F riday , the twenty - second o F a ugust in the year two thousand twenty - F ive
T he B oard of T rus T ees ,
P residen T e liza B e T h a . r ider , and T he f aculT y and s Taff of
W elcome you T o
F riday , the twenty - second o F a ugust in the year two thousand twenty - F ive
Processional*
Marshals
Kadee L. Crandall, Ph.D.
Kevin Peters, Ed.D.
Deborah Waltermire, DrPH, OTR/L Students
Marshals
Faculty
Kurt M. DeGoede, Ph.D.
Kevin T. Shorner-Johnson, Ph.D.
Grand Marshal Elizabeth A. Newell, Ph.D.
Senior Administrators & Deans
President’s Party
Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
Matthew W. Telleen, J.D., Ph.D.
Student Assembly Chief Officer Speaker Kyler C. Henne ’27
Associate Provost for Student Learning & Dean of Faculty
Class Officer ’25 & Student Assembly Treasurer ’26
Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students
Jodi L. Lancaster, Ph.D.
Griffen L. MacLaren ’25, M.Ed.’26
Nichole J. Gonzalez, MBA
Lead Peer Mentors Trey A. Firestone ’27
Emma R. O’Toole ’26
Jonathan T. Stebick ’26
Emily N. Witmer ’26
Chaplain & Director of Spiritual & Religious Life
Mace-Bearer
Rev. Amy B. Shorner-Johnson
Tara L. Moore ’01, Ph.D., P’25
President Elizabeth A. Rider, Ph.D.
Opening Remarks
*Audience members, if able, are invited to stand.
Matthew W. Telleen, J.D., Ph.D.
Student Welcome
Recognition of Newly Promoted Faculty
Kyler C. Henne ’27
Jodi L. Lancaster, Ph.D. & Recognition of Academic Achievements & Awards
Reading of the Class Letter
Presentation of the Class of 2029
Convocation Presidential Address
Candle Lighting & Litany of Light
Griffen L. MacLaren ’25, M.Ed.’26
Nichole J. Gonzalez, MBA
Elizabeth A. Rider, Ph.D.
Trey A. Firestone ’27
Emma R. O’Toole ’26
Jonathan T. Stebick ’26
Emily N. Witmer ’26
Lead Peer Mentors
Alma Mater* Olivia R. Pituch ’26
Jennie Miller Via, Class of 1909
Revised by James Haines, Ph.D. ’81 /
Arr. Darrell Douglas
Kaitlin M. Riley ’27
Nate R. Kubasko ’28
Zachary A. Deah ’26
Interfaith Blessing of the Learners* Rev. Amy B. Shorner-Johnson
Recessional*
Cristina E. Ciocirlan, Ph.D. Promoted to Professor of Business
a C ademi C a C hievements and a wards
2024-2025 Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence Recipient
Suzanne E. Webster, DPhil.
Ralph W. Schlosser Professor of English and Director of the English Literature Program
2024-2025 Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship Recipient
Conrad L. Kanagy, Ph.D. Professor of Sociology Emeritus
2024-2025 Ranck Prize for Research Excellence Recipient
Cristina E. Ciocirlan, Ph.D. Professor of Business
2024-2025 Schmidt Prize for Excellence in Student-Faculty Service Recipient
Kurt M. DeGoede, Ph.D. Professor of Engineering
Emma Balanca, Health Sciences
Thatcher M. Baney, Biology - Health Professions
Emory T. Barton, Legal Studies
Ava S. Barton, Business Administration
Farnaz Bazyar, Computer Science
Elizabeth R. Beehler, Communications - Public Relations
Katherine J. Bendall, Health Sciences
Zachary J. Benetzky, Mathematical Business
Kara M. Bidgood Enders, Early Childhood Education
Stefanos P. Billis, Engineering
Sarah N. Birner, Biology - Health Professions
Ellayna L. Boyer, Japanese
Kylie M. Breen, Business Administration
Carson H. Brooks, Business Administration
Sofia H. Brzezicki, Health Sciences
Logan G. Burns, Criminal Justice
Hannah R. Bushey, Psychology
Grace M. Canally, Graphic Design
Madison A. Cannon, Psychology - PreMCP 3+2
Curtis J. Carvell, Biology - Health Professions
Malorey M. Castle, English Literature
Marissa S. Clapsadle, Early Childhood Education
Tristan L. Coleman, Business Administration
