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PHOTOGRAPHS
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THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL GRADUATION LIST
While every effort is made to ensure accuracy in this commencement program, printing deadlines may result in omission of some names or use of names of some persons not completing graduation requirements as intended This printed program, therefore, should not be used to determine a student’s academic or degree status The university’s official registry for conferral of degrees is the student’s permanent academic record as reflected on the student’s transcript, maintained by the Office of the University Registrar
Processional
Presiding
The College of Pharmacy Faculty
Dr Peter W Swaan Dean and Professor
National Anthem Jenny Blanc 2026 College of Pharmacy Graduate
2026 UF College of Pharmacy Outstanding Pharmacy Alumnus Award
Outstanding Pharmacy Alumnus Awardee
Benjamin Epstein, Pharm D
Commencement Address
Presentation of Awards
Dr Peter W Swaan
Dr Benjamin Epstein
Dr Peter W Swaan CommencementAgenda-Saturday,May9,2026
DAVID W. RAMSAUR AWARD
Gabrielle Gorwitz
Mary-Pearl Ojukwu
Chrystal Vandeventer
PERRY A. FOOTE AWARD
Kelly Bishop
FACULTY EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Teacher of the Year Award
Dr Eric Egelund
Faculty Recognition Award
Dr Akash Alexander
Conferring of Doctor of Pharmacy Degree
Recognition of PharmD Graduates
Recognition of Master of Science Graduates
Recognition of Senior Class Representatives
Ciera Isaman, Gainesville
Eman Gabal, Jacksonville
Matthew Todd, Orlando
Dr Peter W Swaan
Dr Peter W Swaan
Senior Class Address
Administration of Pharmacy Oath
Closing Remarks
Alma Mater
Recessional
Eman Gabal, Jacksonville
Dr Meredith Diamond Young Alumni Council Member
Dr Peter W Swaan
Lily Mancini
The Faculty and Graduates
Greetings from the President
Members of the Class of 2026: On behalf of the University of Florida, I am thrilled to recognize your hard work and accomplishments in reaching this day My deepest congratulations!
Today is a day of celebration and anticipation for the next exciting phase of your lives I join you in thanking your professors, mentors, family and friends who have supported you in your journey
I hope that your success at one of the nation’s very best public universities gives you confidence in pursuing your boldest ambitions I also hope that your experiences here whether forming friendships, overcoming challenges or discovering new paths have helped you develop humility and resolve confidence and compassion May you embrace what comes next with a generous spirit, a feeling of openness, and a commitment to utilize your individual talents to the greatest good
You have been important to this university Your contributions to your classes and majors will benefit future generations of students Thank you for being a vital part of our community
I hope that you will look back on this period with fondness and appreciation, and that you will remain connected to UF as distinguished alumni
Again, congratulations and Go Gators
Dr Donald Landry
Greetings from the Dean
Congratulations to the University of Florida College of Pharmacy graduating class of 2026! Reaching this milestone in your academic career takes perseverance, commitment and determination many of the same qualities that embody the Gator spirit Your UF degree will provide the foundation for your future career endeavors and you can have confidence knowing your education and training have prepared you well to make a meaningful impact in pharmacy
The faculty and staff are immensely proud of the professional growth and dedication you have demonstrated during your tenure as pharmacy students It has been our privilege to witness your transformation into skilled health care professionals As you recite the Oath of a Pharmacist today, you affirm a lifelong commitment to serving others with compassion, integrity and excellence Let these words guide your practice and remind you of the responsibility and trust placed in you by society
While graduation may mark the end of your time as students your connections with the UF College of Pharmacy are lifelong You are joining a vibrant community of nearly 16,000 alumni who span the globe from all 50 states and more than 45 countries No matter where your professional journey leads you are bound to cross paths with a Gator pharmacist or scientist Embrace your connections to UF and always strive to enrich the lives of those around you
Congratulations and Go Gators!
Peter W Swaan, PhD, MPharm Dean and Professor UF College of Pharmacy
University of Florida President
Dr Donald Landry
Donald Landry has served as the interim president of the University of Florida since September 1, 2025 Prior to his appointment, he was the founding director of the Burch-Lodge Center for Human Longevity at Columbia as well as Chair Emeritus of the Department of Medicine at Columbia University and past Physician-in-Chief at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, leading the Department and the Medical Service from 2007–2023 He is also past founding director of the Division of Experimental Therapeutics
Dr Landry completed his PhD in Organic Chemistry with Nobel laureate RB Woodward at Harvard University in 1979 and then obtained the MD degree from Columbia University in 1983 After completing his Residency in Internal Medicine a the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, he returned to Columbia for training as an NIH Physician-Scientist, 1985–90, and remained as an active member of the Columbia faculty until his appointment to the UF presidency
Dean of the College of Pharmacy
Dr. Peter W. Swaan
Peter W Swaan became the eighth dean of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in December 2022 He joined UF from the University of Maryland Scho of Pharmacy, where he served as the associate dean for research and advanc graduate education, as well as a professor and chair in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences While at Maryland, Swaan was named a university distinguished professor in recognition of his extraordinary leadership and significant contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences
As an internationally recognized scientist, Swaan has built a highly successful research program focused on transporters in drug targeting and delivery Hi early research examined ways to make poorly absorbed drugs more effective the gastrointestinal tract, which led to his lab pioneering the use of computer modeling to determine the structural aspects of membrane transporters He holds several US patents and has published more than 150 original research
