COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
Congresswoman Carol Miller '72
First Congressional District, West Virgina
Congresswoman Carol Miller represents West Virginia’s First Congressional District. Miller serves on the Committee on Ways and Means.
Miller’s focus in Congress is creating jobs, diversifying the economy, innovating, and improving infrastructure, protecting America’s borders, and supporting West Virginia’s energy industries like coal, oil, and gas.
Prior to her election to Congress in 2018, Congresswoman Miller served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 to 2018 where she rose to become the first female Majority Whip.
A mother of two and grandmother of seven, Carol Miller is married to her husband Matt, and lives in Huntington, where she owns and operates Swann Ridge Bison Farm and manages real estate. Miller was born in Columbus, Ohio and is the daughter of Congressman Samuel L. Devine and Betty Devine.
STUDENT SPEAKER
Lakeisha Nicole Edmonds
Evening College Student Government Association, President
Lakeisha Edmonds is an evening college student graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Special Education. Edmonds is a passionate and fun-loving educator excited about the next generation of learners. She currently resides in Columbia, SC, but grew up in several places, as her father was in the military.
Her pride and joy is caring for her 98 year-old grandmother and her four sons, Emmanuel, Joshua, Caleb, and Joel. In her spare time she loves to cook and bake. Another passion she has is gardening and tending to her house plants.
Life has always shown her that her personal mantra, “to whom much is given, much is required," is spot on. Each day is an opportunity to give a little more of herself to her family, friends, and students, which she does without hesitation.
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Academic Regalia
The use of academic regalia can be traced to Medieval European universities, where it was worn to distinguish scholars from the rest of the population. The apparel had an ornamental as well as a utilitarian function. The regalia signified the degree or degrees a person held, where the highest degree was earned, and what discipline the person had studied.
Medieval universities were cold and unheated in the winter, and the gown provided warmth. The hood, which could be pulled over the head, protected one from rain, sleet, and snow.
American colleges and universities adopted similar gowns, hoods, and caps and today there is general uniformity in the regalia. The bachelor’s gown is designed to be worn closed and has pointed sleeves. The master’s gown may be worn open or closed and has a hood and oblong sleeves. The doctor’s gown may be worn open or closed and has a hood and bell- shaped sleeves. The doctor’s gown is trimmed in black velvet with three bars on the sleeves. The master’s hood is three and one-half feet long; and the doctor’s is four feet long.
The trim of the hood is in the color of the subject in which the degree was earned. For example, economics is copper; education is light blue; fine arts is brown; music is pink; arts, letters, and humanities are white; philosophy is dark blue; science is gold yellow; business administration is sapphire blue; and law is purple.
The square-topped cap is called a mortarboard. The tassel is fastened in the center of the cap and is worn to the left. It may be black or the color of the subject. If it represents a doctoral degree, it is usually gold.
Honor Graduates and General Honors
Columbia College is proud to recognize outstanding academic achievement by means of the Honor Graduate and General Honors categories.
A student becomes an Honor Graduate if their Grade Point Average falls within one of the ranges given below:
• cumulative Grade Point Average between 3.95 and 4.00, inclusive summa cum laude
• cumulative Grade Point Average between 3.85 and 3.94, inclusive magna cum laude
• cumulative Grade Point Average between 3.75 and 3.84, inclusive cum laude
Each Honor Graduate wears a medallion to signify this distinction.
A student who graduates with General Honors meets the following standards within Columbia College’s Honors Program: completion of at least twenty-four semester hours in Honors courses and maintains a semester and cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 3.0. Having met these requirements, the student will receive a bachelor of arts cum honore, a special Honors Program certificate, and a medallion (awarded prior to the commencement ceremony).
Other cords, medallions, and stoles that are worn during commencement have been presented to graduates in recognition of special achievement and leadership during their college career.
Below is a description of pieces worn to signify exceptional accomplishment:
Transfer Honors
Purple and gold cord: recognizes graduating transfer students who maintained a 3.75 GPA or higher and earned fewer than half of their credit hours at Columbia College.
