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REMARKS BY THE DEAN Congratulations, Custom-Designed graduates. This is not the graduation you had in mind, but, rest assured, it is one that you will remember. You have been through a grueling year and are graduating into a world with more challenges than ever before. It is a world that cries out for innovation, leadership, wisdom and justice. You seem to me to be uniquely fitted to take on these challenges. You have been trained to think across boundaries — to combine unlike things, to make original connections, and to reach across difference to consolidate, synthesize and innovate. You are thus capable of understanding the deeply ingrained problems that face us in the world today: problems of sustainability, racial injustice and political polarization. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish, but I also hope that you can find joy and fulfillment along the way. Please don’t forget to come back to visit us at Bentley Hall, the new home of the Pennoni Honors College.
PAULA MARANTZ COHEN, PHD DEAN PENNONI HONORS COLLEGE
A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR This year marks the 10th anniversary of the CustomDesigned Major, and the class of 2021 graduates of the major represent its growth, development, and achievements during that stretch of time. The major has helped students discover their own goals and passions; forge new, and sometimes eclectic, pathways; define and solve problems; and push the bounds of what a college education can look like. This class of graduates exemplifies that track record of innovation, discovery and success. They have achieved much, and they have done so during a time of unprecedented challenges. Those challenges will not abate upon graduation, but these graduates have developed the skills, knowledge and insights that prime them to confront challenges and transform this world into what it can and should be. This is a class of problem-solvers, designers, re-framers and visionaries. And, for as lofty as their thoughts are, they are not afraid of getting their hands dirty to get the work done. Collectively we will need their abilities and determination more than ever – having witnessed the journeys of these eight graduates, I can say that they give me confidence for the future. As we celebrate their achievements today, I know that this is only a prelude to the many more that will come. Congratulations to the Custom-Designed Major graduates of 2021! KEVIN D. EGAN, PHD DIRECTOR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
ABOUT THE CUSTOM-DESIGNED MAJOR When a student wants to pursue an individualized course of study that is not readily available through an existing major, or combination of existing majors and/or minors offered at Drexel University, the custom-designed major bachelor of science degree may be an option. The program is designed for highly motivated students, providing the opportunity for an early intensive research experience; incorporates cooperative education as part of its degree requirements; and culminates in an original, interdisciplinary senior-year project. To be considered for the Custom-Designed Major (CSDN) an applicant must undergo a rigorous application process that involves writing a detailed personal statement as well as a term-by-term plan of study. The personal statement must describe how and why a student wants to pursue an individualized track and how their desired disciplines synthesize. The plan of study is an exercise in problem-solving and long-term planning in which a student must consider depth and breadth of coursework. This entrepreneurial spirit must be carried on throughout their time at Drexel in both their curricular and co-curricular pursuits, and thus this program is not for the faint of heart. Students of the major are creative, ambitious, and intellectual risk-takers. They go on to become highly competitive job and graduate school candidates that make the Pennoni Honors College proud.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER DAWN MARIE BAZEMORE DANCER & CHOREOGRAPHER Dawn Marie Bazemore is a dancer/choreographer who has dedicated her research and pedagogy to finding new and inventive ways of using art to investigate the sociopolitical issues that affect the African American community. In 1998, after receiving her BFA from SUNY Purchase, she relocated to Philadelphia from New York to join Philadanco where she performed professionally for 10 years. Dawn Marie has also lent her talents to Waheed Works, the Tania Isaac Dance Project, The Fred Benjamin Dance Company and Deeply Rooted Dance Productions. In 2009, Dawn Marie transitioned into musical theatre performing ensemble and featured roles in various Broadway and regional theater productions including All Shook Up, Dreamgirls, Purlie and The First National Tour of the Color Purple. After earning her MFA from Hollins University, Dawn Marie served as a guest choreographer and artist in residence at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and a Master Lecturer in the Ira Brind School of Theater Arts at the University of the Arts. In 2013 Dawn Marie presented her solo work “Loss: Loving into Life” at the American Dance Festival and her piece “A Movement for Five”, created for Philadanco and inspired by the events surrounding the Central Park Five, made its world premiere at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in 2015. Also, in 2015, Dawn Marie’s essay Dance and Activism: The Practice and Impact of Sociopolitical Activism was published in the online journal The Dancer-Citizen. Dawn Marie teaches modern dance technique, dance for the musical theatre and theory courses in world dance forms and African influences in American dance. In 2019, she was awarded the DanceVisions residency at the Performance Garage, where she created the world premiere of Letters, a collaborative performance about fragmented relationships and profound loss within American culture.
DOMINICK BAGLIVO MUSIC JOURNALISM I am incredibly thankful for everyone involved with CSDN, especially Kevin for making me feel very welcome as a sophomore entering the program. CSDN allowed me to pursue exactly what I came to Drexel to study after a long and frustrating first year. I also must give thanks to Katie Barak and my mentor, Melinda Lewis, for providing me support and helping me (hopefully) perfect my capstone presentation. Lastly, I must give a shoutout to WKDU and everyone involved. Without college radio, my four years at Drexel would not have been half of what they were. As my second home, WKDU helped to shape me as a music listener and as a person, all while being crucial to the perspectives that influenced BLIGATORY. With BLIGATORY, my team and I have created a platform centered around community-focused music journalism. Through our work and through our unique, contrarian, and somewhat-grassroots approach, we hope to create an inclusive environment that changes the way music is discussed. Instagram: @bligatory Instagram: @averagemusicblog LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dominick-baglivo/
CECILIA CIRNE SOCIAL APPLICATIONS OF FOOD SCIENCE The Custom-Designed Major has been the single most influential part of my academic career here at Drexel. I came to the university knowing that its where I belonged but it never truly felt right until Kevin and Ana welcomed me into the program and gave me the opportunity to explore my greatest passions and work toward my career goals. My Drexel experience was finally completed when Katie joined the team. I could not be more grateful to find an advisor, mentor, and friend that supported me unconditionally and continuously reminded me of my own power and success. With this program and the encouragement of the staff and students I have been able to explore sustainable food product development and international food systems in a way that sets me up to reach my dreams of ending food insecurity and malnutrition in communities across the world. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ctcirne
DAN CLARK APPLIED DATA SCIENCE The CSDN program thoroughly enriched my collegiate experience and allowed me the diversification to learn exactly what I wanted.
colleges.
