b"irritating lab partners, pleasing professors, and consuming far too much caffeine. Yet our personal responsibility to this degree may not have been expressed in our classes, laborato-ries, committee meetings or seminars. Our personal responsibility to this degree is to shift, reshape and reestablish the equity within this world through the knowledge we possess and the knowledge that we produce. You have a personal responsibility to others. Lets not mince words here: every last one of us has been influenced by our community of origin. I split my childhood between Atlanta, Georgia and Sumter, South Carolina. It made me into an interesting character. I like sweet tea. I love the smell of soil. I have a weak spot for soul food. I like bass in my music. I like grits for breakfast. I spell outcast with a k. Uno is a family sport. I judge all pound cakes by my Moms and I am a southern gentleman to a fault. I recognize that where I am from has influenced who I ambut I have come into a new realm of consciousness that recog-nizes that who I am to become will be reflected by whom I empower. Let me say that again: I recognize that where I am from has influenced who I ambut I have come into a new realm of consciousness that recognizes that who I am to become will be reflected in whom I empower. Now dont get it twisted: Ill be looking at my paycheck on August 15th for an increase. My wife will be expecting a vacation to somewhere I cant pronounce, and my daughter will expect a new swing set in the backyard. Our lives that we have been separated from for so long are waiting for us outside these doorsand so is the destination of your doctoral degree. So today, own it, cherish it, embrace it, and gird yourself with it. Because today it has claimed you, so go forth and claim it. Go Tigers!A SlideShow of PhoToS SUbmiTTed by TodAy'S GrAdUATeSClick or tap to play.Please remember to mute your phone during the ceremony. Click or tap the image to view the slideshow, or go to bit.ly/aug2023slideshow.8"