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Dr. Jan Simek, interim president of the University of Tennessee, will deliver the commencement address to approximately 386 graduates on Saturday, August 7, at 11 a.m. in McKenzie Arena.

Simek, who came to UT in 1984, is an archaeologist and assistant professor of anthropology. He is now a Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and has served as head of the Anthropology Department, the interim director of the School of Art and interim dean of the College of Architecture and Design.

Simek received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a master’s and doctorate from the State University of New York in Binghamton. He has carried out archaeological research in France, Italy, Croatia, California and Tennessee and received research funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society and the French Ministry of Culture.