Honor Societies & Fellowships
Momentum Scholars
Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK)
Psi Chi
South Carolina Teaching Fellows
Kappa Delta Epsilon (KDE)
National Honor Society for Dance Arts
Phi Alpha Theta (PAT)
Phi Alpha (PA)
Program Honors
Student Athlete
Leadership Semester Certificate
Student Ambassador
Student Alumnae Ambassadors
Religious & Spiritual Life Program Leader
Student Government Association
Student Success Leaders (SSL)
NAACP
McNair Fellows
Cord Colors
Black and Gold
White Stole w/ Blue Letters
Dark Blue and Platinum Medallion
Purple and White
Light Blue and White
Red and Light Blue
Royal Blue and Gold
Cord Colors
Purple and Silver
Purple and White
White
Teal and Pink
Green
Purple and Teal
Lavender and Purple Rainbow
Teal
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The Mace
The mace that is carried today at the head of the processional is a historic symbol of authority and a common feature of academic occasions. Maces are typically constructed of wood or metal and are customized to incorporate symbols that reflect the values or history of the institution. Design of Columbia College’s mace began in the mid-1980s. It was presented to Columbia College May 4, 1993, in honor of the then president Ralph Thomas Mirse. Our mace incorporates wood and two metals to give the mace substance and heft. Symbols on Columbia College’s mace include the college seal and logo, and the logo of the United Methodist Church.
Platform Party
Ruby Fielding, VP of Finance & Administration
Nan Cannon LaFitte ’87, Alumni Association, President
Fadetra Boyd, Chaplain & Director of Spiritual Life
Kristine Barnett, Provost & VP of Academic Affairs
Ben Rex, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Carol Miller, Congresswoman, West Virginia
John H. Dozier, President
Professors
Tamara L. Burk, Ph.D.
James C. Lane, Ph.D.
Tracy N. West, Ph.D.
Karen C. Thompson, Ph.D.
Kirt E. Moody, Ph.D.
Adrienne Yingling Oxley, Ph.D.
Kristine E. Barnett, Ed.D.
David McCracken, Ph.D.
Marla Sanders ’98, Ph.D.
Ezaz Ahmed, Ph.D.
Tywana C. Hemby, Ph.D.
Associate Professors
Scott Smith, Ph.D.
Edward R. Sharkey, Ph.D.
Shirley Huisman Ph.D.
Marlee Marsh, Ph.D.
Diana Amos, D.M.A.
Alexandru Atim, Ph.D.
Christine LeBlanc, Ph.D.
AnnMarie Knight, Ph.D.
Carole Sox, Ph.D.
Laurel Whisler, M.L.S.
Elaine Swain, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors
A. Brennan Davis, Ph.D.
Erin Merchant, Ph.D.
Jessika Brooks, ’09, M.L.I.S
MaryJon Barrineau ’06, Ph.D.
Amanda Ling, ’10, M.F.A.
Chakia McClendon, Ph.D.
Wayne Davis, Ph.D.
Traci Dingle, ’06, Ph.D.
Claire Lenviel, Ph.D.
Daniel Stevens, M.L.S.
Kala Dunn, M.I.S.
Adam Eddy, M.F.A
Atinut Inthajak, Ph.D.
Ahmet Aksoy, Ph.D.
Gretchen Whitman, Ph.D.
Ga Kyung Jeong, Ph.D.
Christine Oskar-Poisson, Ed.D.
Alexandra Szarabajko, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Karilena Yount, Ph.D.
Jessica Moore, ‘06 M.F.A.
Vinayak Bhat, Ph.D.
Cornell Sneed, Ed.D.
Jennifer Watson, Ph.D.
Martin Lang, M.F.A.
Senior Lecturers
Vida Mingo, Ph.D.
Jennifer Dollar, M.S.W.
Lecturers
Aletha Jacobs, M.A.
Jill Eversmann, M.S.
Keisha Pearson, ’06 M.Ed.
Jason Gallaher, M.A.
Carl Moore, D.H.A
Karen Beaman, Ed.S.
Jeffrey Bowe, D.B.A.
Joseph P. Mililli, M.A.
Ralph Lawson, M.A.
John Bailes, M.A.
Alexis Scurry, M.S.W.
Barbara Russo, Ph.D.
Stephen Kneece, M.A.
Jennifer Bailey, ’07, M.F.A.
Erin Carlson, ’03, Ph.D.
Renee Just, Ph.D., Ed.D.