Since 2015, Swaan has chaired the Board of Grants for the American Foundatio AFPE He has also chaired multiple committees within the American Association served on multiple NIH study sections More than two dozen PhD students hav 2022, he was awarded the AFPE William M Heller Mentor of the Year Award
A native of the Netherlands, Swaan trained as a pharmacist at the University of Leiden and earned a master’s degree in pharmacy from Utrecht University in 1989 His interest in pharmaceutical research inspired him to pursue a PhD in biopharmaceutics from the University of Utrecht In 1994, he moved to the US to work as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, San Francisco Swaan also trained at the University of Michigan before accepting a faculty position at Ohio State University in 1996 Swaan spent seven years at Ohio State before joining the faculty in Maryland a
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President - Academic Affairs
J Scott Angle
Senior Vice President - Agriculture and Natural
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CollegeofAgriculturalandLifeSciences
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College of Pharmacy Faculty
Jane Aldrich
Akash Alexander
Kaitlin Alexander
Ahmed Awad
Francine Azeredo
Lolade Bakare
Tengfei Bian
Marco Bortolato
Caterina Branca
Erin Bruce
Phuoc Bui
Anthony Casapao
Larisa Cavallari
Teresa Cavanaugh
Anutosh Chakraborty
Manyun Chen
Qiyin Chen
Lindsey Childs-Kean
Brian Cicali
Emily Cicali
Joseph Collins
Kelsey Cook
Isabelle Cote
Rodrigo Cristofoletti
Lina Cui
Stacey Curtis
Gustavo De Miranda Seabra
Natalia Valadares De Moraes
Kathryn DeSear
Eric Dietrich
Yousong Ding
Randell Doty
Julio Duarte
Eric Egelund
Michelle Farland
Carinda Feild
Charles Frazier
Mohammed Gbadamosi
Yan Gong
Amie Goodin
Oliver Grundmann
John Gums
Sampa Gupta
Laura Happe
Md Mahmudul Hasan
Matthew Hayes
Mei He
Jessica Huston
Tatiana Iakovleva
Jinmai Jiang
Tianze Jiao
Siva Kanumuri
Maria Kapetanaki
Shailina Keshwani
Adonice Khoury
John Kight
Sarah Kim
Thomas Koelblen
Jatinder Lamba
Tracy Leonard
Chenglong Li
Robin Moorman Li
Yanjun Li
Xingui Liu
Hendrik Luesch
Siobhan Malany
Jessica Mamallapalli
Kalen Manasco
Nicole Maranchick
Catherine Marcinkiewcz
Commencement Announcers
Dr Tyler Bui
Dr Anthony Casapao
Dr Teresa Roane
Dr Jodi Taylor
Faculty Performing Hooding
Dr Teresa Cavanaugh
Dr Oliver Grundmann
Dr Laura Happe
Dr Robin Moorman Li
Faculty Emeriti
Dr Lisa Miller
Dr Nancy Toffolo
Dr Karen Whalen
Diane Beck Associate Dean and Professor Emeritus
Raymond J Bergeron, Eminent Scholar
Nicholas Bodor, Professor Emeritus
David Brushwood Professor Emeritus
Paul Doering Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus
Abraham Hartzema Professor Emeritus
Leslie Hendeles, Professor Emeritus
Charles Hepler, Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Guenther Hochhaus Professor Emeritus
Margaret James Professor Emeritus
Julie Johnson, Dean Emeritus
Michael Katovich, Professor Emeritus
Maureen Keller-Wood Professor Emeritus
John Markowitz
Gregory McCarty
Christopher McCurdy
Jay McLaughlin
Lisa Miller
William Mobley
Earl Morris IV
Carol Motycka
Sushobhan Mukhopadhyay
Khoa Nguyen
Madeline Norris
Xiaoshu Pan
Maddalena Parafati
Haesuk Park
Satyamaheshwar
Peddibhotla
Charles Peloquin
Bradley Phillips
Janny Pineiro
Jason Powell
Mohamed Radwan
Ranjala Ratnayake
Rachel Reise
Munaza Riaz
Teresa Roane
Masoud Rouhizadeh
Caitrin Rowe
Casey Rowe
Barbara Santevecchi
Stephan Schmidt
Thomas Schmittgen
Maria Seabra
Richard Segal
Nathan Seligson
Abhisheak Sharma
Diplomas
Dr Stacey D Curtis
Vivek Shastri
Bethany Shoulders
Steven Smith
Nicole Smolinski
Leslie Sombers
Sihong Song
Zhimin Song
Janel Soucie
Erin St Onge
Peter W Swaan
James Taylor
Jodi Taylor
Nancy Toffolo
Nirma Vadlamudi
Aurore Valfort
Lisa Vandervoort
Angelina Vascimini
Veena Venugopalan
Katie Vogel Anderson
Danxin Wang
Ruixiang Wang
Brandon Warren
Karen Whalen
Chardaè Whitner
Almut Winterstein
Wenjun Xie Chengguo Xing
Haiyang XU
Zhiqiu Ye
Lihui Yuan
Fan Zhang
Guangrong Zheng
Pei Zhuang
Commencement Marshals
Dr Randell Doty
Dr William C Mobley
Dr Bradley Phillips
Dr Katie Vogel Anderson
Carole Kimberlin, Professor Emeritus
Lawrence Lesko, Professor Emeritus
Earlene Lipowski, Professor Emeritus
Larry Lopez Professor Emeritus
Michael McKenzie Associate Dean and Professor Emeritus
William Millard, Professor Emeritus
Robert Navarro, Professor Emeritus
Joanna Peris Professor Emeritus
John Perrin Professor Emeritus
William Riffee Dean and Professor Emeritus
J Daniel Robinson, Professor Emeritus
Kenneth Sloan, Professor Emeritus
Ronald Stewart Professor Emeritus
History of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy 1923-2026
The University of Florida College of Pharmacy was founded with the assistance of pharmacists in the Florida
Pharmacy Association The college enrolled its first class of 43 students on September 10 1923 making it the first professional health college at UF The college became the first co-educational college on the University of Florida campus in 1935, 12 years before the university became coeducational Leigh Hall was the home of the College of Pharmacy for many years until the college joined the Health Science Center campus with the dedication of the pharmacy building on April 16, 1962. The college has continued to grow and expand its space along with the other UF Health academic colleges and now includes campuses in Gainesville, Jacksonville and Orlando Dr Townes Randolph Leigh, head of the department of chemistry, was appointed
the first director of the School of Pharmacy He was later named the first dean of the College of Pharmacy in 1925 Dr Perry A Foote served as director of the School of Pharmacy from 1939 to 1949 and the second dean of the College of Pharmacy from 1949 to 1967 Dr George Archambault served as the third dean of the college for a short period of time in 1967 Dr Kenneth F Finger was dean from 1968 to 1978 Dr Michael A Schwartz served for 18 years as the fifth dean of the College of Pharmacy Dr William H. Riffee became the sixth dean of the College of Pharmacy on June 1, 1996 Dr Julie A Johnson was appointed the seventh dean and first female leader of the College of Pharmacy in August 2013 Dr Peter W Swaan took over as the college’s eighth dean on Dec 1, 2022
The curricula and the degrees offered by the College of Pharmacy have changed over the years, demonstrating the dynamic character of pharmaceutical education Three degrees were offered by the College of Pharmacy in the early years: the Graduate in Pharmacy (Ph.G.), the Pharmaceutical Chemist (Ph C ), and the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (B S in Pharmacy) The Ph C and Ph G degrees were discontinued in 1927 and 1933, respectively Thereafter, the B S in Pharmacy degree was the only undergraduate degree granted until 1986, when the first entry-level, six-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D ) degree was awarded From 1977 to 1986, Doctor of Pharmacy degrees were granted to students who completed a two-calendar year program after completion of the five-year B S in Pharmacy degree In 2015, the college implemented a transformed curriculum for its Pharm D students to prepare them to be health care leaders
