F riday , the twenty - third o F a ugust in the year two thousand twenty - F our
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 - third o F a ugust in the year two thousand twenty - F our
Processional*
Marshals
Students
Marshals
Kevin Peters, Ed.D.
Deborah Waltermire, DrPH, OTR/L
Anne Gross, D.M.A.
Kevin T. Shorner-Johnson, Ph.D. Faculty
Senior Administrators & Deans
Grand Marshal Elizabeth A. Newell, Ph.D.
President’s Party
Interim Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
Matthew W. Telleen, J.D., Ph.D.
Student Assembly Chief Officer Speaker Brendan P. Guy ’25
Associate Provost for Student Learning & Dean of Faculty
Jodi L. Lancaster, Ph.D.
Class of 2025 President Emma G. Sager ’25
Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students Nichole J. Gonzalez
Student Poet Laureate
Lead Peer Mentors
Samuel J. Senkowicz ’25
Marlaena T. Ciabattoni ’25
Madison M. Fischer ’24, M.Ed’25
Ashley M. Hutton ’25
Ryan J. Ramler ’25
Chaplain & Director of Spiritual & Religious Life Rev. Amy B. Shorner-Johnson
Mace-Bearer
Diane M. Bridge Ph.D.
President Elizabeth A. Rider, Ph.D.
*Audience members, if able, are invited to stand.
Opening Remarks Matthew W. Telleen, J.D., Ph.D.
Student Welcome Brendan P. Guy ’25
Recognition of Newly Promoted Faculty Members
Jodi L. Lancaster, Ph.D. & Recognition of Academic Achievements & Awards
Reading of the Class Letter
Presentation of the Class of 2028
Reading of “Beginnings”
Convocation Presidential Address
Candle Lighting & Litany of Light
Alma Mater*
Jennie Miller Via, Class of 1909
Revised by James Haines, Ph.D. ’81 /
Arr. Darrell Douglas
Interfaith Blessing of the Learners*
Recessional*
Emma G. Sager ’25
Nichole J. Gonzalez
Samuel J. Senkowicz ’25
Elizabeth A. Rider, Ph.D.
Marlaena T. Ciabattoni ’25
Madison M. Fischer ’24, M.Ed’25
Ashley M. Hutton ’25
Ryan J. Ramler ’25 Lead Peer Mentors
Brynn D. Donoff ’25
Lorelei E. Eck ’25
Lorelei M. Moser ’25
Rebecca R. Sauder ’25
Taylor Shortell ’25 Members of Fenice
Rev. Amy B. Shorner-Johnson
Najiba Benabess, Ph.D.
Promoted to Professor of Economics
David R. Bowne, Ph.D.
Promoted to Professor of Biology
Terri R. Dennehy, D.Ed., OTR/L
Tenured and Promoted to Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
Tara Lynn Moore, Ph.D.
Tenured and Promoted to Associate Professor of English
Elizabeth A. Newell, Ph.D.
Promoted to Professor of Biological Anthropology
Brenda L. Read-Daily, Ph.D.
Promoted to Professor of Engineering
Petru Sandu, Ph.D.
Promoted to Professor of Entrepreneurship and Management
Lauren E. Toote, Ph.D.
Tenured and Promoted to Associate Professor of Chemistry
2023-2024 Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence Recipient
Elizabeth D. Dalton, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
2023-2024 Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship Recipient
Debra L. Wohl, Ph.D. Professor of Biology
2023-2024 Ranck Prize for Research Excellence Recipient
Michael D. Silberstein, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy
Sarah S. Abadi, Biology - Health Professions
Andrew G. Ament, Engineering
Isabell C. Anderson, Chemistry
Dominic E. Andrews, Engineering
Haley M. Bateman, Social Studies Education
Elizabeth R. Beward, Early Childhood Education
Callahan A. Beyer, Health Sciences
Hannah M. Blazure, Public Relations
Audrey K. Bower, Health Sciences
Shannon R. Brady, Individualized Major
James D. Buck, Computer Science
Cole L. Burkhardt, Engineering
Griffin P. Burns, Business Administration
Emily E. Byrne, Psychology
Chloe V. Cadiz Lopez, Marketing
Curstin Carpenter, Business Administration
Emma M. Caszatt, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julie A. Cooper, Social Work
Marie D. Crugnale, Spanish Education
Connor Deah, Music Therapy
Zachary A. Deah, Music Education
Daniel Dein, Engineering
Jacqueline C. DeLorimier, Health Sciences
Jordyn E. Dutko, History
Madison L. Ebert, Biology Education
Alicia M. Farrell, Biology - Health Professions
Colby J. Farrisi, Engineering
Isabelle J. Fasick, Health Sciences
Hannah R. Fletcher, Music Therapy
Jeremy T. Fortna, Mathematics - Education
Madilyn S. Fratis, Public Relations
Kaci E. Gohn, International Business
Kortny M. Green, Psychology - PreMCP 3+2
John M. Harrison, Mathematics
Brianna D. Hastings, Music Education
Lauren N. Heidelbaugh, Biology - Health Professions
Olivia M. Herbert, Healthcare Administration
Gillian T. Heyden, Health Sciences
Leif E. Hoffman, Engineering
Bryn S. Hughes, Business Analytics
Caitlyn D. Jensen, Biotechnology
Kirra E. Johnson, Environmental Science
Karli B. Jones, Early Childhood Education
Benjamin D. Kenien, Biology - Health Professions
Christopher S. Kilduff, Finance
Molly J. Kleinert, Early Childhood Education
Alyssa N. Kopp, Elementary/Middle Education - Math
Nicholas A. Kuhn, Health Sciences
Elizabeth Kutteh, Elementary/Middle Education - Language/Reading
Percy Lachman, Psychology
Matthew Lamb, Chemistry
Alicia M. Le, Health Sciences
Tori A. Levush, Early Childhood Education
Gabriella F. Lozada, Music Therapy
Abbie Machmer, Psychology - PreMCP 3+2
Maxwell A. Marra, Chemistry
Ashley N. Martin, English - Education
Martina B. McAfee, Political Science
Kaitlyn M. McDermott, Health Sciences
John A. McGovern, Computer Science
Leandra R. McMahon, Psychology
Raia M. Meckley, Health Sciences
Rachel C. Merchiore, English
Jared M. Miller, Health Sciences
