Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
Dr. Juan Francisco Aleman III
Dissertation: School Discipline Disparities in Texas Through the Lens of Conflict Theory
Dr. Joan Sotero Alvarez
Dissertation: Grit Among First-Generation Students Who Persist Through College / La Firmeza Entre Los Estudiantes De Primera Generación Que Persisten En La Universidad
Dr. Audrey Chyrelle Benavidez
Dissertation: Racial Essentialism in the Online Classroom: A Phenomenological Study of Black College Students
Dr. Charlotte Anne Caraker
Dissertation: School Culture, Job Satisfaction, and Education Level: Their Impact on Teacher Retention Rates
Dr. Susan Huff Douglas
Dissertation: Faculty Trust in the Principal
Dr. Sandra Garza
Dissertation: The Secret is in the Ganas: Examining Grit in Texas Principals
Dr. Twila Marie Guajardo
Dissertation: Distributed Leadership Practices and Burnout in Texas Secondary School Principals
Dr. Heather Ann Herrera
Dissertation: Autoethnography: A Self Reflection of the Transition from First-Generation Student to Student Affairs Practitioner
Dr. Megan Brennan Limerick
Dissertation: Checking in Before They are Checking Out: The Role Strain of School Librarians A Quantitative Study
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education
Dr. Kelsey Jae Barrera
Dissertation: A Parent Training Program for Addressing Emotional Dysregulation and Problematic Behavior of Children
Dr. Isabel Eyamin Santos
Dissertation: Exploring the Impact of Coping Self-Efficacy as a Moderator for Perfectionism and Burnout Among BIPOC Counselor Education Doctoral Students
Dr. Tina Louise Whittaker-Smith
Dissertation: Anti-burnout variables for SOTPS
Dr. Arlett Zamarripa
Dissertation: The Lived Experience of Latinas With Autoimmune Disease Who Have Received Mental Health Care From Mental Health Professionals
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Computer Science
Dr. Bradley Koskowich
Dissertation: An Assessment of Methods For Effective Single Camera Resection Solutions to the Cross-view Geo-localization Problem
Dr. Evan Andrew Krell
Dissertation: Using Hierarchical Superpixels to Improve Neural Network Attributions For Geospatial Models
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Doctor of Philosophy in Coastal and Marine System Science
Dr. Shelby Lynne Metoyer
Dissertation: Advancements in Remote Sensing in the Aquatic Environment and Turbulence: Infrared, Visable, and Insitu Measurements
Dr. Youwen Wang
Dissertation: Species Interaction Dynamics: Multifactorial Analysis, and Post-Catastrophe Assessments
Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Biology
Dr. Nin Gan
Dissertation: Synergistic Effects of Petroleum Production and Marine Environmental Changes on Oyster Health
Dr. Wing Man Charlotte Lee
Dissertation: Investigating Marine Particulate Organic Matter with Nitrogen Isotopes of Amino Acids and Nitrate
Dr. David Nicholas Weber Jr.
Dissertation: Applying Genomic Techniques to Fisheries Management: A Focus on the Snapper-Grouper Complex
SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION
Master of Fine Arts
Mr. Joshua John Dancause
Thesis: 2010 Cortez: Loss and Vernacular Photography
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Master of Science
Abby Jay Ables
Oluwatosin Mercy Anjorin
Charlee Jeanette Baker
Aricel Lia Bordayo
Price Brownlee
Ashley Cartwright
Iris Cynthia De La Garza
Karla Monique Flores
Joe Garcia III
Cody David Hall
Ketavion De’Ron Humber
Kendall Yvonne Laboy
Patricia Kelly Lopez
Jessica Luna
Santiago Luis Luna
Lanny Tyler McKinney
Meghan Leigha McQuary
Taylor Leigh Mondragon
Epifania Lupita Olvera
Salma Antonia Perez
Rayghan Claire Poimboeuf
Ramona L.M. Ramon
Chase D. Resendez
Sabrina Rodriguez
Destiny Rae Sanchez
Jace A. Schmidt
Melissa Silvas-Porter
Angel Simonyan
Michaela Marie Stanley
Andrew C. Stephen
Erica Velasquez
Faith Rochelle Walker
Olivia Jean Whitehurst J.
