UC Merced | 2017 Commencement

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, MERCED

COMMENCEMENT

2017 Saturday, May 13 SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES

Sunday, May 14 SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, HUMANITIES AND ARTS

UC MERCED ALMA MATER “MY MERCED” Music and lyrics by Jimmy Dunne

In the soil a dream was planted In the rich earth, just a seed The ground was tilled so tenderly To cultivate – the best in me

And the seed grew to a garden As far as I can see She welcomed me with open arms That gave life to my dreams

Her lantern’s light Shines so bright For the world to see

My Merced, UC Merced My Merced…

From a seed

CH ANC E L LO R ’ S M E S S AGE Dear University of California, Merced Graduate: Congratulations! Today is one of the biggest celebrations of the year. You are part of UC Merced’s 12th commencement, and once your degree is conferred, you will join our nearly 8,000 alumni who are enriching the San Joaquin Valley, the state, the nation and the world.

This day is the university’s tribute to you, our way of recognizing that you have joined a community of scholars who for more than a century have earned their degrees from the University of California.

Some of you came to UC Merced as first-year students; others arrived as transfer or graduate students. By the way of this commencement ceremony, you now are ready to embark on the next milestone into your professional and personal life.

On behalf of the UC Merced community, I congratulate you on your academic accomplishments and wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

Fiat Lux,

Dorothy Leland Chancellor

PROGR A M | S aturday, May 13 School of Engineering and School of Natural Sciences PROCESSIONAL MUSIC

“Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar

ACADEMIC PROCESSION

Candidates, Faculty, Senior Administration and Honored Guests

NATIONAL ANTHEM

“The Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key Performed by CARLOS A. NUNEZ, Class of 2017

WELCOME REMARKS

THOMAS W. PETERSON, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

CHANCELLOR’S ADDRESS

DOROTHY LELAND, Chancellor

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

LESLEY SLATON BROWN, Chief Global Diversity Officer, HP Inc.

STUDENT REMARKS

JOCELYNE FADIGA, Class of 2017

PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES

THOMAS W. PETERSON, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

AND CONFERRAL OF DEGREES

DOROTHY LELAND, Chancellor

Graduate Division

MARJORIE S. ZATZ, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate Division

School of Engineering

MARK MATSUMOTO, Dean

School of Natural Sciences

JUAN C. MEZA, Dean

ALUMNI REMARKS

KEITH ELLIS, Class of 2012, Alumni Association President

ALMA MATER

“My Merced” written and composed by Jimmy Dunne Performed by BROOKLYNN EDWARDS, Class of 2009

CLOSING REMARKS

THOMAS W. PETERSON, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

RECESSIONAL MUSIC

“Sine Nomine” by Ralph Vaughan Williams

K E YNOTE S P E A K E R | S aturday, May 1 3 LESLEY SLATON BROWN Chief Global Diversity Officer, HP Inc.

Lesley Slaton Brown is the Chief Diversity Officer at HP, Inc. With over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, Lesley has a unique ability to align and build strategy across organizations and drive business outcomes within corporations, start-ups and non-profits. Coupling her global marketing, branding, communications and diversity and inclusion experience, with a deep passion for social entrepreneur and leadership development, she has led key efforts to address the digital divide and build sustainable enterprise in Senegal, West Africa. Most recently, Lesley served as the Principal Investigator for the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), “Go West” Computing Project. This project focused on broadening representation of women and minorities in computing education and careers.

Ms. Slaton Brown was recently awarded the 2016 Woman of the Year in Technology by Silicon Valley’s Chapter of National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., in addition to the 2016 Multicultural Leadership Award by the National Diversity Council. Ms. Slaton Brown was twice recognized by Black Enterprise as a Top Executive in Marketing and Advertising, Savoy Magazine as a Top Influential Woman in Corporate America and was featured in Diversity Journal’s Leaders Publication.

Ms. Slaton Brown believes strongly in giving back to the community. As a former Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor, Charter Co-founder and Chairperson of Volunteer’s For Youth, Ms. Slaton Brown has also sat on the Board of Directors for The Boise State University Foundation, Boise State University Alumni Association, and the Idaho Black History Museum.

Ms. Slaton Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with an emphasis in Marketing from Boise State University. She was a NCAA Scholarship recipient where she lettered in Women’s Basketball. Lesley lives in Morgan Hill, CA, and works at HP Inc. headquarters in Palo Alto, CA.

CLAS S O F 2017 | S aturday, May 13 CANDIDATES FOR DOCTORAL DEGREE FROM THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

CANDIDATES FOR MASTER’S DEGREE FROM THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Rebecca Brianne Abney

Arghavan Alamatsaz

Mehdi Bahrami

Alex Beltran

Nathaniel Alexander Bogie

Joseph L. Crockett

Yen-Chang Chen

Ying Ding

Wenjun Ge

Mathew Jian

Xiaoli Hu

Alexander Michael Cooper Leven

Environmental Systems Doctor of Philosophy

IGP Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Doctor of Philosophy Environmental Systems Doctor of Philosophy

IGP Biological Engineering and Small-scale Technologies Doctor of Philosophy Mechanical Engineering Doctor of Philosophy Mechanical Engineering Doctor of Philosophy

Angelo Kyrilov

IGP Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Doctor of Philosophy

Shuo Liu

Mechanical Engineering Master of Science IGP Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Master of Science Environmental Systems Master of Science IGP Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Master of Science Environmental Systems Master of Science

Environmental Systems Master of Science

Wei Liu

IGP Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Master of Science

IGP Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Doctor of Philosophy

Joy Marie McDermot

Uma Shantini Ramasamy

Milind Singhal

IGP Biological Engineering and Small-scale Technologies Doctor of Philosophy

Lauren M. Schiebelhut Environmental Systems Doctor of Philosophy

Brandon Jaymes Stark

IGP Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Doctor of Philosophy

Yanjun Su

Environmental Systems Doctor of Philosophy

Jesse Wilson

Environmental Systems Doctor of Philosophy

Andrew Lee Zumkehr Environmental Systems Doctor of Philosophy

Environmental Systems Master of Science IGP Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Master of Science

Hanbin Tao

IGP Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Master of Science

Shadi Zaheri Sarabi

Mechanical Engineering Master of Science

CANDIDATES FOR BACCALAUREATE DEGREE FROM THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING John-Ronald Abad Marek Antonio Abarca Mickeal Theodore Ades** Eilbron Aghakhani Patehviri Noor Ahmad

