DEGREE CELEBRATION
College of Visual and Performing Arts
From the Dean
We celebrate you today. We honor you today. We are so glad to be with you today.
And we are so proud (today and always) of your work as artists, scholars, teachers, managers, and students. Some of you who have been in class or rehearsal with me know that I enjoy playing around with words. If you have heard this already, you may skip ahead.
But for the rest, linger with me on the word student for a moment. It comes from Latin (the infinitive form is studere), and the original meanings are full of life and juice. When we are students, when we study something, we engage in it with zeal. We are eager for it. We strive toward it. We care about it.
I think that’s what artists do too, which is what makes studying the arts such a privilege and a pleasure. We never stop engaging, striving, caring, loving this work. Our zeal is a lifetime pursuit. It’s been our pleasure and privilege to be with you on this portion of your journey as students—in all of those rich and productive senses.
Congratulations, graduates! Keep studying. Rick Davis
Dean,
College of Visual and Performing Arts
College of Visual and Performing Arts
The College of Visual and Performing Arts was established to create an academic environment in which the arts may be considered both as individual disciplines and as interdisciplinary forms that strengthen each other. Courses of study in the college are designed to lead students to careers as creators, performers, teachers, managers, and scholars of the arts, as well as to prepare students for the challenges of a rapidly changing world. In addition to providing strong programs for arts majors and minors, the college strives to ensure that the entire George Mason University student population has the opportunity to experience and study the arts as a key component of a well-rounded liberal arts education.
PROGRAM MARSHALS
Stephanie Benassi, School of Art
Eric Thornton, Arts Management Program
Eric Piccione, Computer Game Design Program
Karen Reedy, School of Dance
Tommy Britt, Film and Video Studies Program
Megan Lavengood, Dewberry Family School of Music
Emily Green, Dewberry Family School of Music
Kevin Dunayer, School of Theater
PRELUDE: Ceremonial Music
Dewberry School of Music Brass Quintet
Grace Bascom, trumpet
Alexander Romanov, trumpet
August Stamper, horn
Miguel Zayas, BM Performance candidate, trombone
Carson Ross, tuba
PROCESSIONAL
“Pomp and Circumstance” by Edward Elgar Dewberry School of Music Brass Quintet
COLLEGE MARSHALS
Kristin Johnson-Neshati, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Lauren Wagner, Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs
The Academic Processional
Rick Davis, Dean
Betty R. Siegel, Mason Arts Awardee
Rose Pascarell, Vice President for University Life
Kristin Johnson-Neshati, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Lauren Wagner, Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs
Justin Sutters, Associate Dean of Research and Assessment
School Directors
Program Directors
Faculty of the College of Visual and Performing Arts
Graduates
Order of Convocation Exercises
WELCOME
Rick Davis, Dean
SCHOOL OF DANCE PERFORMANCE
Susan Shields, Director
Many Brims by Branndi Lewis
Dancers: Madison Egbon; Jaelyn Perkins; Mia Rodriguez; Emily Shupe, BFA Candidate; Emma Simons, BFA Candidate; Amirys Trinidad Maldonado
DEWBERRY FAMILY SCHOOL OF MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Linda Apple Monson, Director
Sabre Dance by Aram Khachaturian
Suyuan Carrasco, BM candidate, violin
Ying Yang, DMA candidate, piano
SCHOOL OF ART HIGHLIGHTS
Zoë Charlton, Director
A Tribute to Our Graduates
MASTER OF ARTS MANAGEMENT
Karalee Dawn MacKay, Director
The Vine and Arts Management Graduates
COMPUTER GAME DESIGN PRESENTATION
Sang Nam, Director Class of 2026 – We Make People Smile
FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES FILM TRAILERS
Cynthia Fuchs, Director
Film and Video Studies Senior Project Highlights
THEATER PERFORMANCE
Nicholas Kfoury Horner, Interim Director
“I Feel So Much Spring” from A New Brain by William Finn Performed by the School of Theater
MASON ARTS AWARD PRESENTATION AND REMARKS
Betty R. Siegel, Director
Access/VSA: A Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program
PRESENTATION OF DEGREES
Rick Davis, Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Zoë Charlton, Director, School of Art
Names read by Robert Yi, Assistant Director, and Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz, Associate Professor
