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University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law

May 30, 2026

THE ACADEMIC PROCESSION

Standard Bearer

Regents of the University

President of the University

Commencement Speaker

Dean of the School of Law

Vice Presidents of the University

Faculty of the School of Law

Candidates for the Degree of Master of Public Administration and Public Policy

Candidates for the Degree of Master of Science in Law

Candidates for the Degree of Master of Laws

Candidates for the Degree of Doctor of Juridical Science

Candidates for the Degree of Juris Doctor

PROGRAM

Sacramento Memorial Auditorium May 30, 2026 2:00 p.m.

Dean Michael T. Colatrella, Jr.

University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law

PROCESSIONAL

Pomp and Circumstance, Op. 39 No. 1

By Edward Elgar

NATIONAL ANTHEM

J. Clark Kelso, Professor

Dr. Mary Lomax-Ghirarduzzi, Vice President & Professor

Jeffrey E. Proske, Professor

Jarrod Wong, Professor

INVOCATION

Dr. Mary Lomax-Ghirarduzzi, Vice President & Professor

University of the Pacific

INTRODUCTION

Platform Party

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Professor Harold Hongju Koh

Yale Law School

REMARKS

President Christopher Callahan University of the Pacific

CLASS OF 2026 SPEAKERS

Ahmet Dabagh Graduate Programs

Cassandra Ilona Allen JD Program

PRESENTATION OF THE GRADUATING CLASS

Dean Michael T. Colatrella, Jr. University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law

CONFERRING OF DEGREES

President Christopher Callahan University of the Pacific

BENEDICTION

Dr. Mary Lomax-Ghirarduzzi, Vice President & Professor University of the Pacific

RECESSIONAL

Grand March from ‘Aida’ By Guiseppe Verdi

ANNOUNCER

J. Clark Kelso, Professor

University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Harold Hongju Koh is Sterling Professor of International Law at Yale Law School. He is one of the country’s leading experts in public and private international law, national security law, and human rights. He first began teaching at Yale Law School in 1985 and served as its fifteenth Dean from 2004 until 2009. From 2009 to 2013, he took leave as the Martin R. Flug ’55 Professor of International Law to join the State Department as its 22nd Legal Adviser, service for which he received the Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Award. He returned to that office in 2021 as Senior Adviser (Sr. Political Appointee) in 2021. From

1998 to 2001, he served as U.S. Assistant Secretary

Professor Koh has received 18 honorary degrees and m including awards from Columbia and Duke Law Schools

A. Katzmann Award for Academic Excellence for his lifetime achievements in international law. He has authored or co-authored 10 books, published more than 200 articles, testified regularly before Congress, and litigated numerous cases involving international law issues in both U.S. and international tribunals. He has represented Ukraine before the International Court of Justice since 2016. He is a Fellow of the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an Honorary Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and a member of the Council of the American Law Institute. He has served as a visiting professor at numerous universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, Columbia, NYU, the University of Toronto, and the European University Institute.

He holds a B.A. degree from Harvard College and B.A. and M.A. degrees from Oxford University, where he was a Marshall Scholar. He earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was Developments Editor of the Harvard Law Review. Before coming to Yale, he served as a law clerk for Justice Harry A. Blackmun of the United States Supreme Court and Judge Malcolm Richard Wilkey of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He worked as an attorney in private practice in Washington, and served as an Attorney-Adviser for the Office of Legal Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice.

HONORS & AWARDS

JD Program

VALEDICTORIAN AWARDS

John Sandage

Full-Time Day Division

David Alan Mistchenko

Part-Time Evening Division

OUTSTANDING GRADUATING SENIOR AWARDS

Graduates recognized for outstanding scholarship and academic achievement.

Jewel R. Unga

Full-Time Day Division

Yana Nebyshinets

Part-Time Evening Division

OUTSTANDING SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Award recognizing overall scholastic accomplishment to one student in each division of the graduating class.

Simyllina Chen

Full-Time Day Division

Dominick Antonio Ramon Mendoza

Part-Time Evening Division

OUTSTANDING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Graduates recognized for remarkable contributions to the McGeorge community.

Brooke A. Shelly

Full-Time Day Division

Matt M. Nakaji

Part-Time Evening Division

HONORS & AWARDS

JD Program

ALI-CLE SCHOLARSHIP & LEADERSHIP AWARD

In recognition of graduates who best represent a combination of scholarship and leadership qualities embodied by the American Law Institute.

Jordan Fortunati

Full-Time Day Division

Jasmine D. Crawford

Full-Time Day Division

OUTSTANDING STUDENT SERVICE AWARD

In recognition of the graduates who have given the most significant service to the McGeorge community.

Courtney Irene Yamagiwa

Annaleigh H. Nguyen

Millie Hernandez

Full-Time Day Division

Cortney Nicole Kesterson Part-Time Evening Division

OUTSTANDING STUDENT LEADERSHIP IN DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AWARD

Graduates recognized for having gone above and beyond their role to work as a proponent of diversity and inclusion of the graduating class. Awardees are seen as leaders who support diversity and inclusivity in their work at the University of the Pacific and the larger community.