Jose Domingo Alcala Jr. Reef Mahmoud Aldayafleh Myka Elis Alejandre Ai-Linh Theodosia Alten Jorge Luis Aparicio Jr. Thomas Rex Arakaki Elizabeth Keiko Arikawa* Alexis Avila Jarret Joshua Avitia Georges M. Bachawati Graham Glenn Baird* Jaimee Christine Demontano Balansa Kyle Anthony Barcenas Alejandro Vicente Barragan Brandon David Basuil Rondrig Alcayde Bautista Landon Joe Becker* Riley Kamon Beckett Laura Ann Blazic Michael Derrick Brooks Carter R. Brown** Alejandro Aljay Bunag Shravan Canchi Radhakrishna* Armando Casillas Christian Gabriel Castillo Christian A. Castro Stephen Quang Fi Chan Allan Chio Michael Brian Chu Je Suen Chua Joshua Chun Jacob Donovan Clark Chante Dolores Clinton Bradley Tyler Cole Jesika B. Colomer-Saucedo Ezequiel Contreras Gregory Edward Crawford** John Angelo Cronin* Alexander Xzavier Crosdale Christopher Ryan Cruz Gustavo Abel Cruz Andrew John Acejo De Los Santos

CLAS S O F 2017 | S aturday, May 13 Johnathan Oneal Deas** Brian Javier Deloera Sr Jonathan Diaz Christopher Andrew Doan Isabella Domi Hunter Wolfbear Drobenaire Steven Alfred Dunn*** Adolfo Duran Rodolfo Duran Contreras Edith Duran-Robles*** Jason Marshall Dwelle R. Keith Edwards Jr. Jennifer Taryn Ehlers Robert Jeffrey Ehlers Luis Elizalde Cody Christopher Fong Bradley Dean Frank Bernie Gabriel Bryan Ulises Galindo Jered Pete Gallegos Raj Dhanpal Gandhi Leo Garcia-Caballero Bhupinder Singh Gill Stephani Karen Gimble Adolfo Gonzalez Adrian Cristobal Gonzalez Brian Gonzalez Charlie Gonzalez Victor GonzĂĄlez GarcĂ­a*** Yongyi Guan Arturo Guzman Jr. Deo Reyes Halili John Richard Hayes Jr. Raveena S. Heer Eduardo Jr Hernandez* Omee Herr Duy Huynh Ho Richard Ho

Luis Armando Jimenez Lopez Brian Eugene Johnson II Danish Khalid Anwar Khanshali Edward Namhyun Kim Nikhil Raj Kiron Cody Hanibal Knopp Sargoni Joseph Thomas Kotlarek** Tyson Lam Samuel Lara Victor Waimun Lee John Leung Anna Li Jing Liang Jourdan Sean Lieblich Connie Ly Lim Jessie Lin Jared Martin Lipp Phillip Andrew Loftis Andres Felipe Londono Christopher Levood Lopez Miguel Angel Lopez Edgar Lozano*** Fernando Luevanos Jr. Arturo Luna Jonathan Luna Mauricio Magdaleno Nicholas Daniel Magyari Victoria Uyen Manh Phoskrit Manikalak Navvaran Singh Mann David Joshua Manning Angel Martinez Diane Martinez Kevin Sergio Martinez Noe D. Martinez Socorro Junior Martinez Andrew David McDonald

William Lee Miller Jr. Twinkle Hasmukh Mistry Taylor Minoru Mizusawa Alejandro Molina Isaac Montes Jake Anthony Moran Allan Roman Murillo Bryan Muro Dre Delane Murray Roberto Jesus Nava Jr. Tu Tuan Nghiem Jr.G Alex Anh-Tu Hoai Nguyen Anne Sophie Thuy Nguyen Jasmine Cao Hoang Nguyen Justin Tu Nguyen* James Nho Carlos A. Nunez Raul Nunez Marlo Gonzales Ocampo Alan Manuel Ochoa DeVaughn Bernard Ogles Kyle Robert Oldham Monse Ortega Luis Alberto Ortiz* Edith Padilla Belen Padilla Gonzalez Robynn-Lynne Paldi* Jessica Miyuri Palmer Esteban Magallon Perez Joshua Christian Perez Lucio Isaac Perez Elvin Yael Pimentel Citlalli Sarahi Pina Andrew Ocampo Pineda Jonathan Sam Pon Vikas Puttagunta Donald Quach Jonathan Abraham Ramirez

Tammy Ngoc Ho Oscar Dc Huang Nathan Andrew Hunsuck*** Joseph Taylor Ikuta Aiden Rory Jacobsen Saul Jimenez

Miguel Angel Medina Perez Brandon Tyler Mejia-Emerson Luis Ricardo Menendez Mark Anthony Mercado Cory Aaron Mercer Lionel Millan

Jonathan Steven Ramirez Irvin Adrian Rodriguez Jonathan Rodriguez Sebastian Rodriguez* Gerardo Rojas Alvarado Eduardo Rojas-Flores

CLAS S O F 2017 | S aturday, May 13 Jessica Roque James Lawton Rosenberg Tyvaughn Jorel Ross Marleyna Lawton Rubin Uriel Ruiz Cuevas Amar Saini* Mahak Saini Diego E Salas Sabrina Santos Samaniego Aaron James San Jose Mark Renzo Manuel Santiago Thomas Selinger Angel Moran Sepulveda II Joseph C. Serrano Daniel Benjamin Seryani Emery Miles Silberman Joseph Christopher Silva Tyler L. Silveira Harkanwalpreet Singh Sodhi** Aaron Edward Hilado Son Cyrus Chun Kit Soong Thomas Spankowski Jr.** Joshua Alexander Tabimina Scott Morizo Tanaka Nestor Eliezer Teodoro-Chavez Punnawit Tokhem Francisco Torres Brandon Tran Benjamin Xuan Truong Karen Fabiola Turcios Hugh Glen Van Camp Leo Vang Javier Vargas Daniel Ernesto Vasquez Trenton Kyle Venolia Natalie Vidales Adrian Modesto Villegas Huey Minh Vu Scott Allen Walker Nicholas Alexander Walters* Alisa Mae Wrangham Forrest J. Yeh* Elly Zelitchenko

CANDIDATES FOR DOCTORAL DEGREE FROM THE SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES Lasith Adhikari