Brianna Renee Melvin
Josie Marie Wilson
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
Master of Science
Sravani Adusumilli
Tarun Sai Reddy Ambati
Om Preetham Bandi
Sai Kumar Bheempaka
Praveen Kumar Bodapati
Dhanush Chalvadi
Sai Tejaswi Chiruvolu
Sowmya Sai Daddanala
Harsha Vardhini Daram
Venkata Siva Bhargav Guggilapu
Venkateswara Rao Gutta
Mona ShivaniHajiesmaeeli Jilukara
Dinesh Reddy Kandari
Meghana Kodali
Nandini Kodali
Thirumala Devi Kola
Jayanth Reddy Kolipally
Meghana Kolthuri
Reddy Bhuvan Korlakunta
Sai Kiran Kotha
Venkata Phanindra Kotupalli
Vijay Kummari
Manoj Reddy Kunta
Sujith Lakkimsetti
Tiffany Tram Ly
Sugnani Maddukuri
Vineela Madduri
Poojitha PardhasaradhiMandadiModiboina
Tarun Narasimha Varma Muppalla
Malathi Sindur Myle
Sai Datha Nagamoni
Naveen Kumar Reddy Nagireddy
Aparna Nannapaneni
Oluwaseun Omolayo Ogunfile
Vikas Reddy Padigomla
Samuel Titov Palacios
Uttej Reddy Pasuladi
Achyuth Kumar Pasupulati
Kiran Kumar Patcha
Rohitha Pathuri
Manideep Reddy Pati
Akhil Polsani
Nandini Poludasu
Hemanth Sai Pothuru
Abhishek Raparthi
Vamshi Sadya
Devika Samineni
Madhava Sai Sandrana
Mohammed Ali Sheriff Shaik
Vinay Sai Tummala
Thriveen Ullendula
Shalini Valluri
Srihitha Reddy Velumula
Nikhilesh Vemana
Sravya Sri UshakamakshiVirigineniViswanadha
Harvini Vuppala
Sri Kalyan Reddy Akiti
Jesus Eduardo Baca
Lucero Anais Barraza
Yeying Chen
Mohit Chilukuri
Travis James Danek
Abril Esmeralda Garcia Lunar
Jacob A. Harris
Emorie L. Bonner
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Master of Science
Alan Jorge Innes
Alicia M. Jimenez
Dijani L. Laplace
Manuel Lopez Videla
Dylan Lee Mack
Akhila Mandhala
Michael Christopher Pena
Melanie Ann Ponce
Laura E. Ramirez
Daniel Rosas II
Amanda Regnier Rose
Nicholas Slade Shropshire
Alexis H. Trujillo
Felipe Dejesus Urrutia IV
SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION
Master of Arts
Krista Nicole Ramirez
Savannah Barbara Spears
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Bachelor of Science
Maricris Deguzman Albarda
Raul Alonso Jr.
Savannah Leigh Anderson
Emma Banks
Maegan B. Bender‡
Kellyn C. Brown*
Gunner Mclain Bryson
Mitchell Anthony Ceja
Summer Raine Chamberlain*
Bailey Layne Cook‡
Jade Isabella De La Rosa*
Mia KileeDelgado C. Dudik•
Hailey Kristine Emmons*
Austin Bradley Estanislao‡
Samuel Clive Feltz•
Briana Danielle Garza
Gina Marie Garza*
Jessica Lynn Gonzalez
Melissa Anahi Gonzalez
Skylar Pace Goodwin
Kathryn E. Grivich
Dyeanna Marie Hernandez
Samantha Hinojosa
Baylee Camille Hosek
Briana Aileen Lara
Kaleb Luna
Caleb Anthony Lyles
Jaren Miguel Marmolejo
Katya Mistral Mata
Elizabeth Christine Mattingly•
Ashlyn N. Minton•
Heather Yvette Moore
Chase Morales•
Madison Savannah Moreno-Prater
Ariel Elise Morin•
Rosalinda Rasquel Musquiz
Hevan Noelle Nieto
Noella Mbombo Nkola•
Jacqueline Faith Prado
Meagan Nicole Price‡
Adrian Manuel Rivera Jr.