In 1931, the College of Pharmacy became the first college on the University of Florida campus to offer the Doctor of Philosophy degree At that time, the College of Pharmacy was the first in the Southeast and one of four or five in the United States to offer the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Pharmacy
The graduate program has grown in quantity and quality over the years to produce outstanding pharmaceutical scientists, academicians and administrators for the pharmacy profession
In 2000, the college developed a unique master’s degree program using distance learning technologies, so that working professionals everywhere could access high-quality education in many pharmacy disciplines The college’s online programs are among the largest and most successful in the world, having received multiple national awards for excellence in distance education The college currently offers six online master’s degree concentrations
The University of Florida College of Pharmacy is annually recognized among the top pharmacy schools in the country U S News & World Report currently ranks UF as the No 4 pharmacy college in the nation In 2025, the college ranked No 3 nationally in total research funding according to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy The UF College of Pharmacy has a proud history of achievement and many distinguished alumni who continue to demonstrate the high quality of their education and training
The University of Florida College of Pharmacy Outstanding Pharmacy Alumnus Award
Benjamin J. Epstein, Pharm.D. 2026 Outstanding Alumnus Speak
Benjamin J Epstein graduated magna cu from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in 2003 before completing an medicine/cardiology residency at the M Randall VA Medical Center and a postdoc fellowship at UF in the Department of Co Health and Family Medicine Upon comple his postdoctoral training, he accepted a position in the UF College of Pharmacy. D academic career, Epstein established a pharmacotherapy clinic within the Divis Internal Medicine, developed internship residency training programs, served as principal investigator on multiple invest initiated studies and later expanded his include teaching responsibilities within College of Medicine In 2015, Epstein was awarded the UF 40 Under 40 Award in recognition of his accomplishments
Epstein has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, scholarly correspondence and book chapters, including contributions to Pharmacotherapy: Principles and Practice His work has appeared in leading journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine (correspondence), Pharmacotherapy, Annals of Pharmacotherapy, Drugs and American Family Physician. He has lectured internationally on a wide range of clinical and scientific topics, presenting at international congresses, medical education meetings, advisory boards, steering committees and pharmaceutical industry educational initiatives
In 2007, Epstein co-founded the East Coast Institute for Research, or ECIR, and led the organization as CEO, building a multisite clinical research organization that has conducted more than 1 500 clinical trials In 2023 ECIR was acquired by Gauge Capital, and the organization now operates as Rovia Clinical Research. In 2009, he founded ECIR Medical Communications, which grew into a leading medical strategy and communications firm serving global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including AstraZeneca, Pfizer, GSK, Janssen, Gilead and United Therapeutics
As CEO, Epstein grew the company and led its acquisition in 2023 by Clinical Education Alliance (now Decera Clinical) Most recently, Epstein served as chief scientific officer and executive vice president of Medical Strategy at Decera ECIR and ECIR Medical Communications have been recognized as Gator100 companies five times
Today, Epstein lives in Jacksonville, Florida, and focuses on managing his family office, where he actively invests in health care, life sciences and real estate ventures In 2025, he and his wife, Kelly, together with his sons, Avery and Kaden, founded the Epstein Family Legacy Foundation Through a combination of strategic investment and hands-on engagement, the foundation seeks to increase resources and empower individuals and communities to reach their full potential Epstein enjoys traveling with his family and spending time outdoors playing golf, surfing, diving, fishing, hiking and snowboarding
David W. Ramsaur Award
Dr David Ramsaur was one of the most prominent pharmacists in Florida between 1907 and 1929 After graduating from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science in 1902 with numerous scholastic awards he entered community pharmacy practice in his hometown of Palatka In 1904, the profession of pharmacy recognized the outstanding abilities of this young man by electing him, at age 26, as secretary to the Florida Pharmacy Association In 1907, he was appointed to the Board of Pharmacy and served as secretary until 1916 He resigned from the Board of Pharmacy to pursue his pharmacy business full-time as vice president of the Groover-Stewart Wholesale Company in Jacksonville He was made vice president of McKesson and Robbins, Inc when this national wholesale firm purchased the Groover-Stewart Company
Through professional and business relationships, he became an influential spokesman for Florida pharmacy In 1913, he urged the Florida Pharmacy Association to support a resolution to establish a school of pharmacy. His efforts to make that resolution a reality were successful ten years later when, in 1923, the University of Florida College of Pharmacy opened its doors to the first class of students Dr Ramsaur proposed that the faculty establish a Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Scholarship for a graduating senior The faculty endorsed his idea and named the new award in his honor From 1925 to 1930 the D W Ramsaur Award was given to the senior student in the graduate in pharmacy (Ph.G.) program with the highest grades The College of Pharmacy awarded the D W Ramsaur Award for distinguished scholarship to the graduating baccalaureate student with the highest academic performance from 1932 until 1999
Beginning in 2000 the graduating senior in the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program with the highest academic performance is the recipient of this award