Applied Mathematics Doctor of Philosophy

Stephen Gregory Dale

Chemistry and Chemical Biology Doctor of Philosophy

Jason Dark

Applied Mathematics Doctor of Philosophy

Julia P. Clark

Applied Mathematics Doctor of Philosophy

Nicole C. Madfis

IGP Quantitative Systems Biology Doctor of Philosophy

Anusha Madushani Rajapaksha Wasala Mudiyanselage Applied Mathematics Doctor of Philosophy

Ruben Rodriguez

Quantitative and Systems Biology Doctor of Philosophy

Sulimon Sattari

Physics Doctor of Philosophy

Aimy Sebastian

Quantitative and Systems Biology Doctor of Philosophy

Cristal Sook Ngei Yee

Quantitative & Systems Biology Doctor of Philosophy

Youhong Zeng

Chemistry and Chemical Biology Doctor of Philosophy

Joannee Mae Zumkehr

Quantitative & Systems Biology Doctor of Philosophy

CANDIDATES FOR MASTER’S DEGREE FROM THE SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES Evin Shintaro Doscher

Quantitative and Systems Biology Master of Science

Christine Hoffman

Applied Mathematics Master of Science

Sarah Jeanine Parkhurst

Quantitative and Systems Biology Master of Science

Xochitl Alejandra Sosa Vazquez Chemistry and Chemical Biology Master of Science

CANDIDATES FOR BACCALAUREATE DEGREE FROM THE SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES Anthony Alexander Abarca Kachi Gail Achor Stephany Yoselyn Acosta Alexander A. Adajar Samantha-Jean Caleja Agcaoili Stephany Aguayo Michael Martin Aguilar Jesus Aguirre Kiran W. Ahmed Nimra Azhar Ahmed Deeyar Marwan Ahwal Beter Al Ghrer Ruby Anakaren Alberto Silvia Albizures Nicole Ann Alexander Taiba Hamdi Ali Marwa Salam Aljoher Jourjina Alkhouri** Emmanuel Palarca Aluad Jessica Alvarado Robert Porter Amidon* Joseph Gomes Andrade* Sara G. Arellano Vanessa Arias Karina Arroyo Charles Joseph Arroyo-De Las Penas Syed Asad Asghar Vianka Crystal Astorga Gurleen Kaur Atwal*** Manpreet Kaur Atwal*** Vanessa Avalos Doris Veronica Avedikian Eric Noe Ayala Kuljeet Jessica Bains

CLAS S O F 2017 | S aturday, May 13 Tendeep Singh Bajwa

Diana Dao

Vincent Datlag Gepila

Cecilya Elizabeth Barba

Natalie De La Cruz

Sagar Lalit Ghiaar

Ramiro Barraza Jr.

Bieito Xose De La Fuente

Imrendip Gill

Shahriar Ahmad Bastami*

Alexis Del Real

Rajdeep Singh Gill

Estevan Carlos Beltran

David Alexander Delgadillo

Abraham David Gonzalez

Frank Matthew Berduo

William Grant Delmas

Stephani Yael Gonzalez

Harkiran Kaur Bhattal

Julia Faith DePass

Cody Daniel Green

Laura Kajsiab Bliatout

Cristian Diaz

Sena Angelina Griffith

Maty Boury

Jessica Diaz

Bryan Guillen

Jeremy Russel Bowen

Carlos Eduardo Diaz Alvarenga

Mirella Angelica Gutierrez

Amy Lee Bower*

Maria Griselda Diaz-Boltor

Jaime Ariel Guzman

Swarnjit Kaur Brar

Anh Loan Diep

Sean Alexander Ha

Ryan Christophe Bruneau*

Whitney Kim Nhi Do*

Samuel Matthew Halaufia

Giavonnie Mercedes Campbell

Jason Alan Dorado

Lovish Handa

Isaac Daniel Campos

Aaron Edwin Dyson

Brenda Hernandez

Gabriela Canizal Moreno

Molly Michelle Easter

Jesse Carlos Hernandez

Bianca Dylana Cardenas*

Jacob Ambrose Egger

Madisen Dee Hinkley

Brayan Emanuel Castellanos

Sonny Ramirez Elizaldi

Andrew Ho

Caryl Trisha Maglasang Catacutan

Jessica Katelin Emrick

Dylan Nguyen Hoang

Angel David Enriquez

Fabian Emanuel Hormozi

Nayhely Viridiana Cazares

Andres Escalante

Mackenzie M. Hoyt*

Christina Isabel Celis Puga

Benny Escobedo**

Michaela Marie Hoyt

Juan Antonio Centeno

Ambar Raquel Espinoza

Alex Sun Huang

Calvin Kam Hoe Chan

Nathaniel Sebastian Esteban*

Anny Huynh

Leslie Chan

Kendyl Taylor Evitt

Alfonso Ramirez Ibanez

Adali Violeta Chavez

Mike Edward Facio

Ruben Anthony Jacquez

Trenton Chee

Jocelyne Fadiga

Reza Jahanbani

David Chhoeup Chhun

Aspen Dale Fernando

Yanik Lopez Jain

Steven Chi

Jessica Rene Flens

Jaspreet Kaur Johal

Katherine Chwa

Linda Fu

Emerald Imon Jones

Sam Adriane Cleofas

Jason D Fukumoto

Steven R. Jones

Andrea Briana Contreras

David Luna Gallardo

Simran Josan

Claudia Xitzelth Contreras

Zachary Wayne Gann

Jerin Angelo Jose

Edward Arcenio Corena

Jose Antonio Garcia**

Abigail Victoria Joy

Gianne Alesandra Ordona Crosswhite

Santiago Gonzalez Garcia III

Jazmin Celeste Juarez

Vanessa Zamora Garcia

George Jardenico Jully

Daniel Garcia-Ceja

Brandon Michael Justice

Carol Johanna Gavilan

Kyle Muyalde Kabasares***

Bruno Gazzolo

Kiranjeet Kaur Kainth

John Stewart Gemellos

Yousef Karabala

Terron Jakel Crowder Diego Iram Cruz Kimberly Cuevas Julian J. Cuevas-Zepeda Andrew B. Curd