Karalee Dawn MacKay, Director, Arts Management Program
Names read by Eric Thornton, Marketing and Recruitment Manager
Sang Nam, Director, Computer Game Design Program
Names read by Seth Hudson, Associate Professor
Susan Shields, Director, School of Dance
Names read by Lawrence M. Jackson, Professor
Cynthia Fuchs, Director, Film and Video Studies Program
Names read by Ben Steger, Associate Professor
Linda Apple Monson, Director, Reva and Sid Dewberry
Family School of Music
Names read by Tom C. Owens, Associate Director, and Gregory Robinson, Director of Graduate Studies
Nicholas Kfoury Horner, Interim Director, School of Theater
Names read by Mimsi Janis, Associate Professor
WELCOME TO CVPA ALUMNI
Cate Bechtold, BFA Dance ‘09 Director, Internships and Community Programs, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts
CLOSING REMARKS
Rick Davis, Dean
RECESSIONAL
Mason Arts Awardee
BETTY R. SIEGEL
Director, Access/VSA: A Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program
BETTY R. SIEGEL is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in making arts and cultural practices, spaces, and experiences accessible. She is deeply committed to ensuring that people with disabilities of all ages and from every community have equal opportunities to learn through and engage in the arts without discrimination.
For 25+ years, Siegel has served as director of the Office of Accessibility and VSA at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. During her tenure, she launched LEAD® (Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability), an annual international convening; established the Access/VSA International Network (accessvsa.org); supported K-12 arts education for students with disabilities; and advanced career pathways for emerging and established artists and performers with disabilities.
She has written and co-written, as well as served as expert advisor, on nationally recognized publications on accessibility, creative aging, inclusive education, and ADA compliance, including The Next Wave in Creative Aging: Creative Aging Innovation Forums Cross-Industry Report, Arts on Prescription for Older Adults: A Scoping Review, Assistive Listening Devices: A Guide for Performing Arts Settings, and Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrator’s Handbook.
An in-demand speaker, Siegel delivers keynotes, lectures, training, and technical assistance worldwide, reaching more than 2,500 individuals and organizations annually. In 2024, she received a presidential appointment to the U.S. Access Board. Her work has been recognized with the 2022 PVA Barrier-Free America Award, 2025 Zero Project Award, and by being listed in the inaugural Forbes Accessibility List (2025).
Siegel holds a JD from the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law and founded Access Advisory Group in 2021 to provide accessibility consulting, training, and technical assistance.
Victoria N. Salmon Outstanding Graduate Student Award
The recipients of the Victoria N. Salmon Outstanding Graduate Student Award are currently enrolled CVPA graduate students who demonstrate thoughtful and artistic reflection while creating highquality research in the arts. The students’ original research in their component of the arts will enhance an understanding of the arts in general.
Sirena Dib, MA Arts Management Moustafa O. Mohammed, MAT
Academic Awards
SCHOOL OF ART
Academic and Artistic Achievement Awards recognize outstanding graduating students who have excelled academically and artistically throughout their course of study.
Master of Arts in Teaching Award
Daniella Reyes, MAT
MFA Visual Arts Award
Steven Luu, MFA Visual Arts
MFA Graphic Design Award
Mackenzie Hoffman, MFA Graphic Design
Outstanding Undergraduate BFA Studio Art Student
Jessica Stokes, BFA Art and Visual Technology
Outstanding Undergraduate BFA Design Student
Reem Awad, BFA Art and Visual Technology
Outstanding Undergraduate BA Student
Camille Koslo, BA Art and Visual Technology
ARTS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Erin Isabelle Edwards Gaffney Award
This award is named in honor of Erin Gaffney, MA Arts Management ’07, who was instrumental in advancing new programming within the College of Visual and Performing Arts, graduated with High Honors, and was the first recipient of the Dean’s Award. Gaffney passed away on July 10, 2008. The award is presented to an outstanding student who exemplifies Erin’s respect for self, for others, and for the power of the arts to transform.