Marshals
Sandra Thrasher, Chief Marshal
Kylie Stewart
Brin Davenport
Gary Davis
Members of the Columbia College Choir
Andrea McKelvin
Brookelynn Raulerson
Miranda Quesada
Denali Middleton
Elizabeth Graham
Lennae Sox
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CANDIDATES FOR COMMENCEMENT GRADUATE DEGREES
MASTER OF ARTS ATHLETIC COACHING
Za'Quanza Byresha Covington
Zackery Aaron LaDell Green
Austin Gunnels
MASTER OF ARTS CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Tracey Anita Alexander
Maria Weiland Keeve
Stephen Dean Lawton
Ashlyn Nicole Stanley
William C. Zerby, Jr.
MASTER OF ARTS HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION
Monica Moore Butler
Leigha Taija Cutting
Davida DeWaynea Salley
MASTER OF ARTS ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Karen Benfield
Shanna Marie Brown
Kara Beck Dye
Juanita D. Gilley
Kerrington Chamberlain Harvey
Taylor Noel McRavin
Christopher Edward Rowe
Julius Matthew White
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Catherine Chase Aitchison
Marnita Hutto Caraway
Angelica Gabriel Gantt
Terrence Jerome Harris
Dajiah Amani Lance
Stacey Lora
Jenna Christine Santiago
Breanne Clough Smith
Megan Melissa Taylor
Sarah Darshell Turrubiate
Savanna Lee Wiegand
MASTER OF EDUCATION
EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION & LEADERSHIP
Hannah Porter Anderson
Clare Catherine Archer
Christopher R. Bergeron
Katina Natay Davis
Erik-Jon Densmore
Ta'Meeka L. Epps
Valente' Edward Gibson
Lauren Paige Kelty
Madelyn King Wash
Tyler Stephen Kirby
Lisa Pressley Lloyd
Anna Louise Malone
Kaitlyn Louise Mustard
Danielle Jeanne O'Neal
Heather Lerow Pecarro
Kory Glennis Roberts, Jr.
Adrian L. Sutton
Tyler Douglas Wynne
MASTER OF EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION
KyLeigh Jordan Blackwell
Caroline Thomas Boyer
Zoe Mckennah Byrd
Tywana Inam Carson
Christine Noel Shelek
William Joshua Stockdale
MASTER OF EDUCATION
INNOVATION & DIVERGENT LEARNING
Kymberlyn Elizabeth Boyles
Talomi' Kwamine Burrell
Melinda Faith Congdon
LaKeshia Michelle Gary
Yvonne Bermel George
Chloe Cardwell Harris
Naomi Mira Jones
Tichina Danielle Long
Emily Anne Metivier
Jessica Mitchell
Michelle Suzette Moorehead
Patrice Denise Rickenbacker
LaQuanisha LaShay Robinson
Danielle Rene Willie-Ruff
Danielle Di'sharie Abegaile Taylor
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Daja Marie Walker
Brian David Yonn, Jr.
