DAVENPORT, IOWA (December 12, 2022) — Two commencement ceremonies for St Ambrose University graduates will take place Saturday, December 17, at the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport.
The graduate and doctoral hooding ceremony for 90 students earning their Master’s and 41 students earning doctoral degrees will begin at 9AM and will include an address by Dr John Bowser, adjunct professor for the Master of Public Health Program.
Bowser currently serves as Director of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Coverdell Stroke Program, leading outreach, recruitment, data analysis and grant efforts to improve quality of care. An expert in public health, his leading research on topics ranging from adolescent physical activity to bullying and violence prevention has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. Bowser has also been selected to speak at national conferences and has received notable federal grants to advance his important work in this field.
Bowser earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from St Ambrose in 2002 and was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from SAU in 2020. He went on to complete his Master’s of Science degree in Human and Community Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and was later awarded his PhD in Population Health Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The undergraduate ceremony begins at 12PM for 145 students earning their Bachelor’s degree. Leading the charge to graduates will be Ann Garton, SAU Associate Professor of Nursing, and Director of the Institute for Person-Centered Care.
Garton has been an influential leader and educator in the SAU College of Health and Human Sciences since 2013. Because of her expertise in transforming people, organizations, and systems to create more accessible, relationship-focused delivery of care, Garton was recognized as a Fellow for Person-Centered Care by Planetree International. Her passion for equitable health and wellness and serving the most vulnerable populations is evident in the classroom and in her commitment to numerous community boards and committees.
Garton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts as well as a Bachelor’s in Biology from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania. She was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Gannon University. Also a proud SAU alum, Garton earned her Master’s in Nursing Administration degree from St Ambrose in 2012 before going on to receive her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2021.
Both commencement ceremonies will be viewable via live-streamed video at sau.edu.
About St Ambrose University
Founded in 1882 by the Diocese of Davenport, St Ambrose University’s commitment to academic excellence, the liberal arts, social justice and service is rooted in its Catholic intellectual tradition. The leading, private university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers more than sixty undergraduate majors, eleven Master’s degrees, and three doctoral programs. 130 years since its inception, St Ambrose education remains centered on intentional, holistic, and experiential learning to develop high-impact world shapers in every field. To learn more about St Ambrose University, visit sau.edu.
Graduate Keynote Speaker Bio — John Bowser PhD
John Bowser PhD currently serves as Director, Wisconsin Coverdell Stroke Program for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. In this role, he leads all program outreach, recruitment, data collection, and grant efforts to improve quality of care and reduce the burden of stroke in the state of Wisconsin. An expert in public health, his leading research on topics ranging from adolescent physical activity to bullying and violence prevention has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. He has also been selected to speak at national conferences and has received federal grant funding to advance his important work in the public health sector.
St Ambrose has been fortunate to harness Bowser’s extensive experience in the classroom. As adjunct professor for the Master of Public Health Program, Bowser has helped students master courses in Global Public Health Concepts and Evidence-Based Practice in Public Health since 2019. In partnership with the Robert Young Center, his contributions as Co-Principal Investigator on a shared grant has been critical in addressing mental health treatment in the Quad Cities area.
Bowser earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Marketing from St. Ambrose University in 2002. Not surprisingly, he was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from St Ambrose University in September of 2020. He went on to complete a Master’s of Science degree in Human and Community Resources with a concentration in Health Promotion and Community Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He later earned his PhD in Population in Health Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, concentrating in Social and Behavioral Health with a minor in Kinesiology.
Undergraduate Keynote Speaker Bio — Ann Garton DNP/RN/FPCC/CNE
Ann Garton DNP/RN/FPCC/CNE has been an influential leader and educator in the St Ambrose University College of Health and Human Sciences since 2013. In her current role as Director of the Institute for Person-Centered Care, her expertise is guiding industry conversations on transforming people, organizations, and systems to create accessible, multi-disciplinary, relationship-focused services. Because of this work, Garton has been recognized as a Fellow for Person-Centered Care by Planetree International. Her vision for the future of health and human care delivery also directly inspires the university’s students daily in her position as Associate Professor of Nursing.
Garton’s passion for equitable health and wellness is evident both in and outside the classroom. She is currently an active member of numerous community boards and committees, advocating for person-centered care and the health and wellness of the Quad City Area. Her passion for global health guides her to work in solidarity with her local community and others abroad to support the most vulnerable populations. Bringing this work into the classroom in innovative ways, she engages students through eService learning to understand the Sustainable Development Goals and apply their knowledge to foster improved wellness in rural Honduras.
Garton earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Health Sciences as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania, in addition to being awarded a Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing degree at Gannon University. A proud St Ambrose alum, she received her Masters in Nursing Administration degree from SAU in 2012 and was awarded with her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a focus on Global Population Health from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2021.