Sara Boyce, MA Leadership Award
This award is given to recipients of the MA in Arts Management who have demonstrated the ideals of scholarship and professionalism, and promoted and supported the reputation of the program.
Regina Sim, MA
Outstanding Achievement Award
This award is given to MA in Arts Management recipients with a top-ranked GPA and who also exemplify the ideals of arts management as a field, bringing together the art form, the artist, and the audience. The recipients fully represent tomorrow’s arts leaders: collaborative, bright, entrepreneurial, and grounded.
Pamela Butler, MA
Dee-Anne Van Tassel, MA
Rising Arts Leader Award
This award is given to an Arts Management Minor recipient with a top-ranked GPA who exemplified excellence in their internship placement and classroom contribution and demonstrated initiative and leadership in arts management program activities and in the field.
Sophia Ferolito, BFA Theater, Minor in Arts Management
COMPUTER GAME DESIGN PROGRAM
Academic Excellence
This award is given to the students with the highest GPA in the graduating class.
Aidan W. Martin, BFA
Carol Thiebeau, BFA
Design and Artistic Achievement
This award is given to the most accomplished game artists or designers in the graduating class.
Andrew Mcgaffic, BFA
John G. Torres, BFA
Game Programming Achievement
This award is given to the most accomplished game programmers in the graduating class.
Kyle A. Kramer, BFA
Aidan W. Martin, BFA
SCHOOL OF DANCE
Excellence in Academic Endeavors
This award is given to a graduating dance major with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher who has demonstrated intellectual curiosity and creativity.
Peyton Murphy, BFA, BA Anthropology
Emily Shupe, BFA, BA Biology
Excellence in Performance
This award is given to a graduating dance major who demonstrates professional commitment to the field, and who has performed in numerous, diverse dance roles.
Emma Simons, BFA
Kalen Simpson, BFA
Outstanding Achievement in the Major
This award is given to a graduating dance major who participated fully in every aspect of the program, earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, pursued every opportunity for growth and development, and demonstrated professional commitment to the field.
Joshua Dias, BFA
Asiah Moore, BFA, Minor in Arts Management
Outstanding Service to the Field
This award is given to a graduating dance major in recognition of outstanding service to the field of dance.
Sanaa Fairley, BFA, Minor in Psychology
T’aja Williams, BFA
FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES PROGRAM
Academic Excellence
This award recognizes the students with the highest GPA with 120 credits at George Mason.
Christopher Bartolotto, BA
Carlea Jo Maben, BA
Academic Achievement
This award recognizes the students with the highest GPA with credits transferred to George Mason.
Marco Duran-Pimentel, BA
Isabella Larken Koontz, BA
Isaias A. Segui-Asad, BA
Palika Rae Sridurongrit, BA
Professional Achievement Award
This award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in professional preparation for the film and video studies field.
Riley Madison Ater, BA
Natalia Yurievna Melnikova, BA
Chrysanna Sotos, BA
Film at Mason Service Award
This award recognizes outstanding service to the Film and Video Studies Program.