Macey C. Coll, Early Childhood Education
Lee Colwell, Fine Art
Logan B. Crossett, Marketing
Jake S. Crossett, Actuarial Science
Whitney S. Davis, Engineering
Ashton M. Diehl, Accounting
Ryley K. Douglass, Music Therapy
Samuel W. Dreikorn, International Business
Cassandra M. Drumheiser, Psychology
Brian J. Duva, Computer Science
Reid P. Edwards, Engineering
Julia A. Finley, Social Work
Trey A. Firestone, Graphic Design
Wil M. Gaskins, Health Sciences
Shawn R. Gipe, Legal Studies
Claire A. Grau, Health Sciences
Rebecca A. Green, Political Science
Luke R. Hansen, Neuroscience
Jibrail M. Hattar, Biology - Health Professions
Brady S. Hawkins, Business Administration
Ellie Heilman, Biology - Health Professions
Riley N. Hennelly, Health Sciences
Samuel E. Herndon, Finance
Ethan R. Hoch, Exercise Science
Anika S. Hodgdon, Biology
Emma N. Houck, Social Work
Lila Hughes, Music
William D. Inglis, Health Sciences
Emma J. Jefferson, Biology - Health Professions
Hannah M. Jessep, Music Therapy
Olivia A. Jones, Music Therapy
Munia B. Kamal, Engineering
Maeve J. Keefe, Early Childhood Education
Zachary R. Kleinfelter, Political Science
Ryan N. Kraychik, Biology - Health Professions
Acacia N. Kreider, Actuarial Science
Jack D. Kriner, Communications - Digital Media Production
Finn M. Kristan, Finance
Ava M. Legarht, Biology - Health Professions
Hannah J. Long, Engineering
Gwenyth M. Lottero, Engineering
Hannah R. Lupfer, Health Sciences
Robert Lynch, Chemistry
Chelsea A. Mascioli, Early Childhood Education
Sophia I. Massotti, Graphic Design
Meredith K. McCahan, Health Sciences
Jacob T. McCarthy, Actuarial Science
Anastasia G. McGettigan, English Professional Writing
Alana E. McKim, Public Health (BS)
Elizabeth C. Meyer, Health Sciences
Alexandra L. Meyerhoff, Marketing
Katelin M. Midura, Communications - Digital Media Production
Ella R. Monthei, Communications - Digital Media Production
Aileigh E. Mulligan, Communications - Public Relations
Eleanor Muskens, Psychology
Madisyn R. Musselman, Mathematical Business
Gabrielle N. Oliphant, Health Sciences
Kiera G. O’Sullivan, Health Sciences
Adam M. Pacelli, Finance
Caitlyn E. Peffer, Actuarial Science
Gabrielle M. Petridge, Healthcare Administration
Emmarose Pietila, Fine Art
Marissa Puleo, Early Childhood Education
Jolie M. Revenis, Early Childhood Education
Olivia M. Rissling, Biology - Health Professions
Emma A. Robinson, English Professional Writing
Logan R. Ryan, Engineering
Salvatore F. Salomone, Communications - Journalism
Landon V. Scully, Finance
Hannah J. Sharp, Biology Education
Emily J. Spedden, Communications - Public Relations
Jillian M. Spiller, English Education
Anna Stoddard, Accounting
Lindy C. Stoner, Communications - Public Relations
Kayla M. Thomas, Fine Art
Neena F. Thomas, Health Sciences
Annika Torkar, Accounting
Brooklyn R. Torquato, English Literature
Josiah Twigg, Environmental Science
Andrew W. Urenko, Computer Science
Maya Veiss, Business Administration
Keira J. Waldo, Psychology
Mackenzie R. Watts, Health Sciences
Hanna N. Weller, English Education
Kate Wellons, Biology
James A. Witmer, Engineering
Hannah M. Wood, Biology - Health Professions
Lauren E. Woodruff, Communications - Journalism
Jason K. Woodworth, Business Administration
Jaylee N. Zielinski, Health Sciences
Skye N. Zolomij, Criminal Justice
Olivia R. Zortman, Psychology - PreMCP 3+2
Emergent Scholars hold at least a 3.75 cumulative GPA at the end of their first three semesters. They must be full-time undergraduate students with at least 42 credits. Note some scholars are not listed due to FERPA restrictions. The above names are accurate as of Dec. 2024.