CLAS S O F 2017 | S aturday, May 13 Kirandeep Kaur

Jasleen Kaur Mann

My Vi Dao Nguyen

Sara Pervez Khan

Samantha Catherine Mar

Randall Quang Nguyen

Thidar Khin

Ella Rica Maranan

Tiffany Quynh Chi Nguyen**

Adrianne Paguntalan Kho

Vyhan Nguyen

Dara Kiani

Claudia Irene Marmolejo-Aguado

Christina Maeree Kim

Ana Graciela Marquez

Lacey O’Dell

Avery Forrest Knizek*

Israel Martin

Bijan Alejandro Origel

Garima Kumar

Maira Guadalupe Martin

Hilda Ortiz

Quintin Allen Kuse**

Katelynn M. Mashburn**

Ivette Aimee Ortiz

Benjamin T. Lai

Joseph William Mayer**

Eric Pacheco

Aman Lakhanpal

Maria Margaret McGahan***

Anna J. Pan*

Nishal Mohit Lal

Tierra Jade McGhee-Grieb

Sheyda Partovi

Jessica Alexandria Landos

Heather Leona McIntire

Krishna Patel

Andrea Roxana Larios

James Alexander McIntyre III

Andrea B. Pedraza

Kathleen Jordan Larson**

Rocio D. Medrano Calderon

Nathanael Penate

Chris Lau

Barbara Sousa Melo

Emmanuel Perez

Mayra Carolina Lazo

Josette Martinez Mendiola

Yaquelin Perez

Angela Phuong Ha Le

Robert Joseph Mercado

Austin Micheal Perry*

Angeline Hoai-Tien Le

Nazmeen Nafiza Mohammed

Ngoc Thao Tran Phan

Maivan Bach Le

Monica Molina

Aron Phong

Thong Uyen-Truong Le

Christian Allan Montes

Linda Lee Phorth

Nickhom Lee

Michael Isaiah Montoya***

Carl Anthony Posadas

Jose Antonio Lema

Gabriel Martinez Morabe

Pallavi Priyanka

Jeffrey E Leonen

Dana Gracielle Morales

Eric Timothy Provencio

Breelynn Tatiana Lett

Magdelena Morales

Keren Ann Provencio

Cindy Li

Alex Guadalupe Moreno

Sonali Puri

Jeffrey Lien

Daisy Mota

Sean Michael Quarnstrom

Ying Liu*

Pete Yeng Moua

Emilio Andres Quezada

Mikhailangelo Tandoc Llanos

Isaiah Povfwm Mouanoutoua

Lorenzo Quiambao*

Joyce Yue Long

Damneet Singh Mundi

Kyle Sterling Radanovich

Samuel Lopez

Destyni Jinae Alyse Murray

Alvin Saad Rafou

Marcos Lucero**

Sravani L. Mylavarapu

Jesse Vidal Ramirez

Patricia Luna

Krisneil Michael Nair

Jasmin Ramirez Bonilla

Jammie Luong

Guillermo Najarro

Daisy Elizabeth Ramos

Eliaz Tyson Lynch

Jacob Luke Navarrete*

Timothy Aaron Abella Reonisto

Albert J. Ma

Daniel Philip Neff

Manuel Alejandro Reyes

Jessica Mounir Maadarani

Ann Nicole Neiheisel

Azucena Reyes Serrano

Dstinie Jasaun Mabrey

Horace Viet Nguyen

Lexus Aliyah Reyes-Palominos

Karina Macias

Jason AnhKhoa Nguyen

Justin David Ricolcol

Ronika Priya Maharaj

Lan Q. Nguyen

Aileen Robledo

Jaime Ochoa Moreno

CLAS S O F 2017 | S aturday, May 13 Juliana Robles

Rajan Amit Singh

Linda Kaonou Vang

Kimberly Gabriela Rodriguez

Bridgette Smith

Matha Choua Vang

Jeanine Jasmin Ruano

Brandon Sohn

Pang Vang

Gabriela Saavedra*

Aaron David Ormonde Stacy

Janette Velazquez Pina

Fay Youan Saephanh

Rachel Stadnitskiy

Monica Ventura

Adriana Estela Sagrero Mendoza

Brian J. Stuart

Samantha R. Villa

Priyanka SainiG

Garja Singh Suner**

Janet Anahid Villarreal

Emily Duch Suon

Manuel Villarreal

Carley Danielle Sylliaasen

Meilin Mazie Vin

Michelle Hoang-My Ta

Briahni Michele Walker

Christopher Paul Tamou

Samantha Nicole Wang

Lyndia Tan

Danielle Renee Ward

Selamawit Gashaw Tefferi

Allison Nicole Watt

Ana Yasmeen Tellez

Jessica Suzanne Williams

Delan Tham

LaReesa Paige Williams

Stevenson Phuoc Ton

Samantha Rose Wooldridge

Brandon Tong

Miller Alexander Wright*

Jodie Mendoza Torio

Johnny Yang

John Christian Torio

Victor Sing Yang*

Jennifer Ellesse Toy

Dann Loon Young

Andrew Tran

Antonella Katherine Yousif

Raina Tran

Angela Yu

Theresa Anne Tran

Sherman Chek Man Yu

Jessica Truong

Stefanie Yupanqui

Amanda Tse

Najma Zahbihi

Chiamaka Jennifer Ugbaja**

Isabel Zambrano

Alonzo Jacob Uribe III

Amanda Zamora

Asmita Devi Singh

Nicholas Sanjeev Vaishampayan*

Michelle Yong Yu Zhang*

Jasdip Singh*

Jessica Valencia

Itzel Asyem Salmeron Portillo Manelyn Fontanilla Sampayan Josephine Sanchez Yessenia Sanchez Amandeep Singh Sanghera* Joceline Santiago Chris Lawrence Sapinoso Gilbert John Sepulveda II Blaz Manuel Serna Yvette Serrano Miloni J. Shah Christopher Yuki Shedd Kevin Cai Shen Christopher James Sheppard Tiffany Fei Wen Show Alejandra Silva Mason Joseph Silva Danicia Sheamarie Simmons Ashley Taylor Sindelar Amritbir Singh

Yuyan Lily Zhang

The commencement ceremony and program are not official confirmations of degree information. Academic Honors are not awarded until after the term in which all requirements are completed.

To receive academic honors at graduation, an undergraduate student must achieve a grade point average within the top 2 percent of the student’s school for highest honors (***), the next 4 percent for high honors (**), and the next 10 percent for honors (*).

Posthumous degrees are denoted by the following symbol G.