Kajwan Alavi, BA
Sujay Khona, BA
Isaias A. Segui-Asad, BA
Selma Veli, BA
REVA AND SID DEWBERRY FAMILY SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Undergraduate Academic Excellence Award
Alyssa Cabassa, BM
Nick Edwards, BA
Sebastian Perry, BM
Marianna Wolpert, BM
Undergraduate Performance Excellence Award
Suyuan Carrasco, BM
Benjamin Lopez, BM
Ponenya Min, BM
Daniel Olenick, BM
Graduate Academic Excellence Award
Paul Bratcher, DMA
Hannah Cayem, MM
Julie Ann McDonald, DMA
Catherine Page Quigley, MM
Michael Stern, DMA
Graduate Performance Excellence Award
Christopher Bell, MM
Paul Bratcher, DMA
Hannah Cayem, MM
Michael Stern, DMA
Ying Yang, DMA
Departmental Service Excellence Award
Suyuan Carrasco, BM
Nick Edwards, BA
Arthur Martin, BM
Hunter Swanson, MM
SCHOOL OF THEATER
Excellence in Performance
This award is given to graduating actors whose work at George Mason has exemplified the talent, dedication, and collaborative spirit required to enter the professional theater.
Brea Davis, BFA
Kai Yoffe, BFA
Excellence in Design and Production
This award is given to a graduating designer, stage manager, or technician whose work at George Mason has demonstrated mastery in one or more of the technical and design areas and commitment to the professional theater.
Mary Clare Bernier, BA
Eli Nguyen, BA
Excellence in Writing and Dramaturgy
This award is given to a graduating playwright, screenwriter, or dramaturg whose work at George Mason has been carried out with distinction and elevated the collaborative achievements of one or more Mason Players production.
Isabel Nemati, BA
Katherine P. Rowe, BFA
Excellence in Academics
This award is given to graduating theater majors with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher whose academic achievements across the university have been outstanding.
Sophia R. Ferolito, BFA
Ella Grant, BA
Outstanding Achievement in the Major
This award is given to graduating theater majors who participated fully in the program, earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, pursued every opportunity for growth and development, and demonstrated professional commitment to the field.
Spencer L. Wilde, BFA
Graduates
ART
AND VISUAL TECHNOLOGY
Master of Fine Arts, Concentration in Graphic Design
Mackenzie Ann O’Neal Hoffman
Master of Fine Arts, Concentration in Visual Arts
Steven Luu
Master of Arts in Teaching
Olivia Margo Blondin
Maria Jose Siguenza
Daniela Reyes Atencia
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Haley K. Aban
Senet Abrha
*Ikraam Mohammed Ahmed
Athicha Asawatungsathian
Reem H. Awad
Gil Aybar Jr.
Alexandra Benson
Travius Best Jr.
Cougar W. Brown
Kaloni Butcher
Sung-Ho Chang
Brooklyn M. Chavers
Kylie H. Chen
Sara C. Chen
Kaylee Micha Clark
Davin Alexander Coltes
Audrey Cottle
Carmen Cruz
Brendan Francis Curley
Fiona Maeve Dale
Asharee Davis
Jordan Edwards
Diego Miguel Eljaiek
*Claire Evans
Hanieh Faani Tabrizi Nezhaad
Delaney Falls
Dina I. Fraihat
Teah Christiarne Fredericks
Armoni Futrell
Andrew Gamboa Velasco