Rosa Emilia Quevedo Full-Time Day Division

HONORS & AWARDS

JD Program

TRAYNOR SOCIETY

Graduates whose grades during any two academic years qualified them for the Dean’s Honor List are named members of the Traynor Society, named in honor of the late Honorable Roger J. Traynor, former Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.

Cassandra Ilona Allen

Angelina Marie Allison

Kellin James Ashley

Anna Elizabeth Azevedo

Lawson McAdam Bell

Avery Blue Bernard

Kimberly Bonifacio

Elizabeth Leone Bush

Amanda D. Carlson

Simyllina Chen

Colin H. Chilton

David Edwards

Jordan Fortunati

Roxanne N. Galdos

Abrianne Elizabeth Garcia

Hannah Elizabeth Geudeker

Joy Monton Hernandez-Swartzel

Meghna Sharon Kini

Siena M LiCausi

Lacey L. Lorenzen

Rebekah A. Mar

Katie Marie Maxwell

Justin E. McCurdy

David Alan Mistchenko

Jack Robert Morrison

Matt M. Nakaji

Wesley Collin Near

Anastasiya Novitskaya

Jasmine R. Osmany

Malea Parcasio-Eshelman

Michele Carolina Ruffner

Linnea Ruth Rustad

John Sandage

Brooke A. Shelly

Krista Simpson

Destiny J. Simpson

Carson R Smith

Tate A. Soderstrom

Kyle Evan Stickels

Sushila Kaur Thind

Michaela Christine Jill Thompson

Stephanie Timofeyeva

Seth Zachary Totten

Elynnor E. Trail

Jewel R. Unga

Kyler Jay Farao Vernon

Maxine D. Wagas

Tyler David Wieland

Katya V. Yashchuk

HONORS & AWARDS

JD Program

THE ORDER OF BARRISTERS

Students elected to the National Honor Society, whose purpose is to encourage excellence in oral and written advocacy.

Lawson McAdam Bell

Jasmine D. Crawford

Siena M. LiCausi

Annaleigh H. Nguyen

Natalie Marie Parker

Michele Carolina Ruffner

Brooke A. Shelly

Krista Simpson

Kyle Evan Stickels

Courtney Irene Yamagiwa

APPELLATE ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

Krista Simpson

HONORS & AWARDS

JD Program

MCGEORGE COMMENDATION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE

McGeorge School of Law recognizes graduates who work on behalf of others in legal or community service as they earn their law degrees.

GOLD

150 Volunteer Hours

Volicitie M. Dodge

Meghna Sharon Kini

Katie Marie Maxwell

BRONZE

50 Volunteer Hours

Maya Alexandria

MELISSA C. BROWN LEGAL CLINIC HONORS

Graduates who dedicated significant pro bono time to meet the legal needs of their clients beyond experiential learning curriculum requirements.

Maya Alexandria

Kimberly Bonifacio

Eden D. Bradshaw

Justin Aloysius Breen

Jaimie Cruz

Brandon M. Dela Cruz

Hannah Elizabeth Geudeker

Malak A. Haider

Hsuan-Ying Huang

Victoria T. Kemp

Meghna Sharon Kini

Alexander J. Leahy

Dominick Antonio Ramon Mendoza

Christine Janessa Legasto Miller

Beene S. Naulapwa

Vanessa Perez

Roxana Pishdadian

Neda Zounouz Pourhassan

Rosa Emilia Quevedo

Monica A. Quintana

Sabrina Rahmani

Leticia Reyez

Atikah N. Salim

Kennedy Lynn Skinner-Plunkett

Katrina Sarah Syrakos

Sushila Kaur Thind

Matthew J. Torres

Maxine D. Wagas

Tyler David Wieland

HONORS & AWARDS

Graduate Programs

MPA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Awarded to the MPA student with the highest GPA, with a minimum mandatory GPA requirement of 3.5.

Megan Nyce

MPP AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Awarded to the MPP student with the highest GPA, with a minimum mandatory GPA requirement of 3.5.

Ryan Lee Wiler

LLM AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

In recognition of the LLM graduates who most successfully demonstrated excellence in scholastic achievement; consideration was also given to criteria such as honors the graduates received and the graduates’ participation in activities that exemplify the highest academic and individual achievements during their LLM studies.

Paloma Pasqualotti Ghisleni

OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT SERVICE AWARD

This award recognizes the graduate student who has dedicated the most significant service and contributed meaningfully to the McGeorge community.

Ana Paula Dos Santos

MSL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

In recognition of the MSL student with the highest GPA, with a minimum mandatory GPA requirement of 3.5.

Nancy Ann Beecher

JSD AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

In recognition of the JSD student with the highest GPA, with a minimum mandatory GPA requirement of 3.5.

Mark Ellis

SERVICE

UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC LAW REVIEW

The following graduates constitute Volume 57 of the University of the Pacific Law Review and are responsible for its publication. Appointment to the University of the Pacific Law Review is one of the highest honors bestowed upon law students.