Jameson Mary Roddie*
Samantha A. Rush
Emily Mae Smyder• Isabella Jolie Soriano•
Gavyn Bjorn Steffek
Sebastian A. Trinidad•
Grace Verdeja
Angelica G. Villela*
Zachary George Walker‡
Lillie Thomas Weyel
Hannah Charlotte Williams
Brianna Hope Wilson•
Sandye Mathis Zgarba‡
Jaslyn Raquel Zuniga‡
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
Bachelor of Science
Bryan Bermudez
Kameron Harvey Burkett
Eric Zac Castaneda
Emberly Nicole Catalina
James Josef Coates
Max H. Doemland
Dante J. Duran
Tarek Elharoun•
Jaden Evan Ellis
Gavin G. Eyerly
Pablo V. Fernandez III
Fermin Gomez Gallegos Jr.
Bryson Ty Gardner*
Lizette Peraza Gonzales‡
David Austin Green
Ryan Matthew Grieb•
Ray Hernandez Jr.
Darious Laverne Johnson
Faith Elizabeth Adams*
Alyssa Alaniz
Alanna Elyse Alvarado*
Alex Ryan Bailey
Olivia Michelle Bass
Raydiance T’Gwen Brooks
Emily Ann Brownfield
Juan Jesis Camacho
Joyce Janelle Vilela Camota*
Kristen Sarah Johnson*
Jacob A. Jones
Madhuri Kar
Dylan Thomas Koliba
Yohance Machado•
Miguel Martinez
Paige Devian Martinez
Brittany Christine Marx*
Francisco Xavier Mireles Jr.
Reid A. Mittag•
Luke James Moellering
Cody Curtis Mongeau
Jayden Jearlpree Nails
Steven James Nava
Thai Quoc Nguyen•
Deven Javier Perez
Dejan Tirvan Ramdath
Rafif Abdulkarim Rendusara
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Bachelor of Science
Jake Thomas Carney
Luke Andrew Churchman‡
Brittany Elizabeth Creacy
Bryanna Ambriz Davis
Hallie Day Dugosh
Kathleen Elizabeth Edmiston
Caitlyn Alyssa Engh
Brianna Lynn Escochea
Kathie Renea Frenzel
Joshua Thomas Robertson
Christopher Jay Salazar
Ryan Garrett Seidel*
Breanna Rosario Sifuentes
Ryan Allen Smith
William Leroy Songer
Elizabeth Soto
Alex Thompson
Aaliyah Debra-Michelle Timms*
Lee A. Tisdale
Alexander Anthony Vasquez*
Jennifer Vasquez•
Ian Timothy Wall
Branton A. Winkenwerder‡
Nathaniel Bosley York
Samuel Ray Gamez
Erica Dawn Given*
Luka Nook Gray
Autumn Raeyn Hampton•
Ashlyn Octavia Holmes
Gillian Elizabeth Jaime
Fathi Kahia
Ryan N. Lau‡
Victoria Nicole Lichtenberger
Madeleine N. Licker‡ Honors Program Graduate
Cecile Gunnel Delano Ligon*
Kelsie G. Luong•
Ashley Nicole Marines
Colton B. Mayfield
Susanna Abigail Mccall
Patricia Ann Mccutchen
Hailey Brianna Medina• Honors Program Graduate
Brandon Abel Medina Garcia•
Alejandra Maria Mendez
Gwendolyn Menzies
William Quentin Mixon
Sara Raquel Mohammed*
Bianca Molina
Isabelle Morales
Jeramy Lane Baucom
Charles Travis Blalock
Sara Marie Carlson‡
Cristian Andrew Cortez
Elli Grace Darnell*
Emily Elizabeth Delaune*
Enzo Antonio Gentile‡
Carly N. Glynn•
Jose Gonzales IV*
Marcel M. Gonzales
Isabella Megan Guillot
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Bachelor of Science, continued
Dante William Morland
Alayna N. Munoz
Michael Conrad Myers
Noah Andrew Nelson
Juan Raul Ortega
Christian D. Oserraos•
Kyndal M. Payne•
Natalia Pellum-Mackey
Anna Puiliakya Perreault
Emily Natalia Ponton
Aimee Veronica Prado
Archie Price
Oliver Elizabeth Puckett•
Hannah Ranae Richardson
Victoria Nevelyn Rivera
Vivian Rodriguez
Noemi P. Ruiz
Cassandra Lauren Salazar•
Joshua Dylan Salinas
Jody Mae Sifuentes
Nicholas Alexander Solis
Nathan Boone Stauber
Zoe Michelle Theriot
Alicia Celine Tolley
Martin Armen Vartanian
Grace Alma Vierling
Hanna B. Vinklarek•
Heaven E. Vonrosenberg•
Victoria A. Waddell
Emily Elizabeth Watts•
Lisa Alexandria Winn
Shaelee Madison Wood
Elizabeth Selah Woodward
SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION
Bachelor of Arts
Piper Roeann Harper
Ashley Nicole Jimenez‡
Christian Faith Johnson•
Katie Barbara Jean Kiggins
Kai Mckenzie Lipscomb
Lawson William Love