Dr Ramsaur was highly respected by his pharmacy peers and the business community throughout the state and the South The College of Pharmacy is proud to recognize Dr Ramsaur through the D W Ramsaur Award for Distinguished Scholarship
Mary-Pearl Ojukwu earned her Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude and as the salutatorian of the class of 2022 She continued her academic excellence at the UF College of Pharmacy, maintaining a 4 0 GPA and is on track to graduate with her Doctor of Pharmacy degree summa cum laude
Throughout her time at UF, Ojukwu distinguished herself as both a scholar and leader. She served as vice president of the Mentoring and Leadership Development Committee within the Student Ambassador program, chair of the Breast and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Committee of the Kappa Epsilon Pharmaceutical Fraternity, historian of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists and Pharmily Village mayor from 2023-25 She also represented her cohort on the College of Pharmacy Curriculum Committee for all four years In recognition of her academic excellence and leadership she was inducted into Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society and Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society
Ojukwu is deeply committed to advancing equitable health care She volunteered at the Farmworkers Healthcare Clinic in Apopka and Grace Medical Homes in Orlando, where she collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to serve medically underserved populations She also contributed to the MyRx pharmacogenomics consulting clinic, educating patients on the clinical utility of pharmacogenomic testing
Ojukwu’s passion for oncology clinical research and innovative medicine has shaped her professional trajectory She completed an internship at Johnson & Johnson as an oncology clinical scientist intern, contributing to a Phase III registrational study investigating CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma She further broadened her industry experience through highly selective APPE rotations at Bristol Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly and Company
At UF, she served as a research fellow in the Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research under the mentorship of former Associate Dean John Allen, Pharm D , investigating health disparities in pancreatic cancer She completed her honors thesis under the direction of Madeline Norris, Pharm D , a clinical assistant professor, evaluating pharmacogenomic considerations for DPYDand UGT1A1-guided chemotherapy dosing Her work has been presented at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting, the UF College of Pharmacy Research Showcase and the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association Conference
Ojukwu is the recipient of the Debbie DeSantis Scholarship, the Robert Crisafi Scholarship and the Community Pharmacy Business and Entrepreneurship Scholarship She has also been recognized as the Rho Chi Tutor of the Year and received multiple awards for professionalism and leadership from the UF College of Pharmacy Following graduation, she will continue advancing clinical innovation as a manager in the clinical design, delivery and analytics organization at Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis
David W. Ramsaur Award
Chrystal VanDeventer
David W Ramsaur Award
Distinguished Scholarship
Chrystal VanDeventer graduated cum laude from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in chemistry before pursuing her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy
During her time in the Doctor of Pharmacy program, VanDeventer distinguished herself through her dedication to mentorship academic excellence and professional service She served as a teaching assistant for UF's first-year pharmacy skills laboratory for two academic years, supporting the development of foundational patient care and communication skills among student pharmacists She also served as an academic coordinator for the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society Iota Chapter in Orlando, where she led peer tutoring initiatives designed to promote academic success and collaborative learning In addition to her leadership role, she has mentored fellow pharmacy students as a Rho Chi tutor helping prepare students for clinical skills assessments and coursework
VanDeventer has demonstrated a strong commitment to service and community engagement through her work with student-run clinics including the Knights Clinic at Grace Medical Home and the Chapman Clinic in downtown Orlando. Through these experiences, she provided medication reconciliation and patient education while working collaboratively with interprofessional health care teams to support safe and effective medication use for underserved patient populations She has also contributed to interprofessional education initiatives with the UCF College of Medicine and shared her experiences with aspiring pharmacists as a guest speaker for the PrePharmacy Society at UCF
In addition to her leadership and service, VanDeventer has pursued scholarly work focused on advancing pharmacy education Under the mentorship of Brad Phillips, Pharm D , a clinical assistant professor in the UF College of Pharmacy, she conducted an honors research project evaluating the impact of structured pre-advising forms on faculty–student advising sessions Her research examines strategies to enhance the quality and effectiveness of advising interactions within pharmacy education.
VanDeventer’s academic achievements and professional contributions have been recognized through induction into the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society, repeated placement on the dean’s list and as a recipient of the Steve Reeder Legacy Scholarship and the Community Pharmacy Business and Entrepreneurial Scholarship
Perry A. Foote Award
Former Dean Perry A Foote served the College of Pharmacy in numerous capacities for nearly 70 years from 1928 when he joined the faculty as an associate professor until 1998 when he passed away He began his administrative and leadership role in 1939, when he was named Director of the School of Pharmacy In 1949, he was selected to be the second dean of the College of Pharmacy He served as the college’s chief administrative officer for 28 years Dean Foote was beloved by the more than 1,600 pharmacists who graduated during his tenure as dean, by former and present faculty members and friends in pharmacy across the nation Dean Foote was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1899 and was educated at the University of Wisconsin, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, the Master of Science in Pharmacy in 1926, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1928 He became a registered pharmacist in Wisconsin in 1926 and in Florida in 1941.