Editor-in-Chief

Dominick Antonio Ramon Mendoza

Chief Managing Editor

Paolina H. Engibegian

Chief Technical Editor

Moises Cesar Gonzalez

Chief Comment Editor

Jordan Fortunati

Primary Legislation Editors

Maya Alexandria

Colin H. Chilton

Roxanne N. Galdos

Brooke A. Shelly

Destiny J. Simpson

Stephanie Timofeyeva

Primary Articles & Symposium Editors

Anna Elizabeth Azevedo

Malea Parcasio-Eshelman

Destiny J. Simpson

Primary Production Editors

Kimberly Bonifacio

Malea Parcasio-Eshelman

Chief Legislation Editor

Michaela Christine Jill Thompson

Chief Articles & Symposium Editor

Simyllina Chen

Chief Production Editor

Rebekah A. Mar

Primary Managing Editors

Angelina Marie Allison

Meghna Sharon Kini

Jordan Alexandra Leo

Jack Robert Morrison

Carson R. Smith

Primary Comments Editors

Avery Blue Bernard

Dominic Aaron Stull

David Christopher Shanks

Babak John Tahernezhadi

SERVICE

MOCK TRIAL TEAM MEMBERS

Jasmine D. Crawford

Moises Cesar Gonzalez

Siena M. LiCausi

Annaleigh H. Nguyen

Caroline Maland Rojas

Michele Carolina Ruffner

Brooke A. Shelly

MOOT COURT HONORS BOARD MEMBERS

Joe Charles Anderson

Lawson McAdam Bell

Avery Blue Bernard

Andrew Joseph Clary

Bryan Edward Connolly

Jordan Fortunati

Roxanne N. Galdos

Millie Hernandez

Meghna Sharon Kini

Rosio Magallon

Rebekah A. Mar

Wilson Marinez

Jack Robert Morrison

Sarah A. Navarro

ABA

Jasmine R. Osmany

Malea Parcasio-Eshelman

Natalie Marie Parker

Bailey E. Pearson

Neda Zounouz Pourhassan

David Christopher Shanks

Destiny J. Simpson

Krista Simpson

Carson R. Smith

Kyle Evan Stickels

Jewel R. Unga

Kyler Jay Farao Vernon

Courtney Irene Yamagiwa

CLIENT COUNSELING COMPETITION TEAM MEMBER

Raul Jeovahny Medina

NEGOTIATION TEAM MEMBERS

Sarah Bridge

Katie Scarlett Boucher

Malak A. Haider

Logan Alex Wilkinson

SERVICE

GLOBAL LAWYERING SKILLS TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Cassandra Ilona Allen

Elizabeth Leone Bush

Bryan Edward Connolly

Jasmine D. Crawford

Hannah Elizabeth Geudeker

Mackenzie Jeanette Goulding

Lacey L. Lorenzen

Sarah A. Navarro

Natalie Marie Parker

Angelica J. Perez

Kyle Evan Stickels

Stephanie Timofeyeva

Jewel R. Unga

2025-2026 STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION

Courtney Irene Yamagiwa President

Vanessa Perez Vice President, Day Division

Matt M. Nakaji Vice President, Day Division

Kennedy Lynn Skinner-Plunkett Treasurer

Cortney Nicole Kesterson

Part-Time Fourth-Year Representative

Jay Martinez Master’s Programs Representative

UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC

FAITH DAVIES STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Outstanding Graduate Student Leader Award

Malak A. Haider

Champion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award

Millie Hernandez

CONCENTRATIONS

JD Program

BUSINESS CERTIFICATE OF CONCENTRATION

Bilal-Isaac M. Abboushi

Lama M. Abdallah

Simyllina Chen

Paolina H. Engibegian

Connor James Friery

Kyle James Hall

Victoria T. Kemp

Meghna Sharon Kini

Jason Roy Kpokou

Raul Jeovahny Medina

Cruzangel S. Nava Corro

Peter E. Nino

Malea Parcasio-Eshelman

Vanessa Perez

Rosa Emilia Quevedo

Monica A. Quintana

Tate A. Soderstrom

Elynnor E. Trail

CAPITAL LAWYERING CERTIFICATE OF CONCENTRATION

Rita Queena Baljian

Katie Scarlett Boucher

Justin Aloysius Breen

Elizabeth Leone Bush

Hayden Christian Cole

David Edwards

Lacy Elizabeth Johnson

Lacey L. Lorenzen

David Alan Mistchenko

Lauren Nicole Moran

Jasmine R. Osmany

Bailey E. Pearson

Rosa Emilia Quevedo

Logan Alex Wilkinson

Courtney Irene Yamagiwa

ELDER & HEALTH CERTIFICATE OF CONCENTRATION

Jaimie Cruz

Brandon M. Dela Cruz

Roxana Pishdadian

Kennedy Lynn Skinner-Plunkett

Ileanna M. Spoelstra

Maxine D. Wagas

CONCENTRATIONS

JD Program

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CERTIFICATE OF CONCENTRATION

