JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY
COMMENCEMENT
CLASSES OF 2020 & 2021 JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY
TWENTY-FIRST COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES JOHN HAZEN WHITE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES COLLEGE OF BUSINESS COLLEGE OF FOOD INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE OF HEALTH & WELLNESS COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
DENVER, COLORADO MAY 7, 2021
ORDER OF SPEAKERS
Scott Lyons, Ed.D. Dean of Students Nadine Dame, Ph.D. Chair, John Hazen White College of Arts & Sciences Jorge de la Torre Chair, College of Food Innovation & Technology Letta Taylor Campbell, D.M. Chair, College of Business Chair, College of Hospitality Management Richard Wiscott, Ph.D. Denver Campus President Farrah Payne ‘04 Alumni Speaker
JOHN HAZEN WHITE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE RECIPIENTS Kimberly Dugan Joel Gagliano Emily Jones Sondra Tribble-Bentley
JOHN HAZEN WHITE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE RECIPIENTS Richard DuBois **, ° Rachel Howard *** James Montelongo III Nicole Vargas ** Destiny Zermano
JOHN HAZEN WHITE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE RECIPIENTS Victoria Abeyta *** Milagros Alcala Aja Alexander Ricki Beaufort ** Dezarae Bosquez Sophia Braker *** Haylee Buckley ** Christina Butler * Carrie Calvin * Taylor Campbell Anthony Campos Emily Chambers Mikeal Chavero Yanitza Chavez Pinon Dominique Chouloute Kailah Cieminski *** Jazmin Cordova Marissa Corriero Erin Evans *** Madilyn Fox ** Mariah Frias *
Lilibeth Garcia Cristina Gilbertson *** Ashley Guerrero Asianna Harris ** Alizah Hasim Catherine Hill *** Zachary Hunt Dohnovyn Jackson Hailey Jensen *** Mia Kartchner ***, ° Marcella Laguna Alexander Lawrence * Ursula Ledger Megan Ludwig * Kahrman Manning Natasha Martin ** Brooke McDanel ** Edmond Myers Salma Oros ** Rebecca Paintin * Katelyn Peters ***
Jacob Pipes Alexia Prevette ***, ° Alyssa Ramirez-Valdez Kiley Reynolds *** Tanner Roberts Diamond Rolle *** Sadia Said * Rachel Seligson * Miyana Shively ** Brenna Smark Jacob Turner Robert Wanzer Shelby Winter ***
Merit Key: *cum laude-3.40-3.60 GPA, **magna cum laude-3.61-3.80 GPA, ***summa cum laude-3.81-4.00 GPA °Member of Alpha Beta Kappa National Honors Society, (U)-University honors scholar (based upon fall 2020 semester cumulative records)
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEGREE RECIPIENTS Dane Aasved Hayley Almeida Giancarlo Barbano Erin Berg Tracie Bernard Amy Bryer Yuneisy Camacho Stefan Collins Jaime Desman Jessica Dooley Joshua Douma Rachel Ego Zachary Gallagher
Bailee Gardunio Cassandra Hage Brian Harris Elizabeth Hayes Mekenna Hooper Shellie Kark Daina Laughton Gabriel Lira, Jr. Mark Luwaga Kelcey Majors Carin Malouff Marinah Mcginnis Jonathan Montes
Timothy Moore David Murphy Thara Philip Jonathan Pomerleau Michael Rendon-Thofson, Jr. Paul Tran Maria Paula Romero Mora Gregory Tristan Grace Williams Lisa Willms
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE RECIPIENTS Efrain Alaniz Garcia Alan Almeida * Jennifer Aragon Alexis Araiza Breana Barnes Timothy Calleja * Angelino Campanotto ** Tate Chapman Madison Duke * Ghaylbreann Ferraer * Ryley Fields * Emily Gazaway Michael Genge ** Patsi Gonzalez Ibarra Eboni Graham
David Guzman Yesenia Hernandez * Jozlyn Hooks Autumn Johnson Oguljennet Kurbandurdyyeva ** Alyssa Lawrence Jordan Livingston Sam Loomis *** Jalyn Loughran * Bliss Luedtke *** Riley Manis Victor Mendez William Moore *** Angeliqua Morales-Ayala *
Melodie Moyer ** Chloe Nanez * Grecia Perez Lugo Morgan Quan *** Sadia Said * Roberto Salomon *** Kyleigh Sandoval *** Shane Sapak Jalen Scandrett Francis Semsem Jante Shields Cal Tetro * Hsa Thaw ** Eric Walker * Aliah Warren ***