MASTER OF EDUCATION
TRAUMA INFORMED EDUCATION
Alice Kimberly Alexander
Amanda Joy Amirault
Brittany Elisabeth Anderson
Jessica Bailey
KimmiLei Bartz
Jade Nicole Battiste
Misty Mechelle Beam
Hannah Kay Boss
Allysa Boulware
Christina D. Brockbank
Joyce DeNai Brooks
Stephanie Laurin Carbajal
Anna Elizabeth Fehlinger
Angela Marie Carothers
Tammy L. Carusone
Vincent Carvelli
Jamelia Louise Corbitt-Hill
Holly Patricia Coy
Jennifer Jill Crandall
Isabel Craun
Anne Miot David
Savannah Ann Davis
Brianne Joyce Dombrowski-Meekhof
Taylor Ann Doughty
Allison N. Duford
Sarah Jean Duprel
Michael Blake Easter
Brittany Schiltz Eggleston
Danielle Marie Epps
Ashley Danielle Fletcher
Alexis Cape Fowler
Tracy Lee Ann Glantz
Alexandrea Kai Groves
Savannah Turner Hale
Tristan Huggins
Shasha Jacobson
Valerie Helen Janik
Barbara M. Jensen
Samone R. Johnson
Margaret Dixon Jolly
Jade M. Kilpatrick
Lyndsay Rosemary Joyce Kirkham
Kristina Renae Kresslein
Emily Ann LaCoco
Simquita Darsell Talley-Leveretter
Dayna Lynn Lewallen
Lindsay Allison Hall Linderman
Vanetta E. McFadden
Samantha Marie McIntyre
Ellen Caroline McKerrow
Ara-Viktoria Alaina Mckinney-Bookman
Ryleigh Taylor McLane
Katelyn Ann Menas
Jessica Marie Molenda
Margaret Mary Kelly Moore
Tammy Donise Murphy
Julia Erin Neal
Samantha Lynn Nuñez
Fiona Marie O'Halloran-Johnson
Jessie Lee Reynolds Owen
Julia Leigh Pase
Stephanie D. Patterson
Annette Joy Pearson
Grace Elizabeth Quinn
Lauren Virginia Renzi
Kaitlyn Michelle Rinear
Marguerite Ricard Sikes
Michael James Simmons
Kilee Sofich
Haley Jo Stanton
Megan Paige Stephenson
Lara Ashley Sullivan
Jenna Marie Tassy
Emily Megan Colburn Ulbrich
Sarah Ann Ulfsax
Michael Paul Vahle
Anna Marley Vernick
Lacey Jo Walsh
Kelly Lyn Walter
Ashley Lynn Ward
Deborah Erin Ware
Jonathan Paul Weaver
Nicole Kristina Wells
Kathryn Margaret Demarest Winch
Marisa Wright
Robin Michelle Yancey
Emma Brooke Younce
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CANDIDATES FOR COMMENCEMENT BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE
Georgina Acosta, Disaster & Emergency Mgmt.
Kori Addison, Psychology
Heidi Tuss Adongo, Psychology
Kuriandra Renee Atkinson, Psychology
Allison Patricia Aviles, Criminal Justice
Ashley Balfour, Speech-Language Pathology
Kristen Bailey Banks, Elementary Education
Shieanna Mone’ Barr, Speech-Language Pathology
Haley Baugus, Human Development & Family Studies
Lisa Joyce Black, Criminal Justice
Farlana Denise Boone, Educational Studies
Elizabeth McCorkle Bradshaw, Special Education
Madisen Amanda Brewington, Speech-Language Pathology
Joseph Carver Bridges, Disaster & Emergency Mgmt.
Kiley Mae Bridgmon, Biology
Haley Christine Brock, Educational Studies
Amanda Tracy Benita Brooks, Special Education
Jammie Levern Burgess, Criminal Justice
Amanda L. Caldwell, Business Administration
Carolena Maria Cardona, Speech-Language Pathology
Eric Dewane Carmichael, Criminal Justice
Larry Orvin Carson III, Business Administration
Angela Blocker Carter, Behavioral Science
Erika Shaniqua Davis, Psychology
Zy’Kirah De’Andra Davis, Speech-Language Pathology
Delaney Lynn Doyle, Special Education
Kristie Madden Drew, Special Education
Lakeisha N. Edmonds, Special Education
Krystina J. Fenn, Disaster & Emergency Mgmt.
Courtney Regan Fleeman, Early Childhood Education
Monique Jana'e Destiny Ford, Studio Art
Brittany Regine Fuller, Business Administration
Tyesha Leticia Fulmer, Special Education
Lila Lakeisha Garrick, Criminal Justice
Lauren Rachel Goude, Speech-Language Pathology
Mikayla Grinnell, Speech-Language Pathology
Earnest Lee Hampton, Disaster & Emergency Mgmt.
Kelli R. Harris, Special Education
Tifaine Leighanna Hash, Special Education
Jessica Heiser-Whatley, Studio Art
Zachary Tyler Hentz, Criminal Justice
Rachel Louise Harris, Special Education
Lila Tara Lee Hoeft, Speech-Language Pathology
Lindsey Chapman Hoile, Business Administration
William Neil Howell, Criminal Justice
Ellie Grace Hunter, Speech-Language Pathology
Rebecca L. Hydrick, Educational Studies
Chyane Michelle Ishmal, Middle Level Education
Hannah Marcele Jacobs, Business Administration
Victoria James, Special Education
Lauren Chanell Jamison, Health Care Studies
Brittney Alexandria Jefferson, Elementary Education
Kateland Marie Johnson, Speech-Language Pathology
Diamond Moesha Jones, Speech-Language Pathology
Aykeshia Lyenese Kates, Psychology
Tiffany Nicole Kemmerlin, Disaster & Emergency Mgmt.