PROGR A M | S u n day, May 14 School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts PROCESSIONAL MUSIC

“Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar

ACADEMIC PROCESSION

Candidates, Faculty, Senior Administration and Honored Guests

NATIONAL ANTHEM

“The Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key Performed by REBECCA ANN RENEE HENKE, Class of 2017

WELCOME REMARKS

THOMAS W. PETERSON, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

CHANCELLOR’S ADDRESS

DOROTHY LELAND, Chancellor

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

HÉCTOR TOBAR, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author and Journalist

STUDENT REMARKS

HAVILLIAH JACOB MALSBURY, Class of 2017

PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES

THOMAS W. PETERSON, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

AND CONFERRAL OF DEGREES

DOROTHY LELAND, Chancellor

Graduate Division

MARJORIE S. ZATZ, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate Division

School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts

JILL ROBBINS, Dean

ALUMNI REMARKS

KEITH ELLIS, Class of 2012, Alumni Association President

ALMA MATER

“My Merced” written and composed by Jimmy Dunne Performed by BROOKLYNN EDWARDS, Class of 2009

CLOSING REMARKS

THOMAS W. PETERSON, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

RECESSIONAL MUSIC

“Sine Nomine” by Ralph Vaughan Williams

K E YNOTE S P E A K E R | S unday, M ay 14 HÉCTOR TOBAR Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist and Author

Héctor Tobar is the Los Angeles-born author of four books, including the novels “The Barbarian Nurseries,” which was a New York Times Notable Book and won the California Book Award Gold Medal for fiction, and “The Tattooed Soldier.”

His nonfiction book “Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of Thirty-Three Men Buried in a Chilean Mine and the Miracle that Set Them Free,” was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. It was also a New York Times bestseller and adapted into the movie “The 33.”

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies and sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a MFA in creative writing from the University of California, Irvine, and has taught writing and journalism at Pomona College and the University of Oregon. Mr. Tobar was a foreign correspondent with the Los Angeles Times in Buenos Aires and Mexico City, and a part of the reporting team that earned a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. He earned the Inter-American Press Association Award for Feature Writing in 2005. Mr. Tobar has also been an op-ed writer for the New York Times and a contributor to the New Yorker.

He is the son of Guatemalan immigrants.

CLAS S O F 2017 | S unday, May 14 CANDIDATES FOR DOCTORAL DEGREE FROM THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, HUMANITIES AND ARTS

CANDIDATES FOR MASTER’S DEGREE FROM THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, HUMANITIES AND ARTS

Laura Andrea Alfaro

Marieka Arksey

Shannon Kimberly Acevedo

Yessica Guadalupe Alvarez

IGP World Cultures Doctor of Philosophy

IGP World Cultures Master of Arts

Veronica Almanza* Efren Gabriel Alvara Maria Dolores Alvillar Graciela Amezcua-Caracheo

John Bunce

Bryan Amos

Sociology Master of Arts

Latia Annie Anderson

Ruben Castaneda

Denise Castro

Jovita Angel**

Psychological Sciences Doctor of Philosophy Psychological Sciences Doctor of Philosophy

James Patrick Clifton Psychological Sciences Doctor of Philosophy

Sociology Master of Arts

Karen Lisa Deeming

Interdisciplinary Humanities Master of Arts

Van Do-Reynoso

Hyunsu Oh

Michael A. Eissinger

Catherine Portillo-Silva

IGP Social Sciences Doctor of Philosophy IGP World Cultures Doctor of Philosophy

Sociology Master of Arts IGP World Cultures Master of Arts

Jennifer A. MendiolaG

Rodolfo Rodriguez

Steven Ramondt

Alejandro Zermeño

Psychological Sciences Doctor of Philosophy Psychological Sciences Doctor of Philosophy

Sociology Master of Arts Sociology Master of Arts

Erin May Roby

CANDIDATES FOR BACCALAUREATE DEGREE FROM THE SCHOOL OF Jeffrey Joseph Rodny SOCIAL SCIENCES, Cognitive and Information Sciences HUMANITIES AND ARTS Psychological Sciences Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy

Angelica Julieta Andrews Branson Lee Angle Norma Anguiano Gomez Marleen Apodaca Tania Azucena Arellano Correa*** Elizabeth Arguellez Yadira Guadalupe Arias Monica Joana Arredondo Maria Carmen Arreola Gabriella Alejandra Artero Denise Arzola Nargis Aslami Carissa Denise Atallah* Lina Atiqi Lenny Atkins Gurpreet Aulak Karen Franchesca Avalos

Deena Eyad Abu-Amara

Madeliene Areana Aviles

Psychological Sciences Doctor of Philosophy

Breza Anique Aceves

Gladys Maleny Avitia

Edith Aceves Padilla

Luis F. Ayala

Ritem Sandhu

Adrianna Rayleen Acosta

Maria Del Refujio Ayala Astorga

Chantal Acosta

Thy Phuong Bach

Michelle Acosta Espinosa

Joel Baeza

Holly Michelle Rus

IGP Social Sciences Doctor of Philosophy

Maryam Tabatabaeian

Cognitive and Information Sciences Mujghan K. Afschar Doctor of Philosophy

David W. Vinson

Daisy Aguayo Araiza

Cognitive and Information Sciences Ruth Aguiniga Doctor of Philosophy Christian De Jesus Aguirre

Patrick Richard Wilkinson IGP World Cultures Doctor of Philosophy

Jordan Daniel Ahid** Pamela Victoria Alarcon Samuel Jr Aldama

Ajay Singh Bainiwal Destinee Rachelle Baker Matthew Livingston Balasingham Lizbeth Banuelos Micaela Belen Banuelos Miguel Angel Barajas Zamora

