College of Allied Health Sciences to Award Honorary Degree to Robert Montgomery Scott at May 17 Commencement Exercises

Jefferson's College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS) will award an honorary degree to Robert Montgomery Scott, president and chief executive officer of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, at Commencement Exercises on Friday, May 17 at 10:30 a.m. at the Academy of Music.

The graduates, totaling 328, will be led in procession by the College's grand marshal, senior associate dean Linda G. Kraemer, PhD. Included in the graduating class will be 282 recipients of the bachelor of science degree, 38 recipients of a postbaccalaureate certificate, and 8 associate degree graduates of the College's department of general studies' evening program.

During the ceremony, Bruce W. Karrh, MD, vice chairman of the University's board of trustees, will confer the honorary degree on Robert Montgomery Scott, who has been the Philadelphia Museum of Art's president since 1980 and chief executive officer since 1982. Under Scott's leadership, the Museum, which is among the largest and most important art museums in the United States, has flourished.

During his tenure, the Museum's European galleries were completely renovated, the Landmark Renewal Fund surpassed its original goal of $50 million, bringing in more than $64 million, and the Museum's endowment has grown from a starting point of $19.3 million in 1981 to more than $100 million. Currently, the Museum enjoys the highest membership and attendance in its history.

Prior to his term at the Museum of Art, Scott served as president of the Academy of Music from 1973 to 1980. He was also a partner specializing in business law, estates and trusts, of Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, a major Philadelphia law firm. He took a leave of absence from the firm from 1969 to 1973 to serve as a foreign service officer for the State Department when he was special assistant to the Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Scott has served as a trustee or director for a variety of cultural, educational, commercial, charitable, and health-related organizations, including the Independence Foundation, the William Penn Foundation and Lankenau Hospital.

Of the baccalaureate degree graduates, 138 are in nursing, while there are 41 in occupational therapy, 36 in diagnostic imaging, and 24 in laboratory sciences-6 of those in cytogenetic technology, 7 in cytotechnology and 11 in medical technology. Also counted among the graduates are 43 physical therapy students who are completing their combined BS-MS degree program during the summer.

Of the 36 students who are receiving postbaccalaureate certificates, 7 are in cytogenetic technology, 6 in cytotechnology, 4 in medical technology, and 21 in occupational therapy.

Among the cytogenetic technology certificate graduates are twin sisters, Lara and Leslie Underkoffler from Lykens, Pennsylvania.