Mary Elizabeth King, Business Administration
Tracey Delaney Lee, Business Administration
Amoya Tianna Anisa Lenworth, Speech-Language Pathology
Jaycee L. Martin, Speech-Language Pathology
Aiyana Monet Martinez, Psychology
Jessica Shannon Martinez, Psychology
Emily Mason Mather, Speech-Language Pathology
Amy Kaye McConaghy, Special Education
Jilessa La'Netta Miles, Business Administration
Angela Morgan, Speech-Language Pathology
Brent Nickell, Criminal Justice
Ashley Prater, Criminal Justice
Elana Keri Preston, Business Administration
Fabiola N. Ramos González, Educational Studies
Rhoda S. Redd, Interdisciplinary Studies
Kathy Baldwin Rogers, Educational Studies
Lexi Ronan, Speech-Language Pathology
Madeline Lucile Ross, Speech-Language Pathology
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Taylor Routte, Criminal Justice
Hannah L. Sayers, Business Administration
Kolleen Kathy Shafer, Speech-Language Pathology
Alexis Nachelle Sibley, Elementary Education
Sarah Lee Simmons, Psychology
Danise Michelle Simpson, Special Education
Angela Rosetta Smalls, Early Childhood Education
Kerry Ann Smith, Speech-Language Pathology
Stacey M. Sperber, Special Education
Madison Grace Stewart, Speech-Language Pathology
Charles E. Sydnor, Behavioral Science
Joshua Adam Talley, Criminal Justice
La'Keishion On'Drea Taylor, Educational Studies
Cassandra Latasha Thomas, Community & Organizational Leadership
Marie Annette Thomas, Criminal Justice
Evan Davis Todd, Business Administration
Katelynn Nicole VanOrden, Criminal Justice
Kimberly Esperanza
Vera-Gonzalez, Business Administration
Marisabel Villalobos Garcia, Speech-Language Pathology
Jasmine T. Walechka, Speech Language Pathology
Zaire Vashawn Wardlaw, Psychology
Jacob Amaker Watson, Criminal Justice
Avy Ayn Watts, Public Health
Tyler Benjamin Wescott, Human Services: Counseling
Alfreida Renee Weston, Community & Organizational Leadership
Jada Alexandria White, Human Development & Family Studies
Brittaney Whittington, Educational Studies
Samantha Sessler Wiegner, Speech-Language Pathology
Sabrina Charlene Williams, Psychology
William Jerod Williams II, Special Education
Jaqwon Jamal Wright, Criminal Justice
CANDIDATES FOR COMMENCEMENT BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE
Victoria Lee Barden, Forensic Psychology
Madison Leigh Bolin, Forensic Psychology
Sparkle Brionna Clayton, Computer & Information Science
Susan Danna, Accounting
Kristina Marie Del Valle, Disaster & Emergency Mgmt.
Madisol Ciara Dopico, Forensic Psychology
Kaela Dowd-Howell, Accounting
Bailey Elizabeth Epting, Business Analytics
Tammara Rebecca Frost, Forensic Psychology
Kimberly Burke Gallagher, Health Care Studies
Victoria Heiser-Whatley, Computer & Information Science
Kalynn Elizabeth Hough, Exercise Science
Joshua Robert Hugley, Computer & Information Science
Arya Karki, Computer and Information Science
Madison Brooke Lee, Exercise Science
Charmeka Sherrill Mungo, Health Science
So Sun Murrin, Accounting
Capri Monique Rhodes, Computer & Information Science
Taylor Routte, Forensic Psychology
Melissa Cornelia Taylor, Accounting
Alexandria Shelice Williams, Exercise Science
Tyeshia Talliah Williams, Exercise Science
Elizabeth Manning Youmans, Accounting
BACHELOR OF NURSING
April Denay Mitchell
Emily Marie Whetstone
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COLUMBIA COLLEGE