CLAS S O F 2017 | S unday, May 14 Steven Andrew Barillas

Stefanie Cardozo

Kevin Salvador Cruz

Aaron David Barnhart

Kyle Allen Carey

Marisela Cruz

Johany Lizbeht Barragan

Olivia Carrillo

Marli Cruz

Yadira L. Barrera

Bryanna Eleanor Carter**

Stephanie Curiel Perez

Ellyn Mayre Barry

Erika Liliana Casillas

Courtney Shane Danna

Madison Danielle Bates

Chantel Marie Castaneda*

Tiffany Nicole Day

Jaskaran Singh Batther***

Connie Castaneda

Karina Shalom De Guzman

Christian John Cachola Bautista Diana Stayci Castaneda

Christopher De La Cruz

Pedro Beltran Guzman

Nanci Celina Castaneda

Lisandro De La Cruz*

Christopher Michael Bernal

Jennifer Katlyn Castanon

Yazmin Elisa De Saracho

Alexander Dana Beroza

Pablo Junior Castro

Matthew David Deboer*

Gurpreet S. Bhandal

Juan F. Castro-Santana

Breanna Marie Delgado

Sahil Kochhar Bhargava

Perla Ruvi Cerna*

Michael Anthony Delgado

Jenalyn P. Bigasin

Klarissa Ilene Cervantes

Berenice Delgado-Ceja

Alexander Edwin Biwald

Berenice Cervantes-Perez*

Isaac Demma

Elliot Ursula Iseult Bogie**

Carolyn Gabrielle Chacon

Gregory Scott Derashotian**

Sharon Kikey Bolanos

Azkaa Chaudhry

Monique Joyce Devilla

Daisy Bonilla

Mah Noor Chaudhry

Shelby Helen Devlin*

Michelle Bonilla

Claudia Andrea Chavez

Vanessa Mirabelle Dias

Austin Zachary Bradley

Jessica Guadalupe Chavez

Genesis Diaz**

Jessica Brandenburg

Maria Chavez

Alana Jonell Dillard

Sergio Alejandro Brito

Brian Chongtoua

Steven Vo Dinh*

Mariana Rosario Burns-Bernier

Kathy Chu

Anush A. Dishoyan

Joshua Roberto Bustamante

Chinedu Obi Chuku Jr.

Symara John Donovan

Jose Ramon Caballero Jr.

Jason John Chulack

Andrew C. Dooley

Gabrielle Margarita Cabrera**

Cristian Cisneros

Gerald August Dooley

Stacy Cabrera

Luis Angel Cisneros

Savannah Renee Dougherty**

Kaitlyn Nicole Cacabelos

Cherrelle Nicole Luc Clark-Beasley

Linhchi Bao Du

Clarissa Mae Sale Cajilog Belen Nicole Caldera

Desiree Skye Coles

Amy Thi Duong

Abigail Ashley Mendoza Campos Yazmin Colin*** Kathia Colunga Hernandez Zabrina Campos-Melendez

Walter Orlando Duarte Jr. Stephen Sheppard Egenberger Stephanie Enriquez

Angelica Cantu

Andy Daniel Contreras

Bety Andradi Escobar

Julieta Carabantes Perez

Oscar Daniel Corcoles

Frida Janine Escobar

Cristian Carbajal

Melissa Susana Cordova

Stephanie Elizabeth Esparza

Guadalupe Carbajal

Alexander Corona

Noemi Esquivel

Janelle Marie Cardenas

Patricia Heredia Cortes

Leo Preston Faiola*

Yadira Cardona

Seth James Craig*

Sammantha Andrea Fajardo

CLAS S O F 2017 | S unday, May 14 Gema Andrea Falcon

Cristian Gaspar

Norma Angelica Hernandez

Bailey Savannah Felipe

Max Eric Gilden

Rosa Neidin Hernandez

Abraham Antonio Felix

Jaqueline A Giron

Laura Y. Hernandez-Rodriguez

Chloe Antoinette Fernandes

Roberto Godinez

Dakari Jarae Finister**

Nancy Godoy*

Maria Guadalupe Higareda-Marquez

Arcelia Flores

Madison Bisson Goldberg

Edward Steve Hinojosa

Manuel Flores

Cecilia Gomez

Alexander Harrison Hokokian

Marisol Flores

Frank Wade Gomez Jr.

Rozalia Hovhannisyan

Marlene Alejandra Flores

Marcela Esmeralda Gomez

Kimberly Huynh

Nicholle Flores

Nicholas Cruz Gomez

Chigoziri Jasmine Ibechem

Staphany Flores

Norma Jeanette Gomez

Trisha Mae Ilumin

Valerie Flores

Brianna Gonzalez

Jessica Carrie Imhoff

Jacqueline Flores Corona

Eduardo Jesus Gonzalez

Carlos Islas

John E. Flynn*

Kathleen Gonzalez*

Zyed Harris Ismailjee

Paul William Foor

Lilia Melissa Gonzalez

Erika Iturio

Zachary M. Foster

Samantha Gonzalez

Regina Marie Jacob

Sa’ryah Fowler

Tania Gonzalez

Ana Laura Jauregui

Andre C. Frise

Yisela Karina Gonzalez

Beatriz Antonia Jimenez

Brenden Todd Froom Jherson Wilson Fuentes Butron

Sharol Alisol Gonzalez- Mencos Jazmin Jimenez Tracy Jimenez Arturo Rafael Gorcsi

Cristian Gallardo

Kenneth Walter Granillo

Ashley M. Jones

Salena Evette Gallegos

Kristopher D. Greene

Christopher Shaw Jones

Andy Galvan

Kevin Meran Grigorian

Marc Arturo Junes

Jocelynn Galvez

Breena Guerrero

Jessica Gar Min Kan

Stephanie Joanne Gamboa**

Roman Francisco Guerrero

Baljit Kaur

Sarah Helena Gamez

Zuleyma Guillermo

Harpreet Kaur

Albert Alfonso Garcia Jr.*

Alexandria Faith Guiterez

Navneet Kaur

Alexia Areli Garcia

Yessenia Gutierrez

Prableen Kaur

Benjamin Garcia Jr.***

Elaine Ha***

Jessica Kel

Claudia A. Garcia

Eden Hailu

Ryan Elahi Khansari

Daniela Garcia

Alaya Marie Hardy

Natalie Khoury

Luz Esmeralda Garcia

Ciera Melissa Hathaway

Mary Katherine Kiely

Nicolas Garcia Jr.