He was past president of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, or AACP, (1962) past president of Rho Chi Pharmacy Honorary Society (1950) and recipient of the American College of Apothecaries Award (1946) for outstanding contributions to pharmacy Foote was recognized as Pharmacist of the Year from the Florida Pharmacy Association (1947) and received the Rexall Trophy as dean (1957) for outstanding achievement in pharmaceutical education
He was author and co-author of seven books, numerous research papers, and over 50 professional articles He was listed in American Men of Science and Who’s Who in America Dean Foote was a member of the United States Pharmacopeia Revision Committee; chairman of the Florida Section of American Chemical Society; and a charter member of the Florida Academy of Sciences
The American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education reported that his election as the 62nd president of AACP “honors a deserving man who has devoted more than 35 years to the betterment of pharmaceutical education in the United States ” The Journal called Dean Foote “imaginative energetic and unassuming dedicated to the responsibilities and obligations of a teacher in a professional school. He has carried these responsibilities with genuine and conscientious interest throughout his career and has been an inspirational teacher and leader ”
In 1986, the College of Pharmacy established the Perry A Foote Award to honor then Dean Emeritus Perry Foote for his many contributions to the College of Pharmacy The Perry A Foote Award honors a graduating senior in the Doctor of Pharmacy program who has demonstrated distinguished scholarship, leadership and service.
Perry A. Foote Award
Kelly Bishop
Perry A Foote Award
Kelly Bishop earned a Bachelor of Science in nutritional sciences, cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2022 before attending the UF College of Pharmacy
Throughout her pharmacy education, Bishop has demonstrated exceptional leadership and service within professional organizations She served as chapter president of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists after previously serving as president-elect Under her leadership, the chapter continued to promote professional development, clinical mentorship and engagement in health-system pharmacy While serving as president-elect and president the chapter was awarded the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists, or FSHP, Student Chapter of the Year in 2024 and 2025 Bishop also served as vice regent and sponsorship committee leader for the Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity Inc , and as a new member educator, fostering leadership development and professional growth among student pharmacists While serving as viceregent, she organized a golf tournament that raised more than $3,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network She is an inductee of the Rho Chi Honor Society and has consistently maintained high academic standing, earning recognition on the dean’s list throughout her pharmacy curriculum
Bishop's leadership and academic excellence have been recognized through numerous honors and awards, including the Paul Magalian Student Scholarship from FSHP, the Claire Somera Duncan Memorial Leadership Award, the Debbie DeSantis Endowment and multiple Kappa Psi Fellowship and Brother of the Year awards
Beyond academics and leadership, Bishop is committed to community service and patient advocacy She has volunteered with the Equal Access Clinic, Bread of the Mighty Food Bank, Gainesville Giving Garden and other community outreach initiatives
Following graduation, Bishop plans to pursue a PGY-1 residency at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville to further develop her clinical expertise and leadership skills, with the goal of practicing as an ambulatory care pharmacist
Recognition of Outstanding Faculty: Teacher of the Year Award
Eric Egelund, Pharm.D., Ph.D. Teacher of the Year
After completing his Pharm D at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in 2009, Eric Egelund enrolled in the Ph D program at UF He completed his graduate studies in the Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research in 2014 under the mentorship of Charles Peloquin, Pharm D , the Jack C Massey Endowed Professor and director of the Infectious Disease Pharmacokinetics Laboratory in Gainesville. Currently, Egelund is a clinical associate professor at the UF College of Pharmacy’s Jacksonville campus In addition to this role, Egelund works part time at a retail pharmacy Egelund is involved in interprofessional simulations, primarily with the UF colleges of medicine and nursing, which allows students from different disciplines to complete simulated cases together His primary research interest is the pharmacokinetics of infectious disease agents, specifically those used for the treatment of tuberculosis, nontuberculosis mycobacteria and HIV Similarly he is interested in the prevention of antimicrobial resistance through appropriate antimicrobial use in humans, animals and the environment
Recognition of Outstanding Faculty: Faculty Recognition Award
Akash Alexander, Pharm.D. Faculty Recognition Award
Originally from New York, Akash Alexander previously served on faculty in the Departme of Pharmacy Practice at Long Island Universit Brooklyn, NY He maintained an ambulatory ca practice at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Manhatt supporting a diabetes management program before transitioning as the primary course coordinator for the college’s pharmacy skills course sequence To better reinforce his teaching Alexander completed his M S in educational technology from LIU Post Prior to LIU, he practiced at Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel, NY with a focus on bedside medicatio education for high-risk patients Alexander w on faculty at Virginia Commonwealth Universi or VCU, School of Pharmacy in Richmond, VA, where he also completed a community practic residency While at VCU, he provided pharmac services for the Daily Planet, a Health Care fo the Homeless clinic and offered an advanced community practice rotation at CVS Pharmacy Alexander received his Pharm D from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy
Student Representative Speakers Doctor of Pharmacy Graduating Seniors
Ciera Isaman Gainesville Campus
