Kettering, Ohio (April 6)—Samuel Betances, Ph.D., will be the keynote speaker at the 38th annual commencement ceremonies for Kettering College of Medical Arts on Saturday, April 29. The event will be held at the Dayton Convention Center, starting at 8 p.m., and is open to the public.

Dr. Betances spent decades in university teaching and now makes his living as an internationally known speaker on diversity issues. A sociologist, Dr. Betances has taught and written on the U.S. Latino experience, on church and society, on education reform, and on race and gender issues. His life experience is biracial, bicultural and bilingual, and began in “the bowels of inner-city poverty,” where he was, as he says, “illiterate in two languages.” He embarked on a journey that took him from school drop-out to Harvard doctorate.

Now Dr. Betances speaks to clients from Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, universities and churches. His passion and humor have brought new energy vision to audiences in fifty states, all six U.S. territories and countries including Japan, Korea, Germany and Mexico.

“I have known Dr. Betances for years. He is passionate about the challenge of living in a diverse society—and funny, too. You leave a speech knowing you need to grow and feeling really good about it,” said Dr. Charles Scriven, president of Kettering College. “Our graduates and their families and friends will walk away from commencement with renewed hearts.”

Dr. Betances’ success at bringing cultures together has earned him many awards. Much more than a lecturer, Dr. Betances works to help others learn the importance of pulling cultures together as a way of bringing America back to the top—in education, business and society in general. As he puts it, “Our mission is to make America stronger, healthier and freer than when we found her.”

About Kettering College of Medical Arts
Kettering College of Medical Arts is a fully accredited, coeducational college that specializes in health science education. A division of Kettering Medical Center, the College is located on the KMC campus and is chartered by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Kettering College offers certificate programs, two-year Associate of Science degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Health Professions degree with four specialty tracks, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion degree, and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

An institution of Christian higher education, Kettering College graduates health care professionals of high character who, in the tradition of the Master Healer, give whole-person care to their patients and generous service to their communities. Eighty percent of Kettering College graduates live and work in Ohio, with the majority settling in the Dayton area.