Marie Mueller will receive the first doctor of nursing practice degree from UMSL. She'll be among more than 350 students participating in the university's commencement ceremonies Aug. 6

Marie Mueller will carry two distinctions during a commencement ceremony at the University of Missouri–St. Louis Saturday afternoon. As a student marshal, she’ll have the honor of carrying the Graduate School banner. She also will be the first recipient of the doctor of nursing practice degree from the College of Nursing.

Mueller, a nurse practitioner and coordinator of health services at UMSL, will be among more than 350 graduates participating in two commencement ceremonies Aug. 6. The ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Mark Twain Athletic & Fitness Center on the university’s North Campus.

Robert Reeg, president of MasterCard Technologies, will deliver the commencement address at the 10 a.m. ceremony. Charles Hoffman, retired president and CEO of COVAD Communications Group, will speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony.

The DNP degree is offered in cooperation with the University of Missouri campuses in Kansas City and Columbia. It prepares leaders in clinical nursing who can improve the quality of care for individuals and populations through advanced practice and improving systems of care.

Nearly 3,000 graduates earn undergraduate and graduate degrees at UMSL annually. With more than 58,000 alumni living and working in the region, UMSL has the largest university alumni population in St. Louis.