Jiahao He

Elizabeth Ellie Kim

Patricia Garcia

Rebecca Ann Renee Henke*

Crystal Michaela King*

Ruby Garcia

Marissa Trinidad Henry

Hailee Madisen King

Yesenia Garcia*

Pajai Her

Julia Summer Kinigsberg

Ines Garcia Carreno

Jose Jonathan Hercules

Alicia Beatrice Knight

Lucero Garcia Pedroza

Justin Andrew Hernandez

Ashley Koyoc

Stephanie Marie Garibay

Ninfa Patricia Hernandez

Shumpei Kuwana**

CLAS S O F 2017 | S unday, May 14 Dien Monica T La

Christopher Luong

Valerie Anne Meneses

Victar Labansat Solano

Adrian Macias

Isabella Aiyana Methot

Corey Langer

Sarah Madan***

Rafael Antonio Miles

Desirae Alexis Lasalle

Kimberly Denise Madrid*

Jimmy David Millan**

Saniyyah Nyree Lateef

Jay Takuya Maehara

Joshua Ezekiel Millman

Kate Maher Leary

Diana Yvette Magana

Nataly Stephanie Miranda

Salina Hou-Yan Lee*

Alexander James Magrino

Ryan Kazim Mirza

Alexandra Lemon

Brandon Mai

Alvaro E. Montano

Karen Lepe

Mercy Maina

Nathalie Jasmin Montellano*

Wingman Leung

Myron Agustin Malata Jr.

Camerina Angelica Morales

Wen W. Li

Yesenia Lizette Maldonado

Carlos Alexis Morales

Henry Liao

Harman Singh Malhi

Juan Manuel Morales Aguayo

Francisco Adolfo Lima

Havilliah Jacob Malsbury**

Stella Alexis Moran

Lidia Limon

Daniella Catabay Manarang

Nicole Elizabeth Morgan

Jansen Lin*

Adriana Mancilla

Kamani A. Morrow

Jessica Renee Lizama

Eric Ercides Manzanares

Dylan Isaac Moses*

Molly Natasha Llamas

Jazmin Marroquin*

Miriam Y. Mosqueda Estrada

Torianna Marie Lomax

Paige Olivia Marshall

Gaola Faith Moua

Jessica Fatima Lopes

Brittany Ashley Martin

Yarelin Yazmin Moya

Alexandro Lopez

Brittany Martinez

Heather Elizabeth Mullany

Arlen Guadalupe Lopez

Cristina Martinez

Huber Munoz

Juan Jesus Lopez

Jessica Nathalie Martinez

Laura Belen Munoz

Karla Lopez

John Joshua Martinez

Yeseira Munoz

Linda Lopez

Kimberly Vanessa Martinez

Kelyn Marlem Murillo

Roberto Lopez

Lizeth Geovanni Martinez***

Adnana Mustedanagic

Roberto Lopez

Mauricio Alexander Martinez

Jacqueline Napoles

Rosa Elena Lopez

Natalie G. Martinez**

Sheyla Abigail Lopez

Divya Mathur

Om Chandrasekaran Narayanan

Sonia Lopez

Kyle Anthony Matthews

Kemaira Narvaez**

Lucia Lopez-Robledo

Daralynn Marie McCall

Alejandro Nava

Matthew William Lostetter

Kelsey Renee McLaurin

Brian Steve Navarro

Christopher Chunkit Low

Yanet Medina

Celina Jasmin Navarro

Eddie Alberto Lucero***

Gabrielle Jeanette Medrano

Reginald Darnell Nelson

Bobby Lui

Daniel Emiliano Melendez

Andrew Nguyen

Grace W. Lui

Brenda Mendez

Toby Van Nguyen

Mario Alberto Luja Villa

Daisy Mendez

Tony Van Nguyen

Julian Millan Luke

Lorena Mendez

Maya Camilla Nielsen

Alexis Luna

Luis Humberto Mendez

Norma Guadalupe Nino

Walt Josef Battung Lungan

Monica Acosta Mendiola

Dusty Burdick Nunes

CLAS S O F 2017 | S unday, May 14 Adrian Nunez

Jonatan Perez Gayosso

Mayra Reyes

Aimee Nunez

Justice Janae Petterway

Ruben David Reyes

Anthony Louis Nunez

Alexander Pham*

Jasmine Rice

Ismael Nunez

Tammy Pham

Sarah Beth Ricketts

Chioma Sandra Nwosu

Vivian Nguyen Phan

Jose Rios

Emily Paola Ochoa

Chelsea Anne-Marie Phelps

Nayelle Melly Rios*

Obinwanne Anthony Offorjebe

Brandi N. Phillips**

Colleen Del Pilar Rivas

Chidera Olaedo Courtney Ofoha

Shelby Unique Phillips

Steffi Rivera

David Phu

Christian Giovanni Rivera

Viviana Felicia Ojeda

Mayra Pinedo*

Hernandez

Leslie Olmos*

Damaris Alexia Pino

Natalie Lynn Robertson***

Melissa Olvera

Juan Francisco Pirir

Joanna Robles

Stephanie Marie O’Neil

Cecilia Plascencia

Rachel Ibarra Ongpin

Ada Johanna Pokras

Katerina Elizabeth Rocker Heppe*

Gabrielle Carmin Orduna

Laura Daniela Portillo

Renee Rose Rodrigues

Delfino Refugio Orea Munoz

Roya Jessica Pourmand*

Diana Rodriguez

Donnoban Orozco

Andrew Michael Pulido

Manuel Rodriguez

Carolina Elizabeth Ortega

Tucker Jackson Putz

Raul Gabriel Rodriguez

Jaime Alberto Ortega

Anthony Joseph Quercia

Valeria Rodriguez-Del Rio*

Eder V. Ortiz

Gloria Maricela Quintana

Jennifer Del Carmen Roldan

Carlos Savier Osorio

Kevin German Quintanilla Flores

Elizabeth Roman

Megan Janica Brittany Quitevis

Ricardo Romero

Shelby Noelle Palmer Luz Maria Panduro

Shalena Ralh

Vanessa Romo Ortega

Marklester Paragas

Claribel Ramirez

Juan Carlos Rosales

Angeleena Parra

David Ramirez

Sidney Tiana Rosales

Stephen Tiea Pay

Elianeth Jazmin Ramirez

Luis Daniel Ruelas Ramirez

Adair Payan

Evelyn Arleth Ramirez

Leydy Yoselin Ruiz

Pamela Dawn Payne

Evelyn C. Ramirez

Stephen Buffy Ruiz

Kelly Johana Paz

Mayra Ramirez

Mayra Saavedra

Carmel Veronica Peichoto

Rochelle Ramirez

Daniel Emilio Sabzehzar

Alexis Illeana Pena

Rafael Ramirez Flores Jr.

