May 16 at the Douglas Campus.

Nearly 700 students are eligible to participate in the event. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. and will take place on the lawn next to the Charles Di Peso Library. The program also will be available in its entirety at www.cochise.edu, allowing viewers to see everything from the processional to the last graduate crossing the stage.

Science Foundation Arizona is a nonprofit organization with goals to build and strengthen scientific, engineering and medical research programs and infrastructure in areas of strategic value to Arizona’s competitiveness. Prior to joining SFA, Harris served as director general of Science Foundation Ireland. He previously served as vice president for research and professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of South Carolina. He worked with the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) from 1978 to 1996. Harris was director for the NSF mathematical and physical sciences directorate and established 25 science and technology centers to support investigative interdisciplinary research by multi-university consortia. He also initiated the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in the chemistry division that became an NSF-wide activity. In 1997, he became a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The annual commencement ceremony will include an address by graduating student Irma Pena, a member of the All-Arizona First Team, as well as performances by college musicians.

A special candlelight ceremony recognizing this year’s nursing class will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 15 at the Douglas Campus. That ceremony will not be broadcast on the Internet.