Ciera Isaman is a first-generation college graduate who earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Florida in 2022 As a Pre-Pharmacy Early Assurance Program, or PEAP, scholar, she began cultivating her passions for leadership, advocacy and compassionate, patient-centered care within the profession of pharmacy
During pharmacy school, Isaman distinguished herself as a dedicated leader among her peers and within the Gainesville community She proudly embraced her love for the Gators while serving as chief ambassador for the Student Ambassadors Program on the Gainesville campus, where she spearheaded the organization’s first general body meeting to strengthen member engagement and expand community outreach As a lead teaching assistant for the First-Year Professional Practice Skills Laboratory, Isaman especially cherished the opportunity to mentor pharmacy students as they took their first steps toward becoming pharmacists Her enthusiasm for leadership development and community service earned her membership in the Iota Chapter of the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society
As a student who is unilaterally deaf, Isaman is deeply passionate about promoting accessibility and creating inclusive health care environments Her dedication to serving vulnerable populations is highlighted through her founding of the University of Florida Health Professional Clothes Closet, a program providing free professional attire to students across seven health science colleges to help prevent financial barriers from limiting students’ professional opportunities
Isaman’s dedication to advancing patient care extends into her research, where she has focused on improving patient health literacy and promoting pediatric pharmacogenomic testing In December, she presented her work in two poster presentations at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting in Las Vegas
Isaman looks forward to continuing her commitment to lifelong learning and community advocacy as she pursues a residency at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, to further develop her clinical knowledge with the goal of specializing in transplant pharmacy
Student Representative Speakers
Doctor of Pharmacy Graduating Seniors
Eman Gabal Jacksonville Campus
Eman Gabal received her Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from the University of Florida before attending the UF College of Pharmacy, where she is proud to be a Double Gator
Gabal has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership throughout her pharmacy education She served as founder and president of the Jacksonville chapter of the Industry Pharmacists Organization and as patient care vice president of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists. She has also contributed to her campus community as a class representative, Pharmily Village leader and campus ambassador
Gabal has gained a diverse range of experiences across multiple pharmacy settings She currently works as a pharmacy intern at UF Health Jacksonville and previously served as a medical communications intern with ECIR Medical Communications, as well as in various technician roles in both hospital and community pharmacy settings She has also been actively involved in research with the UF College of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmacy Education and Practice and the emergency medicine and critical care departments at UF Health Jacksonville
Matthew Todd is a native(ish) Californian graduating from the Orlando campus He earned his Bachelor of Science in biology from William Jessup University in Sacramento in 2022 Born in Mississippi and raised in a military family across seven different states, Todd spent a decade in Northern California before moving to Florida to pursue his Pharm D at the University of Florida Within the College of Pharmacy, he is known for his dedication to educating himself and his peers with a unique blend of rigor and wit that earned him the nickname “Professor Todd” from faculty and students alike in his first semester
Balancing a passion for both pharmacy and theme parks, Todd’s proudest pharmaceutical accomplishment is his advocacy for the reinstatement of an EPCOT pharmacy rotation, which had not been offered for over a decade before he arrived to campus His persistence (i e pestering) came full circle in summer of 2025 when he became one of the first students placed on the reinstated rotation, and today he serves over 40,000 Disney cast members at the only pharmacy with a backstage view of EPCOT’s iconic geodesic sphere (better known by its friends as “the golf ball”)
Throughout his time at UF, Todd distinguished himself as a dedicated researcher in the Department of Pharmaceutics Under the mentorship of Assistant Professors Sarah Kim, Ph D , and Francine Azeredo, Ph D , he applied machine learning approaches to better understand clinical trial trends in Duchenne muscular dystrophy His commitment to his peers was equally evident in his creation of automatically graded practice quizzes for over 95% of the curriculum’s exams, a feat of academic service that contributed to his recognition as the 2025 Student of the Year
In his final year, Todd expanded his expertise in clinical pharmacology through an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience with Johnson & Johnson, focusing on pharmacokinetic and exposure–response analyses He also served as Orlando Student Council president and a regional leader within the Kappa Psi pharmaceutical fraternity
Following graduation, Todd will begin a postdoctoral research position in quantitative disease modeling with the Department of Pharmaceutics at the Lake Nona campus He looks forward to a career in the pharmaceutical industry, translating complex science into innovations that advance patient care on a global scale
Administrator of the Pharmacist’s Oath
Meredith Diamond, Pharm.D. Young Alumni Council Member
Meredith Diamond, Pharm D , is a clinical account director at CarelonRx where she supports Medicare pharmacy benefit strategy for Elevance Health plans In her role, she partners with clients and clinical teams to translate complex data into strategies that improve patient outcomes and advance the value of pharmacy in health care
She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in 2019 and completed a PGY1 managed care residency with IngenioRx Prior to her current role, she worked as a clinical pharmacist at CarelonRx, leading formulary and utilization management initiatives that enhanced access to care and supported high-quality, cost-effective treatment.