COLLEGE OF FOOD INOVATION & TECHNOLOGY BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE RECIPIENTS Melinda Abram Denae Alva Maria Amado * Zachary Born Tracy Bui *** Jeremy Campbell ** Amanda Cauley *** Catherine Carbeck *** Khiara Cezair *** Rachel Cormeny Erin Davis *** Zoyanna Dawkins ** Caitlin De La Garza Brandon Dean Samantha Drake * Natavia Ervin-Cook * Megan Fira *** Amanda Fischer *** Daniel Funk *** Lily Goetze ** Brad Green * Christopher Gregory ** Emily Griffin ***
Anderson Hadley *** Hillary Harris * Katelyn Harrison ** Savanah Heinz ** Zoe Hohman ** Alex Hudson ** Lauren Kiklica ** Cassidy Kolter Macy Lang *** Daniel Larom * Jack Maguire Gillian Marino *** Charlotte McIntyre ** Deondra McQueary *** Lynette Mientus *** Jordan Miles ** Gabrielle Muniz Gracie Neiman Darien Nolan Alicia Nordmann Tyler Oliver * Katherine Privitt *** Kelly Puff **
Leilah Rice Abigail Robins Abril Rodriguez Alberto Rodriguez Alejandro Rodriguez * Cameron Rogers Alexandra Salanty *** Morgan Sauer *** Race Shepherd *** Nobuko Simoneaux * Emily Smith * LeeAnn Stouffe *** Kayla Takamura *** Teonna Thomas ** Kimo Toguchi ** Kayley Trosper * Bee Vue * Alyssa Walters *** Calista Webb *** Madeline Wellborn *** Katie Wilhite *** Julianne Williams * Deztynn Zeigler
COLLEGE OF FOOD INOVATION & TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE DEGREE RECIPIENTS Damon Ables Rasha Alatheri *** Nena Allen * Vincent Armada Elizabeth Austin * Diali Baeza Joshua Bailey Paulina Barajas ** Jessica Barker *** Timothy Barnhart *
Christopher Baugh Jordan Begert *** Yvonne Betancourt Jered Bezemek ** Brenden Biancalana Brittney Bodden Christina Boula *** William Brasch * Kayla Bravo Caitlin Briggs
Jasmin Brink Taylor Brown Tyler Brown Nathan Bryan * Jordan Bullard ** Brieana Caggiano ** Brandon Caha * Jeremy Campbell ** Jillian Campbell Natalie Cano
Merit Key: *cum laude-3.40-3.60 GPA, **magna cum laude-3.61-3.80 GPA, ***summa cum laude-3.81-4.00 GPA °Member of Alpha Beta Kappa National Honors Society (based upon fall 2020 semester cumulative records)
Adrian Cardenas * Benjamin Carolan Erin Carruth ** Kelly Chavarria * Charlotte Chavez Kyle Chiffy *** Hannah Choe *** Nicole Collazo Elizabeth Connolly *** Ielea Conroy * Rebekah Cooke Lacey Corcoran *** Kristin Corson Jhoana Cortez Aspen Cram Caitlyn Culley Madeline Dailey Emma Davis * Kayla Davis *** Sophia Deaguero ** Danielle Decrow * Allison Delano Adrienna diAmico *** Brantley Downey Chloe D’oyley Kayla Drews ** Nicolas Eberspacher Caraline Edwards Teshi Edwards Tryphena Elliott ** Isaiah Espinoza Victoria Felderman * Juliana Fernandez Dominic Fleetham *** Riley Flood Paula Florencia ** Diana Flores * Sarah Flores Liliana Flores Hernandez * Rikki Folger * Panfilo Fonseca * Justin Fry * Sydney Galindo ** Diego Garcia * David Gilkison
Alexis Glenn *** Lily Goetze ** Alexa Goldenberg Sara Goldsobel *** Andrea Gonzalez Sarah Goodwin ** Arianna Granados Travis Grebenick *** Marisa Griffith *** Galia Grossman * Zoey Guignardi Katie Gustafson *** Mateo Gutierrez * Teagan Gutka * Diana Guzman *** Norma Guzman * Katelyn Gyugyi Elizabeth Haas * Syenna Hackbarth *** Keerah Hagan ** Chloe Hallett *** Molly Handley * Hillary Harris * Janelle Henderson * Larah Henderson Kaya Henigan * Megan Hines *** Arianna Hirsch Cassidy Hobon Ashley Hogan Mollie Honeyman *** Jozlyn Hooks Aidan Hunt Autumn Johnson Jacob Johnston, Jr Nairim Jombuni * Everette Jones, Jr. ** Erline Julian * Leah Kaplan Dylan Karl Mollie Kelderman ** Mckenna Kelley *** Noah Kelley * Maya Kierstein *** Heavyn Klein