Samantha Margaret Gerken
Scott Gladwell
*Kylee C. Grooms
Isha Gupta
Sarah M. Hanger
Jennifer Lynn Hayes
Grace High
Hope Emily Hilten
Amelia Grace Irausquin
Sunhyang Jang
Samantha Anne Johnson
*Wislers Ladras Joseph
Julianne Doroth Joven
Zayna Nader Kalifa
Harry Saharat Khongsawat
*Thuyan Lai
Thia C. Lam
Ha Le
Tiffany M. Leblanc
Lindsay M. Leon
*Ethan Mathew Lunger
Priscilla J. Maradiaga
Claudia Martinez Garcia
Jemila Mashood
Regina Grace May
*Matthew Isaiah Mcmillon
Karla L. Mejia-Coreas
Gabriel N. Montilla
Alexander Krishna Poduval
*John R. Rainey
*Jaiden Reefer
Jeimy D. Rivas-Funes
*Vaughn S. Russell
Luis A. Serrano
Ibtisam Shuaib
Anna Simakova
Rajvir Singh
Romulfo Sison III
*Aileen Alejandra Soliz
Kendal Peyton Stafford
Jessica Stokes
Hibatallah Z. Tadlaoui
Kate A. Talonova
Julia E. Thomas
Anthony Vasquez
Abigail Faith Warren
*Herbert Burke White III
Hasset H. Worku
Bachelor of Arts
*Gabrielle Arhin
Logan D. Arias
Nashmia Aziz
*Anthony Chris Bahizi
Jack Cole Bourque
Aaron Daniel Burbano
Micheal R. Campbell
Sunya A. Chen
Evangel Cromley
Clara Cucu
Sabrina Garcia
Marc Anthony Guerrero
Kara Gustafson
*Eugene Kim
Victoria K. Klyushina
Camille E. Koslo
Robert Medrano
Julia R. Miller
*William Morales
Alexandra Renee Nantier
Katherine Ngoc Nghiem
Joy Eunseo Oh
Ernest Theodore Romanos Owen
Hyeong-Gi Park
Jessie Ka Park
Madison Pitzer
Iyman W. Rahman
Erik Rushing
Avery Shippen
*Charles Edward Smith
Juliana Rose Wagner
Lauren Rebecca Yowell
ARTS MANAGEMENT
Master of Arts
Pamela Ann Butler
Casimir August Campagna
Jiaying Dai
Ainsley Carroll Doughty
Rachelle Etienne-Robinson
*Ashley Elizabeth Fuller
Jayme Alexis Howard
Lauren B. Rigby
Regina Jo Sim
Dee-Anne Marie Van Tassel
Bronwyn Cady Weikert
COMPUTER GAME DESIGN
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Olivia Hope Bigelow
Matthew J. Burgos
Zubair I. Choudhury
Grace Dorl
Daniel John Dougherty
Chadwick Quimen Edralin II
*Gloria B. El Hage
*Eslam Elprince
Ilhan G. Evirgen
Keith Sterling Fourhman
Leo L. Goodman IV
Aidan Gurley
Jacob Gabriel Hernandez
Aiden C. Higgins
Jeffrey Jabagat
Jenee’ Amaya Jones
Liam J. Kelley
Geonwoo Kim
Yuhyun Kim
Kyle A. Kramer
Hao X. Lin
Trinidy Marie Lujan
*Roberto Maldonado III
Bryan Martell-Rios
Aidan W. Martin
Bennett Walker Mason
Andrew Mcgaffic
*Stephanie Leni Marie Mcinnis
Zachary Allen Monts
*Yara C. Munguia
Oliver Swanson Allen Nan
Emily Ann Naroditsky
Matthew Ng
Vincent Nguyen
Adrian Panizo
Aracely Perez
Jacob Holden Ramberg
Mia Resko
Adam Reynolds-Harms
Breeana H. Rivera
Sean D. Rorie
Autumn Ryan
Alexander Richard Scrivner
Abraham Moustafa Shamma
Tony Somchay
Caleb Mekhi Stanley
Chance Walter Stickley
Raha Talebi
Carol Thiebeau
John G. Torres
Marsalis White
Dorian G. Yanez Wickman
Jayson Wilkolaski
DANCE
Bachelor of Fine Arts
*Jordan Simone Antoine
Joshua Diehl Dias
*Olivia Raquel Eaton
Sanaa Arielle Fairley
Emily G. Flugrad
Hannah Freed
Sydney Frances Heldman
*Jada J. Hicks
Aleza C. Inman
Kya Brianna LaSister-Hodge
Isabella Raley Leonard
Asiah S. Moore
Peyton Elizabeth Murphy
*Nateisha S. Reaves