Maya Alexandria

Joe Charles Anderson

Keith Kincaid Dawson

Cortney Nicole Kesterson

Jack Robert Morrison

April Mariana Moualem

David Christopher Shanks

Rishi Shukla

INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF CONCENTRATION

Joe Charles Anderson

Katie Scarlett Boucher

Eden D. Bradshaw

Nathan P. Dryer

Christiana da Silva Frost

Jackson H. Lipschutz

Yana Nebyshinets

Hadeel Omar Zidan

TAX CERTIFICATE OF CONCENTRATION

Lama M. Abdallah

Simyllina Chen

Connor James Friery

Kyle James Hall

Victoria T. Kemp

Raul Jeovahny Medina

Vanessa Perez

Monica A. Quintana

Tate A. Soderstrom

Ileanna M. Spoelstra

Elynnor E. Trail

CONCENTRATIONS

JD Program

TRIAL & APPELLATE ADVOCACY CERTIFICATE OF CONCENTRATION

Maya Alexandria

Sarah Bridge

Jasmine D. Crawford

Emily Joy Cruz

Volicitie M. Dodge

Roxanne N. Galdos

Denise Gonzalez

Moises Cesar Gonzalez

Millie Hernandez

Rosio Magallon

Katie Marie Maxwell

Beene S. Naulapwa

Sarah A. Navarro

Annaleigh H. Nguyen

Caroline Maland Rojas

Michele Carolina Ruffner

Mariah Treasure Sanders

Brooke A. Shelly

Andy Vo

Gabriella Wyatt

WATER & ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATE OF CONCENTRATION

Elyse Elizabeth Capelli

Bryan Edward Connolly

David Edwards

Hannah Elizabeth Geudeker

Jackson H. Lipschutz

David Alan Mistchenko

Linnea Ruth Rustad

Katrina Sarah Syrakos

Kyler Jay Farao Vernon

CLASS OF 2026

Awarded December 12, 2025

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY

Jasmin Asher

Eva Maria Jimenez Hernandez

Kaylee McCarty

Ryan Lee Wiler

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN LAW BUSINESS LAW

Jai Stenson Daniela Torres

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN LAW GOVERNMENT LAW AND POLICY

Monea Ahlyse Jennings Teresa Vargas

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF LAWS

TRANSNATIONAL BUSINESS PRACTICE

Sonal Jalamsing Darbar

Hande Dulger

Charlotte-Sophie Golchert

Rivia Paul

Saphalta Shrestha

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF JURIDICAL SCIENCE U.S. LAW AND POLICY

Reyhan Argin

Pratiksha Bhattarai

Malte Boermans

Ahmet Dabagh

Khristine Ann Magnaye De La Torre

Laura Catalina Hill Colorado

Vasyl Lenchak

Ravith Nisha Nowshad Ali

Paloma Pasqualotti Ghisleni

Diyana Shidell Samarasekara

CLASS OF 2026

Awarded December 12, 2025

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF LAWS

WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Ryan James Fadden

Nicolette K. Jolicoeur

Dominic Ernest Moscatello

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF JURIDICAL SCIENCE

INTERNATIONAL WATER RESOURCES

Marguerite De Chaisemartin

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF JURIS DOCTOR

Maya Alexandria

Cassandra Ilona Allen *

Colin H. Chilton †**

Keith Kincaid Dawson

Joseph M. Devlin *

Nathan P. Dryer

Christiana da Silva Frost *

Joy Monton Hernandez-Swartzel *

Bailey S. Hoolihan

Jason Roy Kpokou

Alexander J. Leahy

Justin E. McCurdy *

April Mariana Moualem

Annaleigh H. Nguyen *

Peter E. Nino

Hila Parandak *

Atikah Nabilah Salim *

Matthew Jose Santamaria

Stephanie Timofeyeva **

Jeffrey Preston Whalen *

Yekaterina V. Yashchuk **

† The Order of the Coif ** With Great Distinction * With Distinction

CLASS OF 2026

Awarded January 20, 2026

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF JURIDICAL SCIENCE

INTERNATIONAL LEGAL STUDIES

Mark Ellis

Awarded May 15, 2026

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Zurisadai Arellano

Isela Bravo

Megan Nyce

Itzel Galvan Olivera

Vikrem Padda

Michael Cedric Rose

Maria Yepez

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN LAW

Amy Teresa Betts

Alexis D. Bunt

Madison R. Hitchcock

Morgan Northcutt

Shivani Rai

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN LAW GOVERNMENT LAW AND POLICY

Dave Bussey

Ryan Alejandro Fonseca-Vega

Elizabeth Malmborg

Michael McPherson

Olivia Renee Mesecar

Monica Soria

CLASS OF 2026

Awarded May 15, 2026

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN LAW WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL

Hannah Davidson

Toni Eaton

Brennah Irene Girton

Drew Michael Huckaby

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF LAWS INTERNATIONAL WATER RESOURCES

Gertrude

Nabaweesi

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF LAWS TRANSNATIONAL BUSINESS PRACTICE

Sweeta Azimi

Julia Lux

Yatziry Martinez Talavera

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF LAWS U.S. LAW & POLICY

Martin Anthony Abah

Ganna Kozyryeva

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF LAWS WATER & ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Haifa Mohammed Alswayeh