Jennifer Knight Kelsey Kost * Matthew Lamunyan * Collin Lavery Dana Leonard ** Emily Lopez Cody Lowe * Megan Lowery ** Juanita Makovey * Samantha Manders Deja Mangos Nicholas Mansfield Pedro Mariscal *** Guy Marshall Isidro Martinez, Jr. Roni Mathis *** Alyssa Medina ** Matthew Meissner Omari Melendez Kenneth Mendez Kassandra Meza Lopez *** Arminda Miera Kanoa Milam Jesse Mobley *** Madison Mockler *** Gabriella Moody * Sarah Moon *** Jonathan Morgan *** Alexander Morrison Angel Munoz Noah Nakamura Emily Nason * Alejandra Nava ** Meteyo Navarrete Mckenzie Neubert Rachel Newton *** Eddie Nieto, III Leonila Nijsters, Jr. *** Katelyn Norton James Ogle ** Conor O’Hagan * Iesha Pacheco ** Jazmin Pahio Elliot Palomino Alexandria Pantoja
Jonathan Parham *** Juno Park ** Autumn Parsons Janae Parsons *** Parker Payne ** Carly Pearch *** Victoria Pena *** Brian Perkowski Matthew Pettus * Michael Polanco Hayden Powers Gabrielle Prosapio *** Jack Quinlan Jewel Ramirez ** Faviola Ramirez-Martinez Sophia Red Bear Megan Reinbold *** Sara Rhees Tiana Rita ** Joseph Rivera Juliana Rivera *** Abigail Robins Megan Robinson Abril Rodriguez Alejandro Rodriguez Gabriella Rodriguez ** Samantha Roybal *** Anthony Sacco Evan Salazar *
Melanie Salazar *** Miranda Salsbury Isaiah Sanchez Sarah Sanchez Anandita Sathyanarayana ** Kimberlee Saxer Ariana Sayers Joshua Schultz Jackson Schurz Rachel Schuurman Alec Seavey * Francis Semsem Shelby Senyard *** Sean Seyler * Patrick Sherman Michael Shikany, III Katherine Simonian ** Saija Sjostrand *** Delaney Smith *** Gina Smith *** Emily Soiza * Alana Stoker * Kamalani Straus * Katelyn Strobel *** Madelynn Strominger ** Madison Swarm-Hewitt * Tyson Tafoya Coleton Threlkeld
Alma Torales-Gomez * Cassidy Trejo *** Laura Tremmel * Nicole Vandress *** Maria Vansickle Karin Vazquez ** Zantiago Velasco * Austin Vonruden *** Melinda Walker ** Evan Wallin *** Tiara Watson * Sara Weaver Michael Weems * Alexandria Wiggins Keegan Wiles ** Briaira Williams * Jordyn Windham *** Gretchen Woessner Lisa Wong ** Autumn Wood *** Phil Yoo, Jr. Joshua Zegan ** Ali Zincirkiran * Clare Zylla ***
COLLEGE OF HEALTH & WELLNESS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE RECIPIENTS Joshua Cowan ** Natalie Sandoval
Merit Key: *cum laude-3.40-3.60 GPA, **magna cum laude-3.61-3.80 GPA, ***summa cum laude-3.81-4.00 GPA °Member of Alpha Beta Kappa National Honors Society (based upon fall 2020 semester cumulative records)
COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE RECIPIENTS Cody Alexander Pamela Amaya *** Hugo Ezequiel Arriaza Lucero ** Vincent Armada Selena Ashbaugh ** Lauren Aspery **, ° Jessica Barber * Tiara Bard ** Caitlyn Baylie Jordan Begert *** Jered Bezemek ** Joseph Bongard, II Brenna Boutote Rebecca Brock *** Aryzona Brown ** Autumn Brown Bryon Burness Marilyn Grace Cabico ** Lorenzo Capriotti Anecia Carroll-Bankston *** Benjamin Chavez * Teyler Chellis ** Austin Coder *, ° Zachary Collins *** Kristin Corson Willa Costello Zaragoza *** Kaitlyn Crum Marissa Cruz *** Hawa Diane Kathryne Ethridge *** Megan Fira *** Cameron Fletcher Sarah Flores Kyler Fowkes *** Kali Gabler Rikesh Gandharba Semaj Gary Nicholas Gatanas
Marc Gaumond Brianne Godwin James Golden Alexa Goldenberg Ebony Gonzales Isabel Gonzalez Morgen Gonzalez Isaiah Granger Delaney Graves * Rachel Green **, ° Syenna Hackbarth *** Lauren Hadnot-Felker Katelyn Harrison ** Christian Henry ** Cassidy Hobon *** Makaila Holmes Emma Hubbard ** Eric Huffman Matthew Hung *** Teagan Ives * Jorge Izaguirre II Raquel Jackson Kaitlin Jones *** Mollie Kelderman ** Haley Koehler Mark Kramer ** Samantha Lamb **, ° Kendall Leaver *** Timothy Leutritz * Shelyn Longboy-Eliazar Deshaunte Longley Maria Lowry Rachel Ludwig Juanita Makovey * Guy Marshall Jay Marshall Ashley Martinez ** Siena Mattera * Meredith McLain Malina Messina Katielyn Miller ***