Skylar M. Mumford, Finance
Joshua R. Mumie, Actuarial Science
Makenna N. Mummert, Health Sciences
Thomas M. O’Connor, Mathematics
Emma R. O’Toole, Health Sciences
Mason R. Palmer, International Business
Delaney M. Peckham, Psychology - PreMCP 3+2
Peter J. Pitrelli, Finance
Olivia R. Pituch, Political Science
Allison N. Pokorny, Health Sciences
Kylie M. Post, Early Childhood Education
Bailey L. Pruitt, Exercise Science
Antonia E. Raimondo, Social Work
Elias S. Rimel, Accounting
Alexander C. Roop, Computer Science
Anna B. Rowles, Elementary/Middle Education - Math
Olyvia F. Serillo, Health Sciences
Emily M. Skelly, Business Administration
Samantha L. Small, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew J. Smith, Computer Science
Benjamin E. Stanton, Business Analytics
Jonathan T. Stebick, Finance
Blake N. Stolarik, International Business
Alexandra J. Swendrowski, International Business
Saki Takatsu, International Business
Cassidy M. Toth, Social Work
Hanna V. Tran, Biology - Health Professions
William C. Veith, Undecided/Undeclared
Joseph A. Wagner, Computer Science
Asher Wayde, Computer Science
Ava M. Wilson, Health Sciences
Emily N. Witmer, Early Childhood Education
Owen Yang, Computer Science
Jiayi Zhao, Finance
Logan A. Zimmerman, Digital Media Production
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. 2023.
Patrick S. Allen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English Literature
Leyla Batakci, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics
Jean C. Batista Abreu, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Engineering
Mahua Bhattacharya, Ph.D., Professor of Japanese
Ryan Bowers, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology
David R. Bowne, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Diane M. Bridge, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Kathryn A. Caprino, Ph.D., Director of Teaching & Learning Design Studio & Associate Professor of Education
Jane F. Cavender, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Elizabeth D. Dalton, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology
Lynne C. Davies, Director of the Learning Zone & Disability Service
Kurt M. DeGoede, Ph.D., Professor of Engineering and Physics
Erica M. Dolson, Assistant Teaching Professor in English
Bogdan D. Doytchinov, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mathematics
Sarah B. Dutton, Director of Medical Spanish
Emily Yoder Frantz, Director of Music Therapy
Anya Goldina, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology
Bryan Greenberg, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing
Colin M. Helb, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Communications
Michelle L. Henry, Assistant Director of Academic Advising & Starfish
Dmitriy Krichevskiy, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics
Kristin M. Kurjiaka, Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor & Field Education Director of Social Work
Thomas R. Leap, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Computer Science
Peilong Li, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Computer Science
Peter R. Licona, Ph.D., Associate Professor of PK-12 STEM & Education Program Director
Charla N. Lorenzen, Ph.D., Professor of Spanish
James A. MacKay, Ph.D., A. C. Baugher Professor of Chemistry
Luke D. Mackey, Assistant Director of Honors Program
Tim J. McDevitt, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics
Elizabeth A. Newell, Ph.D., Professor of Biological Anthropology
Veronica F. Nolt, Assistant Athletic Director
Oya Ozkanca, Ph.D., Director of Honors Program & Professor of Political Science/Professor of International Studies
Kevin Peters, Ph.D., Assistant Teaching Professor in Education
Nancy J. Reddig, Assistant Teaching Professor in Information Systems
Terrie L. Riportella, Edgar T. Bitting Chair of Accounting & Director of the Accounting Program
Michael Roy, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology
Lisa Sempsey, Music Program Adjunct Faculty
Mark Stuckey, Ph.D., Professor of Physics & Computational Physics Program Director
Gene A. Thomas, Assistant Director of the Learning Zone
Carroll R. Tyminski, Ph.D., Education Department Adjunct Faculty
Hossein Varamini, Ph.D., Turnbull-Jamieson Professor of Finance & International Business, Professor of Business Director of International Business
Stacey L. Zimmerman, Director of Leadership & New Student/Family Orientation
Leader: Each life is given a light.
Response: The candle we bring is the light we give.
Leader: To light is given light.
Response: The light we share illuminates our common search.
Leader: The light of ages shines in darkness.
Response: We open the eyes of our hearts so we might be guided.
Leader: The College seal calls for Deus Lux et Veritas and the College motto is Educate for Service.
Response: We pledge ourselves to Light, Truth, and Service.
Leader: As a community we value honesty and integrity.
Response: We pledge ourselves to uphold honesty and integrity.
Leader: Let us commit ourselves to the light by raising our candles and reciting the pledge.
Response: Committing ourselves to the giving, sharing, learning, and service, we pledge we will honor the light we created, together joined to the light we have been given, throughout the days of our lives.
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.