Patrick S. Allen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English Literature & Program Director
Robert E. Aronson, DrPH, Adjunct Faculty, Public Health
Justin A. Badgerow, D.M.A., Professor of Music
Leyla Batakci, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics
Jean C. Batista Abreu, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Engineering
Wendy L. Bellew, Assistant Teaching Professor of Education & Program Director
Jean-Paul Benowitz, Director of Prestigious Scholarships & Public Heritage Studies
Diane M. Bridge, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Mark R. Brinton, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Engineering
Daniel Burns, Adjunct Faculty, Fine Art
Cristina E. Ciocirlan, Ph.D., Professor of Business
Kadee L. Crandall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice & Program Director
Laura B. Cunningham, OTD, OTR/L, Assistant Teaching Professor of Occupational Therapy
Elizabeth D. Dalton, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology & Program Director
Kurt M. DeGoede, Ph.D., Professor of Engineering
Hayden R. Denesha, D.M.A., Artist-in-Residence, Music Program
Terri Reichley Dennehy, D.Ed., OTR/L, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
Emily Yoder Frantz, MMT, MT-BC, Assistant Teaching Professor of Music Therapy & Program Director
Jaime L. Gibson, Adjunct Faculty, Psychology
Nathan D. Gibson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science
Tamara L. Gillis, Ed.D., Professor of Communications
Anya Goldina, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology
Bryan Greenberg, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing
Ali A. Lanyon, Adjunct Faculty, Communications
Peilong Li, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Computer Science
James A. MacKay, Ph.D., A. C. Baugher Professor of Chemistry
Christina M. Martin, Adjunct Faculty, Mathematical Sciences
Kyle M. McGuire, Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach
Sean P. Melvin, J.D., Associate Professor of Business
Jared E. Miller, CPA, Assistant Teaching Professor of Accounting
Elizabeth A. Newell, Ph.D., Professor of Biological Anthropology
Robert M. Northington, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology & Environmental Science
Kevin Peters, Ph.D., Assistant Teaching Professor of Education
Terrie L. Riportella, Edgar T. Bitting Chair of Accounting & Director of the Accounting Program
Jeffrey A. Rood, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry
Rev. Amy B. Shorner-Johnson, Chaplain & Director of Spiritual & Religious Life
Bekah Slattery, Head Softball Coach
William M. Sloane, J.D., DPhil, D.Ed., D.C.L, DBA, Adjunct Faculty, Business
Adam J. Swartzendruber, , DHEd, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, TSAC-F, Assistant Teaching Professor of Exercise Science & Program Director
Nobuaki Takahashi, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Japanese
Gene A. Thomas, Assistant Director of the Learning Zone
Jingwen “Jessica” Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Suzanne E. Webster, DPhil., Ralph W. Schlosser Professor of English & Program Director
Jennifer Legault Wittmeyer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology
Debra L. Wohl, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Stacey L. Zimmerman, Director of Leadership & New Student/Family Orientation
Leader: Each of us has talents, abilities, knowledge, and purpose.
Response: We strive to use our talents, abilities, knowledge, and purpose to make our community stronger.
Leader: Each one of us is committed to the College’s motto of Educate for Service.
Response: We commit to using our education to serve, grow, create, and discover.
Leader: Etown values integrity, courage, and a willingness to try new things.
Response: We are committed to acting with integrity, being courageous and having a growth mindset.
Leader: You all belong here and we are Etown because of you.
Response: We will uphold the sense of belonging for every student and will build community in our classrooms, in athletics, in our clubs, and all around campus.
We hail you Alma Mater dear, As now we sing your praise; O let your walls and storied halls Resound with song always.
The just and fair alike do share The labor of your hand; Together they proclaim always Your glory through the land.
As long as breezes ’round you blow, And endless ages roll, May countless honors on you rest, While we your name extol.
CHORUS:
We Educate for Service, To that we will be true; We love you ever, oh E.C. And your colors Gray and Blue.