Fall 2024 Graduate Commencement

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

COMMENCEMENT DECEMBER 19, 2024

COMMENCEMENT DECEMBER 19, 2024

Prelude Soohyun Yun, piano Keilie Perry ’24, flute Kailyn Stromer ’28, viola Bianca O’Niell ’26, cello *Processional “Pomp and Circumstance” Soohyun Yun, piano Opening Remarks Michael S. Wilder Provost *Invocation Jon Davis Associate Vice President for Spiritual Life Welcome Gabrielle Poole Dean, College of Health Sciences Hymn “Joy to the World” Led by Luke Baur ’27 Special Music “The Lord’s Prayer” Soohyun Yun, piano Introduction of Speaker Gabrielle Poole Dean, College of Health Sciences Commencement Address Michael S. Wilder Provost

COMMENCEMENT CONTINUED

Presentation of Candidates for Degrees Gabrielle Poole Dean, College of Health Sciences Conferring of Degrees Michael S. Wilder Provost *Alma Mater Led by Luke Baur ’27 Hail to thee, O Charleston Southern: Fount of God’s great truth and knowledge.

We thy children all sing praises ever more to thee.

Source of inspiration, beacon of salvation; Honor, Courage, Faith, and Justice These thou hast taught us day by day.

Hail to thee, O Charleston Southern, Alma Mater Hail! *Prayer of Consecration and Benediction Michael S. Wilder Provost **Recessional “March,” Franz Schubert Soohyun Yun, piano * The audience will please stand. ** The audience will remain in their places until graduates have dispersed.

Join us for a light reception following the ceremony.

CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES College of Education - Doctor of Education Bernard Herman Blaney Jr. Perceptions of Educators Regarding the Social-Emotional Abilities of African American Gifted Males

Kevin Demar Coakley Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in Action: Exploring Teacher Perception and Implementation in A Diverse New York High School

Chemir June Conyers Unveiling Perspectives: School Administrators' Experiences with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

Emma Lee Tartt A Qualitative Study of African American Families' Motivations to Homeschool Their Children Using the Microschool Method

Merrielee Ellis Waters

Special Education Teachers’ Self-Efficacy in Providing Transition Services for Students in Grades 9-12 with Disabilities

College of Education - Master of Education Jessica Nicole Collins Sarah Jill Hogle Dylan Hunter

Ruby M. King Shivanand Goud Mallam Noah Alford Miller

Devonte Turner

Hans A. Nielsen College of Business - Master of Business Administration Jesse E. Adams Devin J. Bowser Jr. Brandon Alexander Bowman Jordan Raye Berry Jessica Braun Kari Jo Brown Catherine Ann Carvill Cyrus Roneal Champagne III^ Christian Rene Chiriboga

Joshua Aaron Enoch Clare Marie Glauser Hannah Jackson Amaya Aaliyah Johnson Anna Grace Johnson Lacy Taylor Johnson Colson N. Lancaster Geordan Evan Livingston Anna Drue Ellis Maybin

Ellen Amanda Swofford Lauren Jane Totuszynski Jenna Rose Moran Ja'Courtney Omari Snipes Bailey Till Urban Daniel Eugene Woodward Christy Dilworth Wyndham

Hans A. Nielsen College of Business - Master of Arts Dylan Christopher Margolis

JazMyn Marcassia Singleton

CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES Hans A. Nielsen College of Business - Master of Science William Lee Amos II Matthew David Beadling Cheryl Lynn Gimple

Ashley Renee Maddox Ashley Ann Meckley Irene Nabisenke

Tanner Curtis Shepherd Astrid Carolina Villamizar Portilla Rebecca Joy Weatherstone

College of Adult and Professional Studies - Master of Science Bradley Austin Barker McKenzie Grace Hagwood Barker Allen T. Boyd Danny Antonio Bristol^ Kirk Maurice Brown Joseph D. Campbell^ Brittany Renee David

Trayson Blake Fowler Kristian Dexter Greene Michael David McGinnis III Shaquita Kenyetta McRae Edward Joseph Olsen Jr. Kierra Pittman Ashley Brianne Ramsey

Jared James Restmeyer Jaron D. Richardson Matthew J. Schmidt Britni C.B. Seigler

College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Master of Arts Morgan Elizabeth Beard

James Michael Blanton

Kimberly Naomi Janae Watson

College of Science and Mathematics - Master of Science Annie Mariah Butler

Priyanka Bangalore Kumaraswamy

Bria Nicole Wise

College of Nursing - Master of Science Jennifer Brooks-Simmons^ Haley Mae Dabbs

Betsy Hudson Savannah Elizabeth Lethco

^ U.S. Military Veteran

Nathan Lowe Christine Risher

ACADEMIC REGALIA AND CEREMONY The history of academic dress dates back to the 14th century. Their use was presumably for warmth in the unheated building during European winters. Now, they are reminders of the years of work required to earn academic degrees. The color and pageantry of the academic regalia prevalent in the United States today was fixed by convention in 1895 and revised in 1932, 1959, and 1986.

There are three basic academic gowns. The gown for bachelor degrees has pointed sleeves and is worn closed. The gown for master degrees has oblong sleeves with slit openings at the elbow and the base hanging down. It is worn with a hood, and the color indicates the discipline of the degree. The doctoral gown is tastefully ornamented with colored velvet down the front and three chevrons on the bell-shaped sleeves. Only presidential gowns have a fourth chevron on the sleeves. Both the master’s and doctor’s hoods have a velvet border, with the doctoral hood being the more elaborate. A gold tassel on the doctor’s cap replaces the black* on the master’s and bachelor’s caps.

The colors lining the hoods worn by the faculty are those of the institution granting the degree and the velvet border indicates the branch of knowledge in which the degree was acquired. The colors for the subjects are:

Arts and Humanities White Business Drab Economics Copper Education Light Blue Fine Arts Brown Law Purple Library Science Lemon Medicine Green Music Pink Nursing Apricot Philosophy Dark Blue Physical Education Sage Green Physical Therapy Teal Science Golden Yellow Theology Scarlet

GRADUATION BIBLE In addition to their diplomas, each graduate will be presented with a CSU Graduation Bible provided through the Frank J. and Brenda B. Johnson Bible Endowment and the Lockman Foundation.