During pharmacy school, Diamond served as president of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists, or APhA-ASP, reflecting her early commitment to leadership and advocacy within the profession She is a founding member of the University of Florida Young Alumni Council and remains actively engaged in the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, continuing her commitment to advancing the profession of pharmacy
RECOGNITION
OF COLLEGE OF PHARMACY GRADUATES
Doctor of Pharmacy Graduates
Gainesville Campus
Darlene C Adirika
Syed Azeem
Francheska Barreto Rivera
Richard Scott Baumgartner Jr
Fernanda Maria Bayer
Kelly Lynn Bishop
Jenny Katiana Blanc
Nicholas Ethan Brito
Meliza Charlot
Nicole Chediak
Stacy Clark
Austin Lane Cobb
Gabrielle Cohen
Arelly Iris Correa
Brianna Nicole Daniel
Kanchana Lis Davis
Eve Marie De Rosa
Teocali Diaz
Jealeanet Diez Rodríguez
Carol Ann Dougherty
Abigail Olivia Douglas
Kyah Draper
Nathaniel James Draulans
Ryan Daniel Ealy
Nadine Sherif Elnagaar
Caitlyn Nicole English
Shakira Fadus
Eleanna Faust
Antonella M Ferrucho
Jared Foster
Lauren Taylor Galbreath
Joseph R Garcia
Sophia Diana Garcia
Lemay Jesus Gonzalez
Nicolette Gonzalez
Gabrielle Lee Gorwitz
Charles Huy Hang
Matthew Robert Hartman
Jude Angelo Henry
Jacksonville Campus
Lianet Acosta
Ruth A Adeyemi
Hares Ahmadzada
Christina Sarah Alansari
Hannah Faith Austin
Sarah Avans
Trixia Mae Buenvenida Balangue
Mackenzie Brennan
Tyler Leigh Broady
Thomas John Collins
Eman Abdelfattah Gabal
Diane Criselle Julio Galindo
Kelly Lynn Ho
Miriam Ruth Hope-Sao
Kimberlee Dawn Huff
Sachio Tobias Hunter
Lindsey Ann Hyer
Isabella Fe Ico
Teresa Ranet Ilagan
Ciera Madeline Isaman
Wen Xiang Jiang
Elise Helen Kamphaus
Makayla Anne Kapalczynski
Erica Ji Hyun Kim
Hyunwoo Kim
Nathan Edmund Leung
Lucy Li
Bryana M Lopez
Andrés López Reyes
Ryan J López Torres
Amaya Elese Marshall
Abigail McCloskey
Lara Juan McKeown
Lindsey Rose Meeks
Angelica Melo
Janeliz Mercado-Santana
Michael Scott Minder
Anthony Morales
Amanda Rose Morningstar
Setareh Mosavi
Morad Nedal Nafea
Minah Nayeri
Khanh Quoc Nguyen
Manh D Nguyen
Alejandra Carolina Nogueira
Emily Olivia O'Connors
Acadia Dawn Ong
Darian Kaneil Phidd
Carmen Alondra Pinero Berrios
Sophia Jean Pliego
Harlan Poeng
Emily Nicole Gavin
Taylor R Harris
Jessica Nicole Henson
Emily Di Hu
Mikaela E Ivy
Emmanuel Sanyon Jallah
Hannah Faith Jones
Hongxin Liu
Christian Tyler Lumbag
Matthew George McKinney
Kyra Alexa Muhar
Jessica Ni
Johns Pulickal
Vanessa Ann Quinn
Fabian Quiroga
Yarelis Ramos Machado
Jeslaine Ramos-Echevarria
Paige Renee Yuhui Rhein
Yesinah Rivera Cruz
Olivia Paige Roberson
Tamiyah Robinson
Katelin Michelle Rockey
John Matthew Rodriguez Diaz
Sara Beth Rountree
Stacey Amelia Rubi
Javier Santiago
Kaitlyn Heather Sassaman
Colby Blake Scott
Emma Green Sewell
Omar Tarek Shams
Lewis Grantham Smelcer
Anais I Solomon
Brooke Lee Stamey
Seejah Stephens
Sidney Katherine Talma
Alexis Jeanne Thomson
Samantha A Tournesy
Andrew Van Tran
Veronica Trinidad Rodriguez
Adhya Hitarth Tripathi
Gustavo Ujaque-Santiago
Jonathan David Valladares
Caela Breanne Vasquez
Vanelys M Velez-Rodriguez
Tony Vo
Samuel John Walker
Kimberly Anna Yunshu Walters
Kaylee Whytal
Lauryn Riley Willoughby
Jingzhou Yang
Christian Rocco Young
Stacie Dee OBrien
Dylan Alexander Parco Payne
Andrew W Pedroff
Annemarie Rodriguez
Allen Thomas Scott
Kirsten Allyssa Seely
Andrea Maxine Sicat
Kimberly Ann Sloan
Sophia NiLen Tial
Kierra LeAnn Weber
Makayla Ann Weiskircher
Orlando Campus
Alaweya Abdulkader Idris
Devanand Umesh Adhin
Titilayo Oluwanifemi Ajibola
Joudi Alhabash
Krisslee Yillian Andino Semprit
Maliha Avais
Hayden Spencer Broadwater
Christopher J Cardello
Merial Chatila
Terrance Allen Cripe Jr
Cristina Cruz-Alvarez
Stephany Diaz Castro
Jose Javier Diaz Gonzalez
Lyla Yue Fesler
Alexis Christina Fraser
Jerelle Joshua Balite Garcia
Austin Tyler Garver
Zachary Gierek
Madelynn Ann Gordon
Rosalyn Gracia Colón
Callista Marie Hall
YiuTing Huang
Olivia Rose Humbard
Yasmine Gomaa Ramadan Ibrahim
Kaelyn Alexa Jackson
Rachel Laine Jarvis
Amy Jimenez
Christabel Grace Johnson
Madison Taylor Jones
Erica Noel Kaelin
Hyeonjin Kim
Michelle Kim
Michelle Lin
Huniya Masood
Michael William May
Ross McNeil
Sulady Marie Medina Vargas
Morgan Mitchell
Nicholas Khemai Mohan
So Young Moon
Elizabeth Ruth Morgan
Michael Morillo
Tina Marie Mumley
Mannal Ismail Musa
Patrick Joseph Myers
Melissa Ann Nadal
Christina Thuy Tam Nguyen
Tam Minh Nguyen Duong
Michael Nica
Doctor of Philosophy, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Mai Abdelmageed
Concentration in Pharmaceutics
Brian Gawronski
Concentration in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences
Asinamai Ndai
Concentration in Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy
Yanning Wang
Concentration in Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy
Mary-Pearl Tobechukwu Ojukwu
Joahn Marwin Okoumba Odjaga
Anjali Vimal Paragji
Shilynne Virginia Parker
Casey Deanna Picon
David J Pizarro
Chelsey Nicole Powell
Noel Rodriguez
Haven Alexandra Rogers
Gian Ruiz
Mariam Sabbagh Chatila
Sameh Fahmy Samaan
Lora A Sellers
Fahiba Shantona
Aileen Shin-Ann
Valeria Janice Sostre Sostre
Ashley Taylor Stephens
Keith Tinjaca
Matthew William Todd
Nguyet Katherine Tran
Cristian Javier Trujillo
Melanie Valderrama
Chrystal Kaye VanDeventer
Desrae Yvette Woods
Yehua Wang Concentration in Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy
Qingchen Zhang
Concentration in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences
RECOGNITION OF COLLEGE OF PHARMACY GRADUATES
Master of Science in Pharmacy
Specialization: Applied Pharmacoeconomics
Andrea Enterline (Summer ’25)
Mei Ka Fong (Summer ’25)
Sergey Kustov
Timothy Mason (Fall ’25)
Nadera Cathy Bacchus (Summer ’25)
Kaley Clevenger
Andrew Nelson (Summer ’25)
Devin Pence (Summer ’25)
Melanie Perry (Fall ’25)
Anastasia Stupecki
John Tata (Summer ’25)
Lin Zheng (Fall ’25)
Alexa de Gannes
Sasha Davis
Colette Hairston
Concentration: Clinical Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine
Nadia Sethi
Emily Ann Fitch
Sarah Jane Faro
James Hennig
Concentration: Clinical Toxicology
Ashley Abate
Jarrett Aylsworth
Camden Summer Creel
LTiah Davis
Kylie Gaskin
Concentration: Forensic DNA & Serology
Ayesha Malkani
Caylynn Aaron
Alexis Bailey
Tytionna Shilynn Baker
Concentration: Forensic Drug Chemistry
Cassidy Becker
Jhatai Dominique Daynuah
Concentration: Forensic Science
Alyssa De Casas
Madison De Lazier
Jazmyn Amiras Dydell
Jessica Ruth Farese (Fall ’25)
Destinee Footman
Jorayma Fortunato Beltre
Hannah Gentile
Marilou Basa (Fall ’25)
Hannah Bischel
Tara Alizadeh