CLASS OF 2026

Awarded May 15, 2026

CANDIDATES

FOR THE DEGREE OF JURIS

Bilal-Isaac M. Abboushi *

Lama M. Abdallah

Sophia Atinuke Adeleke

Angelina Marie Allison †**

Joe Charles Anderson *

Kellin James Ashley **

Anna Elizabeth Azevedo †**

Alexander J. Bailey

Rita Queena Baljian

Lawson McAdam Bell **

Avery Blue Bernard †**

Kimberly Bonifacio *

Katie Scarlett Boucher *

Eden D. Bradshaw

Justin Aloysius Breen

Julia M. Brown

Elizabeth Leone Bush *

Robert Camargo III *

Elyse Elizabeth Capelli *

Amanda D. Carlson †**

Simyllina Chen †**

Andrew Joseph Clary

Hayden Christian Cole

Bryan Edward Connolly *

Jasmine D. Crawford

Emily Joy Cruz

Jaimie Cruz

Mitchel Wasyl Davis *

Brandon M. Dela Cruz

Shivanjali Deo

DOCTOR

Alyzéa Leja Deputron

Volicitie M. Dodge

David Edwards *

Paolina H. Engibegian

Paul J. Epley, Jr.

Jordan Fortunati †**

Connor James Friery

Roxanne N. Galdos *

Abrianne Elizabeth Garcia *

Hannah Elizabeth Geudeker †**

Denise Gonzalez

Moises Cesar Gonzalez *

Mackenzie Jeanette Goulding

Malak A. Haider

Jacqueline Haigh *

Kyle James Hall

Millie Hernandez *

Hsuan-Ying Huang

Lacy Elizabeth Johnson

Megan E. Jordan

Harvrinder Kaur

Matthew J. Kelley *

Victoria T. Kemp

Cortney Nicole Kesterson

Aisha Naeem Khan

Meghna Sharon Kini **

Kimberlly T. Lainez

Maxwell B. Lennig

Jordan Alexandra Leo *

Siena M. LiCausi **

CLASS OF 2026

Awarded May 15, 2026

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF JURIS DOCTOR

Jackson H. Lipschutz *

Lacey L. Lorenzen **

Keyera Bryanna Jean MacKabee

Rosio Magallon

Rebekah A. Mar †**

Wilson Marinez

Katie Marie Maxwell *

Raul Jeovahny Medina *

Cuitlahuac Medina

Dominick Antonio Ramon Mendoza *

Christine Janessa Legasto Miller *

Mustafa Mir

David Alan Mistchenko *

Vijay K. Mittal *

Lauren Nicole Moran

Jack Robert Morrison *

Meredith Kate Muller *

Matt M. Nakaji *

Beene S. Naulapwa

Cruzangel S. Nava Corro

Sarah A. Navarro

Wesley Collin Near *

Anastasiya Novitskaya **

Jasmine R. Osmany *

Malea Parcasio-Eshelman **

Natalie Marie Parker *

Bailey E. Pearson

Vanessa Perez

Angelica J. Perez *

Roxana Pishdadian

Neda Zounouz Pourhassan

Rosa Emilia Quevedo *

Monica A. Quintana

Sabrina Rahmani

Sumeet K. Rai

Drake Daniel Rama

Leticia Reyez

Flavio Jesus Rivas

Caroline Maland Rojas

Cole Andrew Rosso

Michele Carolina Ruffner *

Linnea Ruth Rustad **

John Sandage †**

Mariah Treasure Sanders

Mayeli Estrella Santos

Kayla Beth Saunders *

Maximo Therieau Schonian *

David Christopher Shanks *

Brooke A. Shelly †**

Rishi Shukla

Destiny J. Simpson †**

Krista Simpson †**

Kennedy Lynn Skinner-Plunkett

Carson R. Smith *

Tate A. Soderstrom *

Ileanna M. Spoelstra

Kyle Evan Stickels †**

Dominic Aaron Stull

Katrina Sarah Syrakos *

Abigael Osana Tabora

† The Order of the Coif ** With Great Distinction * With Distinction

CLASS OF 2026

Awarded May 15, 2026

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF JURIS DOCTOR

Babak John Tahernezhadi *

Adriana G. Telly

Sushila Kaur Thind **

Michaela Christine Jill Thompson †**

Matthew J. Torres

Seth Zachary Totten *

Elynnor E. Trail **

Benjamin A. Uchytil

Jewel R. Unga †**

Nicholas F. Vargas *

Kyler Jay Farao Vernon *

Andy Vo

Maxine D. Wagas *

Erika R. Wallace

Mikayla Marie Whitmire

Tyler David Wieland **

Logan Alex Wilkinson *

Hunter M. Wright *

Gabriella Wyatt *

Courtney Irene Yamagiwa *

Jocelyn Ann Zellhoefer

Emily X. Zhang

Hadeel Omar Zidan

† The Order of the Coif ** With Great Distinction * With Distinction

CLASS OF 2026

To be awarded August 16, 2026

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Caitlin Johnson

Alejandra Maldonado

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN LAW

Jay Martinez

Kassie Wilbur

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF JURIS DOCTOR

Sarah Bridge

Shervin Morattab

Yana Nebyshinets

Inderjit Pandher

To be awarded December 2026

CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF JURIDICAL SCIENCE

Ana Paula Dos Santos

† The Order of the Coif ** With Great Distinction * With Distinction

MCGEORGE SCHOOL OF LAW

DEAN

Michael T. Colatrella, Jr.

PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR

Andrew Jurs

Full-Time Faculty

Carmen-Nicole Cox

Part-Time Faculty

Robert Miyashiro MPA and MPP Faculty

Thomas Cinti

MSL Faculty

FACULTY

Rishi Batra

Ashley Boulton

Melissa C. Brown

Ederlina Co

Linda Coco

Daniel Croxall

Omar M. Dajani

Paige Davidson

Franklin A. Gevurtz

Jennifer L. Harder

Lindsay Harrington

Dominique Hinson

Ron Hochbaum

Nicolas Heidorn a

Pamela Izvanariu

Leslie Gielow Jacobs

Andrew Jurs

Charles Kaye-Essien J. Clark Kelso

Lawrence C. Levine

Steven Macias

Michael P. Malloy

Christine Manolakas

Stephen C. McCaffrey

Lacey Mickleburgh

Michael S. Mireles

Francis J. Mootz, III

Mary-Beth Moylan

Blake C. Nordahl

Chinwe Ohanele

Erin O’Neal

Marcie Paolinelli

Antoinette Pierre-Louis

Jeffrey E. Proske

Reza Rezvani

Rachael E. Salcido

Michael Hunter Schwartz

William Shapiro

Edward H. Telfeyan

Colleen Truden

Rachel Van Cleave

Michael Vitiello

James Wirrell

Jarrod Wong ă

MCGEORGE SCHOOL OF LAW

EMERITUS FACULTY

Cary Bricker

Linda E. Carter

Raymond R. Coletta

Thomas Coyne

Julie A. Davies

George A. Gould

Warren A. Jones

Brian K. Landsberg

Dorothy S. Landsberg

Thomas J. Leach

Hether Macfarlane

John E. B. Myers

Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker

Claude D. Rohwer

John Cary Sims

John G. Sprankling

Kojo Yelpaala

ANNA ROSE FISCHER

MCGEORGE STAFF

MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Kelli Sarnowski

ADMINISTRATION

Leah D. Adams

Linda Coco

Michael T. Colatrella, Jr.

Daniel Croxall

Casandra J. Fernandez

Isabella Hannon

Ashley M. Golledge

Leslie Gielow Jacobs

Clémence Kucera

Lawrence C. Levine

Ly Lee

Marcie Paolinelli

Jeffrey E. Proske

Michael Vitiello

James R. Wirrell

UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC SACRAMENTO CAMPUS STAFF OF THE YEAR AWARD

Joe Pinkas

2026 MCGEORGE STUDENT GIVING PROGRAM

The Student Giving Program leaves a legacy at the law school and instills a sense of philanthropy among the students. This section is sponsored by the McGeorge School of Law Alumni Association in appreciation of the generosity of the following members of the Class of 2026.

KIMBERLY BONIFACIO

"To my family and friends, thank you for the love and support! To my dad who is guiding me from heaven, you’re forever in my heart. I wouldn’t be here without all of you! We did it! Love always, Kim."

ELIZABETH LEONE BUSH

“Thank you, Sacramento, for making me feel at home. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to grow with you all. To my people — I'm not me without you, and I couldn't have done this without you.”

ELYSE ELIZABETH CAPELLI

“Studying the law is an immense privilege. We're mosaics of everyone we've loved and learned from. Thank you for shaping me into who I am. I couldn't have earned my JD without you. I love you. JPC”

AMANDA D. CARLSON

“What… like it’s hard? Mom, Dad, Andrew & Sue, Brandi & AJ, and Buster — You all are the reason I just got everything I've ever wanted. I love you! We've seen the elephant, momma. Now, I'm an esquire.”

HANNAH DAVIDSON

“Thank you, Jarrod, for pushing me to be the best version of myself and thank you, Dad, for inspiring, mentoring, and encouraging me to pursue my legal education. Now I’m a McGeorge alum just like you!”

VOLICITIE M. DODGE

“To my tribe, thank you for answering every panicked call, listening to my endless complaining, and reminding me to keep going. Special thanks to Whiskey for the forced cuddles. I love you all so much!”

ROXANNE N. GALDOS

“I wouldn't be here without the love and care from my family and loved ones. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this journey. This one is for you, Lolo. <3”

2026 MCGEORGE STUDENT GIVING PROGRAM

DENISE GONZALEZ

“Congratulations to my LLSA Community! Sí se pudo!”

MOISES CESAR GONZALEZ

“Mom/Dad: Thank you for allowing me to pursue my dreams since I was a kid. Sam/AB: Thank you for being the best little brothers I can ask for. I would not be here without you guys by my side.”

MILLIE HERNANDEZ

“May my life always demonstrate que con Dios nunca se pierde, siempre se gana! Grateful to my family and femtors for your endless love and guidance — this milestone is yours as much as mine. We did it!”

LACY ELIZABETH JOHNSON

“Mom and Dad, thank you for always pushing me to be my best and for believing in me. Malena, thank you for standing by me through every obstacle with unwavering love and encouragement. We did it!”

HARVRINDER KAUR

To my husband, Sahil, thank you for believing in me. I love you all!”