My major developed from boredom in the standard major path and the barriers that existed with specific
Katie, Kevin, and Ana were excellent advisors that put all of their energy into the students, and the program wouldn’t be the same without their support. My major allowed me to create a capstone project that culminated all my interests and explored my passions. I’m grateful for the memories and experience, and I’m excited for the future Drexel has helped build. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danclark382/
AVERY KLONDAR FASHION STUDIES & CONSUMER BEHAVIOR The CSDN program completely altered my time at Drexel University for the better. I am beyond thankful for Kevin, Katie and Ana for giving me the opportunity to develop my own plan of study and thrive on my own path. I speak about this often, but I would not be where I am without the confidence that these incredible advisors instilled in me. Their support has created opportunities for my future that I know would have been out of reach had I stayed in my prior major. I am so excited for my future at Johns Hopkins University where I will continue my education, and MantraBand where I have begun my full-time role. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/averyklondar/
MAANASA NATRAJAN QUANTITATIVE STUDIES IN LIFE SCIENCES I am thankful to the Pennoni Honors College for enriching my undergraduate experience at Drexel. The CSDN program helped me develop strong scientific foundations, interact with students from different disciplines and discover my interests. The Honors Program’s SEA Phages course introduced me to research and the colloquia courses helped me see brain and behavior through different lenses. I am grateful to Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs (UREP), particularly the SuperNova program for supporting me in my research journey; to the Aspire Scholars program for helping me find connections and opportunities; and UREP’s Scholar Development for helping me prepare for fellowships and learn more about myself. I would also like to thank the Office of Global Engagement and the Steinbright Career Development Center for helping me undertake an intensive course abroad in Guatemala and co-op in Singapore, through which I learned about and experienced different cultures. My special thanks to all my professors, research mentors and advisors, Katie, Kevin and Ana, for their time, mentorship and support. I am also thankful to my family for the values they inculcated in me. After graduation, I will be furthering my capstone research through a PhD in neuroscience at the Janelia Joint Graduate Program in partnership with The Johns Hopkins University. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maanasanatrajan
KRYSTYNA SALYUK SOCIAL DESIGN I am extremely grateful for the Liberty Scholars scholarship program and donors for allowing me the opportunity to attend Drexel University. In addition, I want to thank the CSDN team, and those professors that helped me learn, grow and form my own understanding of the world. My experience with the CSDN major program has been one of self-exploration and learning that has been guided by my advisors and professors. My major has allowed me the flexibility to explore my curiosities as they arose and to allow space in my course list to adapt myself to new learnings and perspectives. The major allowed me to create a magazine that focuses on the intersection of nature and design in my senior year. I plan to travel to Algarve, Portugal this summer in order to help design and construct a greenhouse. In the future, I hope to apply to master’s programs in landscape architecture. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ksalyuk/
JASMINE TIMAR ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING My research is entirely centered around helping scientists in environmental science, conservation ecology and other related fields to better communicate with the general public through the use of best-practice marketing tactics. The Custom-Designed Major program allowed me the freedom and flexibility to build up a strong background in how individuals in these fields are educated, as well as in the use of the tools that would be most helpful to them. I would not have been able to find this path without the Drexel Environmental Science Leadership Academy where I was exposed to the world of environmental science and the passion of its researchers. Along my way, I was especially supported by the Laboratory of Pinelands Research, Pennoni’s STAR Scholars program, the Drexel High School Scholars program and the Custom-Designed Major as a whole. I would especially like to thank the faculty who gave me their time and helped me grow — without you I wouldn’t have had the guidance to get to where I wanted to. In my next stage, I will be continuing to develop my company, Telemitra Inc., as we expand further into our mission of supporting science-based non-profit organizations and researchers to further their good work. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasmine-timar/
KRISHNA VENIGALLA GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Custom-Designed Major has transformed my outlook on education and given me the freedom to learn without boundaries. As I gained more experiences in my field and the growing nature of development, I better grasped the concept of sustainability in relation to development. My experiences abroad from research to studying have supported this understanding of how sustainability can be better integrated into development. About a year and a half into my undergrad, I brought in the environmental aspect of development and was able to understand the crucial role it played in the overall concept of sustainability. Through everything that felt like a roadblock, Kevin was there to assure me that it wasn’t. I want to also thank Katie and Ana for always being there with the utmost enthusiasm for everything that this major stands for. I want to thank all of my amazing professors, mentors and my parents for the priceless opportunities and support. In the future, I hope to continue to build my own platform connecting people globally to do good in the world and through that process, hope to build a more sustainable world. Linkedin.com: linkedin.com/in/krishna-venigalla
CONGRATULATIONS 2021 CUSTOM-DESIGNEDMAJOR
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I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.
—Gilda Radner
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