*Emily Marie Shupe
Emma G. Simons
Kalen Amai Simpson
Emma Michelle Ann Wegner
T’aja Williams
FILM AND VIDEO STUDIES
Bachelor of Arts
Aania Aftab
Kajwan Alavi
Samir S. Alimov
Riley Madison Ater
*Maja C. Bukhari
*Cristian Cabral Rios
Marlysse Isabella Calling
Rachel Ann Coleman
Meghan Ally Colovos
*Justin W. Dodgion
Marco Duran-Pimentel
Mohamed Sameh Elhennawy
KeAndre Aquarius Foster
William A. Gonzalez
Aidan Harris-Cross
Jayson Arvell Hartsfield
Jaiden Alexandria Hubbard
Isabella Larken Koontz
*Jackson S. Kraatz
Branden E. Lee
Rose Michelle Lomax
*Kalei Anne P. Marantan
Natalia Yurievna Melnikova
Aidan Tyler Morris
Mel S. Moya-Jaldin
Patricia O’shea
*Devin Lee Sanders
Mikayla R. Scott
Isaias A. Segui-Asad
Chrysanna Sotos
Palika Rae Sridurongrit
*Devin Patrick Sutphin
Laila Manal-Sarah Tarbush
Kevin H. Vu
Carleigh Claire Williams
Lars Yates
MUSIC
Doctor of Musical Arts
Jiye Kim
An Analytical Study of Selected Preludes from Uzong Choe’s 12 Preludes pour Piano: Intersections of Western Techniques and Korean Aesthetics
Advisor: Tom C. Owens, PhD, Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Julie Ann McDonald
The Flute in the Chamber Music of Charles Ives
Advisor: Tom C. Owens, PhD, Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Michael W. Stern
Redefining Rehearsal: Ensemble Conductors as Transformational Leaders
Advisor: Soo Han, DMA, Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Andrew C. Wood
Dances and Arias: Learning and Performing Edward Gregson’s “Cornet Concerto”
Advisor: Michael Nickens, DMA, Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music, and Director of Campus Life Ensembles and Collaborative Arts
Ying Yang
A Conceptual Integration Network (CIN) Analysis of Selected Works from Lisan Wang’s Multimedia Piano Set: Impressions of Paintings by Kaii Higashiyama
Advisor: Simon Prosser, PhD, Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music
Master of Music
Christopher John Bell
Hannah Cayem
*Zoe Jorgenson
*Catherine Page Quigley
Hunter Swanson
Artist Certificate, Piano Performance
Yechan Lim
Bachelor of Music
Mykia Buford
Alyssa Jaelle Cabassa
Suyuan Carrasco
Kaylee Michele Cobb
Theodore F. Dunn
Grace Fullinwider
Estefany G. Garcia
Stellan Kristofer Hinz
*Lisette Joo
Benjamin Isaiah Lopez
Ponenya Min
Daniel James Olenick
Sebastian Perry
Jaylin Nicole Revies
Joshua Slutsky
Todd F. Wilcox
Raven Wilson
Marianna Louise Wolpert
Miguel Raul Zayas
Bachelor of Arts
Ali Paige Coburn
Jabari Leslie Deroux
Nick Edwards
*Emily Anne Gill
Laura K. Hanson
Jade A. Lemus
Akanksha Ashok Padheriya
Josephine V. Phillips
Keegan B. Phillips
Alana Y. Proctor
Evan Christopher Sites
Raj Vats
Maya M. Weismiller
THEATER
Master of Fine Arts, Concentration in Theater
Erin Driscoll Gardiner
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Gianna Battaglia
Sophia R. Ferolito
Shannon Harrel
Aurora Juliet Powell
Katherine P. Rowe
Adia Eve Spezza
Spencer L. Wilde
Kai Lewis Iponohea Yoffe
Bachelor of Arts
Andrew Michael Brown
Eli R. Nguyen
Justin Christopher Valentine