Specialization: Managed Care Pharmacy Systems
Anastasiya Balandina (Fall ’25)
Ryan Benson
Kearra Bodnar
Jenay Cherron Brown
Concentration: Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Joseph Calihan
Crystal Celeste Coleman (Fall ’25)
Yi-Jou Chou
Anne E Cestare (Summer ’25)
Ahmed Farrag
Concentration: Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy
Khalil Kallala
Specialization: Pharmaceutical Regulation
Vidhi Gandhi
Brian Hardy (Summer ’25)
Ashlee Janusziewicz (Fall ’25)
Jennifer Olvedy (Summer ’25)
Rosa Osoria Rodriguez (Summer ’25)
Aditya Perumal (Summer ’25)
Specialization: Pharmaceutical Value Assessment Communication
Class Creed
As I embark upon my education at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, I will
Honor those who came before me and their scientific advancements
Hold myself accountable to continuously learn to optimize patient care understanding that my education does not end with a degree
Maintain exemplary character and uphold the standards of professionalism through honor service and integrity
Cherish diversity by embracing all facets of culture and acknowledging that each patient is a unique individual and advocate for health equity
Strive to be approachable and provide a safe and comfortable environment for my patients where they feel heard and respected
Uplift and support my peers in our journey towards pharmacy careers and ensure that no classmate gets left behind
Recognize the importance of taking care of my mental and physical health and maintaining a positive attitude, striving to be the best version of myself
Acknowledge my limitations, ask for help when I need it and learn from my mistakes
Communicate effectively without judgement and collaboratively to make thoughtful contributions to members of my interprofessional team, faculty and peers
Remember I am representing my family my peers the University of Florida and pharmacists everywhere
Advocate for changes necessary to further the profession of pharmacy and mentor future classes of pharmacists
Above all do no harm, keeping the patient in mind at all times by providing compassionate and empathetic care
Celebrate the wins and work through the losses, remembering the WHY when battling adversity
Treasure the opportunity and privilege of being a pharmacy student doing my best to make joyful memories
Evolve into the leader I am meant to be and enrich the world
Caps and Gowns, An Explanation
The academic regalia worn by graduating students and faculty in this era evolved from a style of dress worn by members of guilds and religious orders in medieval times The academic gown is worn by individuals who have earned a degree in higher education In addition, hoods are worn by graduate degree candidates but not by undergraduate degree candidates.
At the University of Florida, the lining of the hood has a blue chevron on an orange background to represent the university colors University faculty members who hold degrees from another college or university wear the colors of their alma mater
The velvet edging on the academic hood is the color that represents the particular degree held by the wearer Agricultural and Life Sciences and Forest Resources and Conservation share maize edging; Design, Construction and Planning and Building Construction are lilac; Audiology degrees have colonial blue edging; Business Administration and Accounting are the color drab; Dentistry is lilac; Education is light blue; Engineering degrees are represented by orange edging; Fine Arts degrees have brown edging; Health and Human Performance is sage green; Journalism and Communications is garnet; Law is purple; Liberal Arts is white, and Liberal Sciences is gold yellow; Medicine is green; Music is pink; Natural Resources and Environment is antique gold; Nursing is apricot; Doctor of Occupational Therapy is slate blue; Doctor of Pharmacy is olive; Philosophy is royal blue; Public Health degrees have salmon pink edging; Rehabilitation Counseling degrees have Nile green edging; and Veterinary Medicine is gray
Distinctions among sleeves indicate the type of degree held by the wearer A long, pointed sleeve indicates a bachelor’s degree, while a long, closed sleeve with a slit near the upper part of the arm designates a master’s degree A round, open sleeve identifies a doctoral degree
The blue doctoral regalia also has velvet running on the rest of the gown, including crossbars on the sleeve Colored tassels on the degree candidates’ caps indicate a candidate’s school or college
Chain of Office
This custom-made ornament is worn with the president’s regalia, symbolizing the authority and responsibilities of the office The chain is engraved with the names and service years of the university presidents The medallion’s centerpiece is a 1 3-carat diamond
Academic Mace
Dating back to the Middle Ages, the mace symbolizes strength and authority The UF ceremonial mace was created for the university’s sesquicentennial celebration in 2003 The 70-inch staff features an alligator sitting atop a globe The four pillars supporting the globe represent the four original colleges: Agriculture, Engineering, Law, and Liberal Arts The staff is carved from cherry wood The university’s chief marshal, who leads all academic processions, carries the mace
Diplomas
Diplomas will be mailed to the graduates’ diploma mailing address in July of 2026
Oath of a Pharmacist
“I promise to devote myself to a lifetime of service to others through the profession of pharmacy. In fulfilling this vow:
I will consider the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering my primary concerns
I will apply my knowledge, experience and skills to the best of my ability to assure optimal outcomes for all patients
I will respect and protect all personal and health information entrusted to me
I will accept the responsibility to improve my professional knowledge, expertise and self-awareness
I will hold myself and my colleagues to the highest principles of our profession’s moral, ethical and legal conduct.
I will embrace and advocate changes that improve patient care
I will utilize my knowledge, skills, experiences and values to prepare the next generation of pharmacists
I take these vows voluntarily with the full realization of the responsibility with which I am entrusted by the public ”
Alma Mater
Florida, our Alma Mater
Thy glorious name we praise
All thy loyal sons and daughters
A joyous song shall raise. Where palm and pine are blowing, Where southern seas are flowing, Shine forth thy noble Gothic walls, Thy lovely vine-clad halls