Adrian Christopher Martinez
Benjamin
Danny Martinez Jr.
Kayla Marlene Munoz•
Cameron Drew Nucete•
Justin Cade O’Neal
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Ariana Del Mar De Jesus Martinez
Enrique Martin Rios‡
Sammy Iverson Buentello Ezequiel Jacob Cuestas•
Bachelor of Music
Lisbeth Puerta-Vasquez
Joseph Anthony Rivas Jr.
Carli Braxton Rowles
Jay Rose Satterwhite
David A. Tafolla
Joseph Manuel Tafur
Alfred Mason Urias
Tito L. Valdez•
Anais Wiatrek
Indigo Devarien Rodriguez•
Danielle Victoria Saldana
John Paul Culpepper
Jacob A. Ramos
The names on this program include all students who have applied for graduation. Conferral of the official degree is based upon completion and certification of all degree requirements.
Commencement Speaker
Rudy D. Garza is the President and CEO of CPS Energy, the nation’s largest community-owned electric and natural gas utility. As the first Hispanic leader to hold the position, Garza brings over 25 years of experience to the utility industry, having served in both the public and private sectors throughout his career.
After graduating from Roy Miller High School in Corpus Christi, Garza went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Texas.
Joining CPS Energy in 2012, Garza previously served as Chief Customer and Stakeholder Engagement Officer, as well as Senior Vice President of Distribution Service and Operations, where he oversaw the maintenance and construction activity of the electric distribution system.
Under Garza’s leadership, CPS Energy successfully navigated the approval of two rate cases in 2022 and 2023. He also led the development of a comprehensive strategic engagement plan, which resulted in the Board of Trustees’ approval of a blended generation planning approach to power the community’s growing needs, both now and in the future. To further deliver on CPS Energy’s mission, Garza has spearheaded the creation of a strategic plan called Vision 2027—a roadmap to guide CPS Energy through the rapid transformation of the industry.
Dedicated to public service, Garza is actively engaged in his community through multiple board roles.
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents
Mr. William Mahomes, Chairman ............................................................................... Dallas
Mr. Robert L. Albritton, Vice Chairman Fort Worth
Mr. David C. Baggett ............................................................................................... Houston
Mr. John W. Bellinger San Antonio
Mr. James Randy Brooks .................................................................................... San Angelo
Mr. Jay Graham ........................................................................................................ Houston
Mr. Michael A. Hernandez III Fort Worth
Mr. Michael J. Plank ................................................................................................ Houston
Mr. Sam Torn Houston
Ms. Cage Sawyers ................................................................................................ Fort Worth
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Official Ring
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the Islander Alumni Association unveiled the official ring in 1999. The ring itself is a symbol of achievement, unity, and University spirit. Upperclassmen wear the ring with the school’s name facing their heart. Upon the granting of degrees at commencement, graduates turn the ring around, with the name facing outward. This symbolizes that the graduate is now ready to face new challenges outside the University.