MEGHNA SHARON KINI

“Thank you to Mom, Dad, and Mihika for all your support through law school and beyond. I love you so much and could not have done this without you!”

CUITLAHUAC MEDINA

"Si hoy estoy aquí es porque nunca deje de creer en mi, y tu tambien debes de creer en ti, vales más de lo que piensas" - Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio.”

DOMINICK ANTONIO RAMON MENDOZA

“Thank you to my family, friends, and McGeorge faculty. As we begin our legal careers, may we use the privilege of practicing law to advance justice, equity, and service to others. #BallSoHard”

2026 MCGEORGE STUDENT GIVING PROGRAM

CHRISTINE JANESSA LEGASTO MILLER

“Thank you to my family and friends for supporting me through every brief, exam, outline, breakdown, and breakthrough. I could not have done this without you.”

LAUREN NICOLE MORAN

“Mom & Dad, Thank you for your unconditional love, prayers, support, and encouragement throughout law school. Your belief in me made this achievement possible, and I could not have done it without you.”

MEREDITH KATE MULLER

“To my partner, Grace, for love. To my friends, for laughter. To my angels, Shirley and Barb, for courage. And to my parents, Mark and Julie, for everything.”

VANESSA PEREZ

“Para mi papá, Zo, and JJ, thank you for your endless love, support, and sacrifices. I would not be here without you. This degree is ours.”

NEDA ZOUNOUZ POURHASSAN

“Free all oppressed peoples from imperialism!!”

ROSA EMILIA QUEVEDO

“Believing in myself was the hardest part of all this. Mil gracias to my friends and family for always reminding me, again and again, that I am Chingona enough. This degree is yours too. Los amo, Emy.”

MONICA A. QUINTANA

“Señor Quintana, ten years ago, we got married with only $200 to our names, but with enough love to last a lifetime. Now, it’s your turn to walk the line at 43 as an engineer making our daughter proud!”

SUSHILA KAUR THIND

“To my Mom and Dad: Every sacrifice you made brought me to this moment. This degree is yours as much as it is mine. Thank you for making my dreams possible. I love you!

2026 MCGEORGE STUDENT GIVING PROGRAM

COURTNEY IRENE YAMAGIWA

“To my family, friends, and partner: Thank you for your love, support, and patience. My success would not be possible without you. To my fellow grads: We did it! Now, let's protect the rule of law.”

JOCELYN ANN ZELLHOEFER

“A HUGE thank you to all my family and friends who helped me achieve this goal. I couldn't have done it without all your love and support! XO Jocelyn.”

A THREE-CITY UNIVERSITY

The University of the Pacific’s presence in three unique California cities offers students a wider breadth of educational programs, as well as internship, outreach, and interprofessional education opportunities. Graduates can avail themselves of further graduate education and continuing professional education programs to keep skills relevant and succeed in an ever-evolving society.

SACRAMENTO CAMPUS

The beautiful tree-lined Sacramento Campus provides a focused learning environment with ties to the power and influence of one of the nation’s most important state capitals. Anchored by the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, the campus offers graduate programs in law, public policy, and public administration. The campus is also home to the School of Health Sciences and Benerd College, which offer graduate programs in clinical nutrition, education, nursing, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, and social work.

McGeorge’s innovative legal clinics provide high-quality pro bono representation to underserved members of the community, with students consistently achieving notable successes for their clients. The school operates seven specialized clinics in Sacramento, focusing on bankruptcy, elder and health law, homeless advocacy, immigration, indigent client representation, legislative and public policy, and prisoner civil rights mediation.

The California Victims Resource Center (CVRC) is also located on the Sacramento Campus. The CVRC staff and the McGeorge students provide legal information and tailored resource referrals to victims and their families, victim service providers, and other victim advocates.

SAN FRANCISCO CAMPUS

Pacific’s high-tech San Francisco Campus thrives in the South of Market (SoMa) district in one of the world’s most exciting cities. Home to the nationally renowned Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, the campus also offers graduate programs in data science, music therapy, and audiology. Dental and audiology clinics and numerous healthcare outreach efforts provide quality dental and audiology services each year for people of all ages, many of whom may not otherwise receive care.

STOCKTON CAMPUS

Pacific’s largest campus serves more than 4,500 students and is located in the heart of California’s Central Valley. Old and new brick buildings reminiscent of East Coast Ivy League schools are surrounded by lush green spaces, vibrant rose gardens and majestic trees. Renowned for its idyllic beauty, breadth of academic programs, and vibrant campus life, the Stockton Campus is home to undergraduate, graduate and professional programs that prepare students for successful futures.

McGeorge School of Law began as a one-room night school in downtown Sacramento in 1924 when it was founded as the Sacramento College of Law. Verne Adrian McGeorge was the founding dean and professor of law. In 1929, the Board of Trustees renamed the school McGeorge College of Law in honor of its founder.

HISTORY

Succeeding McGeorge, Russell Harris was dean from 19301933. Gilford Rowland was dean from 1933-1937. Lawrence Dorety was dean from 1937 until the school closed during WWII. The school reopened in 1946 under Dean John Swan, who served in this role until 1957.

