Spring commencement at Flagler College

Historic City News reporters watched as about 414 graduating seniors from Flagler College participated in this morning’s commencement ceremony; receiving their diplomas at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

The ceremonies, which are only open to Flagler students and their families, began at 9:00 a.m. and featured Carol Melton, executive vice president of global public policy for Time Warner, Inc., as the commencement speaker.

Melton is a member of Time Warner’s senior management team and oversees its worldwide public policy activities, including policy offices in Washington, London, Brussels, Hong Kong and Buenos Aires.

As chief policy strategist and advocate, she works on issues connected to the domestic and international operations of Time Warner’s business units, including Home Box Office, Time Inc., Turner Broadcasting System and Warner Bros Entertainment.

Melton grew up in St Augustine and graduated from St Augustine High School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University, a Master of Arts in Journalism and Communications from the University of Florida, and her Juris Doctorate from the Washington College of Law at American University.

Melton is the daughter of the Honorable Judge Howell W. Melton, who currently serves on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and is a Trustee Emeritus of Flagler College.

Next week, an additional 23 seniors will graduate and receive their Bachelor of Public Administration degree at ceremonies being held in the Flagler College Auditorium on April 27 at 4:00 p.m.

Course work for the degree includes management, program evaluation, public budgeting, human resources, administrative ethics, public policy and grant writing. Historic City News editor Michael Gold graduated, with honors, from the Flagler College Public Administration program. Public sector professionals, who have already earned an Associate of Arts or Science, or the equivalent of two-year’s transferable undergraduate credit, can qualify to enter the upper-level program.