The official ring is a visible, tangible manifestation of the long-lasting bond between Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi and its alumni, offering symbolic representation of one’s past, present, and future as an Islander. As always, it is alumni who carry the same pride in their University, and a seamless gold band holds together the many people who have shared a dream—to earn a college education.
University Mace
The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Mace is the wooden staff that is carried by a mace bearer leading the academic processional for commencements, convocations, and special university ceremonies. Originally, the mace was a long-handled club used by knights during the Middle Ages to crush the armor of enemies. Later, ceremonial maces were carried by guards of French and English monarchs. Later still, the mace was carried or placed by a magistrate or dignitary to establish authority. In sessions of the British House of Commons, the mace is placed on the treasury table. In the U.S. House of Representatives, it is placed to the right of the speaker. Today, the University Mace is used to symbolize the authority of the University President and is a grand emblem of tradition at
Academic Regalia
Academic regalia (cap, gown, and hood) date to 12th-century Europe, where they were worn primarily for warmth by university students as well as laymen. As laymen gradually changed their garb to capes and breeches, institutions of learning prescribed the gown of black for scholars, with a hood draped down the back when not worn over the head and a mortarboard cap shaped like the mortarboard of the master workman.
In 1985 in the United States, the Intercollegiate Commission prepared a code, specifying the design and color of academic regalia for colleges and universities in the United States. Under this code, the bachelor’s gown has long pointed sleeves. The master’s gown has an oblong sleeve. The doctor’s gown has bell-shaped sleeves. Gowns are generally black; however, a number of schools have adopted special regalia for the doctor’s gown.
The velvet border of the hood may represent either the color of the degree or the color of the field of study. The current trend is for the color to represent the field of study rather than the name of the degree, but in earlier years dark blue was characteristic for a Ph.D. in any field. Hoods are lined with the official colors of the college or university from which the degree is received.
Caps are the traditional mortarboard except for the doctor’s degree, where a four-sided velvet tam is optional. Caps from schools with special color gowns or from foreign universities may be more distinctive. Cap tassels for the doctor’s degree are gold, while the tassels for the master’s and bachelor’s degree are typically black. Holders of all these degrees wear the tassel on the left. The ritual of bachelor’s degree candidates shifting the tassel from right to left marks the conferring of one’s first university degree.
Hood Color Code
Arts, Letters, Humanities ..................................... White
Commerce, Accountancy, Business Drab
Dental ..................................................................... Lilac
Economics Copper
Education Light Blue
Engineering ........................................................ Orange
Fine Arts, Architecture Brown
Library Science ...................................................Lemon
Medicine Green
Music.......................................................................Pink
Nursing Apricot
Philosophy..................................................... Dark Blue
Physical Education Sage Green
Public Administration Peacock Blue
Public Health ............................................. Salmon Pink
Science Golden Yellow
Social Work .......................................................... Citron
Speech Silver Gray
Academic Honors
Students earning academic honors wear cords in recognition of academic excellence. The following honors are awarded at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi:
‡ Summa Cum Laude: the silver honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.9 and above.
* Magna Cum Laude: the blue honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.7 to 3.899.
• Cum Laude: the green honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.5 to 3.699.
*The honors presented during the ceremony are calculated on the student’s institutional cumulative grade point average and institutional credit hours through the semester prior to filing for graduation. Official honors designation, which includes the calculation of the final semester’s grades and hours, will be indicated on the final transcript and diploma.
Honor Society Medallions and Cords
Students at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi have the privilege of being asked to join honor societies. Membership is based on grade point average and special criteria for each organization such as major, community service, and service to a profession. Students belonging to these honor societies wear cords and medallions that represent their high achievements and the colors and symbols of the organization.
Music Provided by Symphonic Winds
Directed by Dr. Seth McKnight, Assistant Professor of Music Education
Special thanks to the faculty, staff, Student Government Association, and Island Ambassadors who participated in today’s events.