Christopher Moody Jessie Mora Rachel Newton *** Alexis Nines ** Katelyn Norton Michael O’Halloran Brooke Paxton Taylor Pendarvis-Murden Sabria Perona-Ellis Michelle Park Brandon Perrine * Hannah Perry Michael Petersen Haley Pilien *** Miraya Pinon Kevin Piotrzkowski Alaina Prichard ** Jewel Ramirez ** Jason Rego * Mark Rice Alyxandra Robertson *** Ashlee Ruehs * Alliana Sauer *** Kimberlee Saxer Kassandra Schachter Joshua Schultz Matthew Sening * Sean Seyler * Molly Sharples *** Laney Shorthair ** Katherine Simonian ** Saija Sjostrand ** Amber Slaybaugh * LeAnn Smith *** Morrigan Snavely * Sierra Soendker *** Shayne Somers Skylar Spafford * Renee Stastny *** Tyler Stevenson Jacob Taggs *
Marcela Talavera Mario Talavera * Joshua Tate Coleton Threlkeld Lauren Tominaga *** Paul Tran ** Derek Vogel
Timothy Wanless Ethan Willey Zachary Wilson Aquielle Woods * Alexander Yager Tevis Yates * Christine Yocom ***
Vincent Yu
Merit Key: *cum laude-3.40-3.60 GPA, **magna cum laude-3.61-3.80 GPA, ***summa cum laude-3.81-4.00 GPA °Member of Alpha Beta Kappa National Honors Society (based upon fall 2020 semester cumulative records)
JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
James H. Hance Jr., chair of the board of trustees, Johnson & Wales University; operating executive, The Carlyle Group, Washington, D.C. Mim L. Runey, LP.D., chancellor, Johnson & Wales University Timothy J. Babineau, M.D., president and chief executive officer, Lifespan Corporation, Providence, Rhode Island Maribeth N. Bisienere, senior vice president of resorts, transportation and premium services operations, Walt Disney World Resorts, Lake Buena Vista, Florida Derick S. Close, chief executive officer, Springs Creative Products Group LLC, Charlotte, North Carolina Lionel E. LaRochelle II, principal, Spring Valley Hospitality Advisors LLC, Washington, D.C. M. John Martin ’86, president, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s, Seasons 52, Yard House and Bahama Breeze; Darden Restaurants, Orlando, Florida William J. Murphy, J.D., partner, Murphy & Fay LLP, Providence, Rhode Island Philip S. Renaud II ’73, executive director, The Risk Institute in the Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio Merrill W. Sherman, J.D., principal, Sherman Consulting LLC, Jamestown, Rhode Island Clay A. Snyder ’93, vice chair of the board of trustees, Johnson & Wales University; senior director of brand innovation & planning, Hilton Worldwide, McLean, Virginia John E. Taylor Jr., managing director, Faulkner & Howe LLC, Vero Beach, Florida Jerry Sue Thornton, Ph.D., president emeritus, Cuyahoga Community College; chief executive officer, Dream Catcher Educational Consulting, Moreland Hills, Ohio D. Chip Wade ’83, president, Union Square Hospitality Group, New York, New York John Hazen White Jr., executive chairman, Taco Group Holdings Inc., Cranston, Rhode Island David A. Wilson, Ph.D., P’98, independent director, Barnes & Noble Education Inc.; CoreSite Realty Inc., Naples, Florida
OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION Mim L. Runey, LP.D., chancellor Joseph J. Greene Jr. ’89, ’98 M.S., CPA, vice chancellor of finance & administration Emily A. Gilcreast ’19 MBA, university secretary
SYMBOLS OF COMMENCEMENT UNIVERSITY SEAL
The university seal represents Johnson & Wales University’s roots. The year at the top of the shield, 1914, is the year that the university was founded by Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales. The dragon of St. George on the upper portion of the crest honors the Wales family, while the lower portion of the crest bears the cross of St. John and honors the Johnson family.
