State Rep. Evelyn Lynn to Speak at Embry-Riddle Commencement

State Rep. Evelyn J. Lynn will be the commencement speaker. Lynn was elected to the Florida House in November 1994 and is currently serving her fourth term for District 27, which includes Daytona Beach and the surrounding communities. She is the first woman from Volusia County to be elected to state office.

Previously, Lynn served as an Ormond Beach city commissioner, was employed with Volusia County Schools as a teacher and assistant superintendent, and was a visiting professor at Stetson and Nova universities.

Lynn's emphasis in the Florida Legislature is on supporting business and economic development as keys to improving education and family security. She has served as chair of the Academic Excellence Council, chair of the Education K-12 Committee, and as a member of the committees on Children and Families, Rules and Calendar, and Tourism. She was recently appointed chair of the Education Appropriations Committee.

Lynn has chaired the Women's Legislative Caucus, and is a member of the Education Governance Transition Task Force, the Florida Commission on Responsible Fatherhood, the Governor's Task Force on Domestic Violence, the Institute on Urban Planning, and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

In 2000 alone, Lynn has received seven awards, including the American Cancer Society's Legislative Award for Biomedical Research, the Florida Art Education Association's Friend of Art Education Award, and the Florida School Administrators' Award for Outstanding Legislator.

She is a board member and former officer of the Barberville Pioneer Center for Creative Arts, Daytona Beach Art League, Halifax Medical Center Foundation, Richard V. Moore Community Resource Center, Stewart-Marchman Center, Seaside Music Theater, United Way, and Volusia County Women's Network.

Lynn holds an Ed.D. in Instructional Leadership from the University of Florida, an M.A. in Education and English from Stetson University, and a B.A. in Psychology from Queens College.

Lynn will receive Embry-Riddle's Distinguished Speaker Award, which recognizes individuals for their professional accomplishments, national or international stature, or exceptional contributions to society. The award is bestowed on an individual at the conclusion of a special presentation or lecture delivered at a major university function such as commencement, and is used to honor speakers for sharing their special insights with the university community, especially its students and faculty.

Embry-Riddle, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, meets the needs of students and industry through its educational, training, research, and consulting activities. Embry-Riddle educates 22,000 students through the master's level at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., at more than 100 teaching sites in the United States and Europe, and through distance learning.