Gordon D. Schaber served as the dean of McGeorge College of Law from 1957-1991. The law school moved to its permanent home in a vacant well-baby clinic at the corner of 33rd Street and Fifth Avenue in the Oak Park neighborhood in 1957.

The school won full accreditation from the State Bar of California in 1964. McGeorge affiliated with the University of the Pacific in 1966 and began offering day classes the following year. The merger with Pacific paved the way for ABA accreditation (1968) and an explosive growth in enrollment the following decade. McGeorge is part of Pacific’s Sacramento Campus, a 14-acre, 28-building complex with 30 classrooms, a courtroom, a student center, student apartments, community legal services offices, and the lecture hall. The McGeorge Legal Studies Center opened in 2011 and houses the Gordon D. Schaber Law Library.

A leader in the study of international law, McGeorge established a presence in Europe in 1974. Anthony M. Kennedy, an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, taught each summer at the school’s International Legal Studies Program in Salzburg, Austria. Justice Kennedy is McGeorge’s longest-serving faculty member, having taught Constitutional Law and Comparative Free Speech from 1965 to 2019.

HISTORY

Dean Gerald Caplan succeeded Schaber in 1991 and served as dean until 2002. His leadership saw the creation of the Capital Center for Law and Policy, a perfect fit for a law school located just 3.1 miles from the California Capitol Building.

Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker became the eighth dean of McGeorge, serving from 2002-2012. Dean Parker served as the law school’s first female dean. Under her leadership, the school’s Global Center for Business and Development was founded to encourage both students and faculty to engage with the global legal community.

Francis J. Mootz III, formerly of UNLV's William Boyd School of Law, became the ninth dean of McGeorge. Mootz served as dean from 2012-2017. He reshaped the law school by adding three Master's degree programs focused on the Science of Law, Public Administration and Public Policy. Under his leadership, the faculty modernized the required curriculum and emphasized experiential learning.

Dean Michael Hunter Schwartz, who previously served as the dean of the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, joined McGeorge as its 10th dean in 2017. Under Dean Schwartz’s leadership, McGeorge School of Law received one of the largest gifts in the history of U.S. legal education in 2021. Robert T. Eglet, ’88, and his law partner and wife, Tracy A. Eglet, committed to giving $25 million to the law school in support of the school’s advocacy center and scholarships dedicated to first-generation students. Schwartz served as dean from 2017-2025.

McGeorge School of Law celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2024. The school’s centennial anniversary stands as a testament to the power of vision, perseverance, and excellence in law as well as McGeorge’s ability to adapt, grow, and shape the future of legal education.

Michael T. Colatrella Jr. became the 11th dean of McGeorge School of Law in 2025. He joined the McGeorge faculty in 2009 as an Assistant Professor of Law, served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 2015-2019, and served as Interim Dean from 2019-2020. Dean Colatrella was appointed as the Inaugural Tracy A. Eglet Chair in Alternative Dispute Resolution in 2023.

COMMENCEMENT TRADITIONS

THE ORDER OF THE COIF

The Order of the Coif is a national society for law students that recognizes academic excellence and promotes legal scholarship. The award of the chapter of The Order of the Coif signifies that the school of law maintains scholarship and academic standards of particularly high quality. The McGeorge Chapter was chartered in 1982. Chapters have been awarded to 88 of the 197 law schools accredited by the American Bar Association. Candidates for the Juris Doctor Degree who have been elected to membership are designated by the “†” symbol.

For graduates or candidates for the Juris Doctor degree who are elected to The Order of the Coif, as part of their academic regalia, the traditional white coif is attached to their mortarboard.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MACE

Originally a weapon used in medieval warfare, the mace evolved by the 12th century into a symbolic device used on ceremonial occasions and borne before monarchs, mayors, and parliaments. The mace, as an academic symbol, dates back to the 15th century at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. The use of maces as symbols of academic authority spread to other universities in the British Isles and, from there, to America.

Robert E. Burns, Pacific president from 1946 to 1971, asked Stuart Devlin, an internationally known London silver designer, to create the University of the Pacific’s mace. It was commissioned in recognition of the university’s transition from a college to a university and was first used at a Founders Day ceremony on March 6, 1966. Constructed entirely of silver with a gold-plated seal of the university on its head, the mace weighs 15 pounds and is approximately four feet long. It was a gift from Mrs. Winifred Olson Raney, a regent of the university. The mace is displayed at all official university functions, including Commencement and Convocation. It is traditionally carried by the chair of the Academic Council or a faculty member to symbolize the role of the faculty in university governance.

COMMENCEMENT TRADITIONS

SIGNIFICANCE OF ACADEMIC REGALIA

Distinctive academic dress can be traced back to the universities of the Middle Ages when university students and faculty wore the robes of the clergy. Today, three ranks of degrees are distinguished through variations in the robes, which also indicate the discipline and the university that awarded the degree.

In the United States, gowns generally are black. The color of the edging of the hood, and occasionally the color of the facing and crossbars on the gown, indicate the field of learning in which the degree is awarded. The colors of the lining of the hood are those of the institution awarding the degree. An individual’s degree is revealed by the type of gown and the width of the edging on the hood.