MACE
The Johnson & Wales University mace symbolizes the ideals and values of JWU’s educational philosophy. Cast of silver and bronze, it is engraved with the names of our founders and presidents, past and present. Our campus locations are engraved on the golden bands. On ceremonial occasions, university officials carry the mace to display the unity and continuity of Johnson & Wales University. The mace dates to medieval times, when it was first used as a weapon. Forbidden to use swords, medieval European bishops were allowed to enter battle with a mace — typically an iron or steel club designed to split armor. By the 16th century, the mace had become a symbol of authority that colleges and universities began using ceremonially. That tradition continues today, and the mace is carried as part of formal academic occasions like these at colleges and universities across the globe.
ACADEMIC DRESS The tradition of wearing distinctive dress for academic reasons dates back to the Middle Ages. Today, academic costumes are usually worn in the United States by people participating in academic ceremonies. The faculty and platform party wear regalia representative of the degrees they possess.
HOODS
Originating from the cowls of monastic orders, the hoods are the most distinctive part of the academic regalia. Their shape and size indicate the level of degree attained, and the colors reflect both the academic field as well as the institution that granted the degree. The fields of study most frequently represented in academic processions are the following:
FIELD OF STUDY COLOR
Arts, Letters, Humanities White Business, Commerce Nugget Education Light Blue Fine Arts Brown Law Purple Physician Assistant Studies Green Social Work Citron
CAPS
There is more variety in the shape and color of academic hats than in any other area. Master’s and doctoral degree recipients wear the tassel on the left throughout the ceremony, and the doctoral soft-cap often features a gold tassel.
HONORS GOLD STOLE
Students graduating from the university’s Honors Program have completed an enhanced undergraduate curriculum and have maintained at least a 3.40 cumulative GPA. They wear an embroidered gold stole to recognize their academic achievement.
GOLD CORD
Students graduating cum laude or above, as of Winter Term 2018, are designated by gold cords.
BLUE & WHITE CORD
Students who have participated in co-curricular activities designated by university parameters are distinguished by a blue and white cord.
HONORS
Eligible degree candidates receive cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude recognition according to their academic program average. Students with the designated graduating GPA are eligible to receive Latin honors as follows: cum laude, 3.40–3.60; magna cum laude, 3.61–3.80; and summa cum laude, 3.81– 4.00.
UNIVERSITY HONORS SCHOLAR
The University Honors Scholar designation is awarded to students who complete major-specific Honors course requirements at the bachelor’s level as well as an Honors Thesis while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher. This is one of Johnson & Wales University’s highest undergraduate awards.
Johnson & Wales University: Future Leaders Start Here
Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with approximately 13,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students at its four campuses in Providence, Rhode Island; North Miami, Florida; Denver, Colorado; and Charlotte, North Carolina. An innovative educational leader, the university offers degree programs in arts and sciences, business, culinary arts, design and engineering, education, health and wellness, hospitality, nutrition, and physician assistant studies. Its unique model integrates arts and sciences and industry-focused education with work experience and leadership opportunities, inspiring students to achieve professional success and lifelong personal and intellectual growth. The university’s impact is global, with alumni from 125 countries pursuing careers worldwide. For more information, visit jwu.edu.
A Global University
At Johnson & Wales, we have always been committed to embracing diversity and an international perspective to help foster a richly inclusive educational experience for all of our students. As such, the university has a long and proud history of welcoming students from across the globe. In fact, our more than 10,000 international alumni are a testament to our unique approach to experiential education, and to our welcoming and supportive culture. Today, we are honored to host almost 900 international students representing 71 countries who are such an integral part of our university community. We are equally committed to enriching and expanding opportunities for global learning and to enhancing opportunities for global citizenship. Our students completed internships in 21 countries last year and took advantage of our 79 study abroad and exchange programs across six continents. Because of this, we rank as the 33rd master’s level institution in the United States for number of students who studied abroad. To all of our international graduates celebrating with us today, we thank you for your significant contributions to the JWU experience, and we wish you much success in all your personal and professional endeavors.
CAMPUS TRADITION Robert E. Taylor Gate
The beautiful Robert E. Taylor Gate at the center of the campus is opened twice each year. Once, in September, to welcome each new class of incoming first-year students. Then, again in May, for graduating students to go forth to apply the knowledge they have gained to their careers and communities. The gate was named for the late Robert E. Taylor, a university trustee, who made a generous gift for its construction in memory of Ethel Spiers Meeker, a 1914 Colorado Women’s College alumnus and close friend of the Taylors. The gate represents the connections between the campus’ past, present, and future.