Jeffery Joseph Salcido

April Christin Perez

Alejandra Ramos

Evelyn Salvador

Delmi Beatriz Perez*

Enrique Ramos

Edwin Jose Perez*

Monica Raya

Osman Josue Samayoa Castellanos

Guadalupe Lopez Perez***

Marbella Reyes

Anjeliko G. San Mateo

Tanya Perez

Mariana Milagros Reyes

Alberto Sanchez

Jonathan Franky Perez Flores

Martin Reyes

Caitlyn Ann Nejal Sanchez

Ian Mitchell Pabito Ana Karla Padilla

Samantha Marie Roman Rolando Ordonez Romero

CLAS S O F 2017 | S unday, May 14 Carla Laura Sanchez

Jennifer Solares

Dalayna Angelique Tyler-Scott

Edward Daniel Sanchez

Ericka Solis

Carolina Elizabeth Ugalde

Kimberly Daphnie Sanchez

Lucero Soto

Richard Joseph Daral Ungab

Monica Anitza Sanchez

Teresa Soto Rodriguez

Cristal Jasmine Urias

Nancy Beatriz Sanchez

Tiffany Dana Souza

Christian B. Valle

Perla Judith Sanchez

Alexandra Marie Spicer

Naomi Kim Van

Zitlaly Sanchez*

Lora Catherine Spielman*

Kia Vang

Brenda Edith Sanchez-Barragan

Anthony Robert Spinks

Lisa Pang Vang

Ryan Kelsey Spyksma

Daniel Michael Vargas

Estephanie Sandoval*

Arissa Michele Stamper

Norma Vargas

Jasmine Sandoval

Dana S. Stubblefield

Rosario Vargas

Adrian Santamaria

James Zachary Sullivan*

Brianna Marie Vasquez*

Taylor Marie Santiago

Jeremy Derald Szeto

Dioselina Vasquez

Cristian Santos

Matthew Taghavi

Rosspaola Vasquez

Elizabeth Santoyo

Ma.fides C. Talania

Olviya Vataman

Gema Victoria Santoyo

Tanvi Milind Tamhane

Cristal Estephania Velarde***

Emily Inez Saracay

Juriya Tanaka

Leslie Velarde

Yasmine Keiko Saunders

Vanessa Tapia

Brianna Cristina Velasquez

Kevin Ivan Sazo

Lauren Taylor

Daniel Velasquez

Mayra Sebastian

Lyndsay Elizabeth Teegarden*

Sarai Michelle Velasquez*

Celine-Ashley Rivera Serafin

Naly Thao

Jose Miguel Veliz

Ever Humberto Serna

Salvador Tinoco Jaramillo

Lucy Anne Vera***

Sergio Serrano

Alfonz Joseph Tiu

Anna Karen Vergara

Victoria Serrano Medina

Inderpreet Singh Tiwana

Rebecca Jean Malabed Verona

Michaela Rose Shanahan

Karina Torres

Kimberly Villanueva

William Anthony Johnathan Shaw

Luis Kevin Torres

Jennifer Lucia Villar

Stephanie Rose Torres

Katrina Nicole Villena*

Carlos Gustavo Torres Moreno

Isabel Virgen

Adrian Jeronimo Toscano

Nancy Guadalupe Vivero

Giovanny H. Toscano

James Nam Vo

Victor Cunha Toste

Jill L. Wallace

Dewey Wong Tran

John Wang

James Khoi Tran

Taylor Simone Washington

Vy Anh Tran*

Kirsten Michelle Weston

Mario Trujillo Espinoza

Brooke Elaine Wheeler

David Truong*

Victoria Miranda Whitford**

Cheng-En Tsai

Denise Joanna Wijesooriya

Sydney Tseng

Sierra Corin Williams

Tsagaan Turmunkh

Cierra Willis

Jalen Deron Siler* Carla Cristina Silveira Jaycee James Simmons Jr. Stacey Danei Sing Annifer Singh Ashvindar Kour Singh Daman Kaur Singh Rajiv Ashwin Singh Raveena Singh Reema Singh Saajan Singh Phoenix Rae Alexi Skeahan Kennedy Glyn Smith

CLAS S O F 2017 | S unday, May 14 Bria Serene Apiffany Wilson

Jackson Yee

Briseida Zaragoza

Cecille C. Wong

Makda Woldekidan Yohannes

Cristian Alejandro Zarate

Jasmine Cindy Wong

Alyssa Michelle Young

Luz Maria Zepeda Gonzalez

Thomas James Woolgar**

Melissa Anne Yow

Liliana Stefania Zermeno

Tien-Chin Wu*

Jasmine Marie Yslas

Brenda Lourdes Zetina**

Daniel Tonseng Yaangh

Derick Zamora

Bobby Zhang

Jonathon Choa Yang

Jennifer Viviana Zamora

Yuan Zhao

Yu Ye

Maria G. Zamudio

The commencement ceremony and program are not official confirmations of degree information. Academic Honors are not awarded until after the term in which all requirements are completed.

To receive academic honors at graduation, an undergraduate student must achieve a grade point average within the top 2 percent of the student’s school for highest honors (***), the next 4 percent for high honors (**), and the next 10 percent for honors (*).

Posthumous degrees are denoted by the following symbol G.

AWAR D R E C IP IE NTS | C l ass of 2017 OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS Chancellor’s Graduate Fellowship YEN-CHANG CHEN, Doctor of Philosophy, IGP Biological Engineering and Small-scale Technologies YOUHONG ZENG, Doctor of Philosophy, Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Eugene Cota-Robles Fellow JESSE WILSON, Doctor of Philosophy, Environmental Systems

Faculty Mentor Program Fellowship CHRISTINE HOFFMAN, Master of Science, Applied Mathematics RUBEN RODRIGUEZ, Doctor of Philosophy, Quantitative and Systems Biology JOANNEE MAE ZUMKEHR, Doctor of Philosophy, Quantitative and Systems Biology

Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship NATHANIEL ALEXANDER BOGIE, Doctor of Philosophy, Environmental Systems JOHN BUNCE, Doctor of Philosophy, Psychological Sciences YEN-CHANG CHEN, Doctor of Philosophy, IGP Biological Engineering and Small-scale Technologies VAN DO-REYNOSO, Doctor of Philosophy, IGP Social Sciences WENJUN GE, Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering XIAOLI HU, Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering NICOLE C. MADFIS, Master of Science, IGP Quantitative Systems Biology DAVID W. VINSON, Doctor of Philosophy, Cognitive and Information Sciences

Graduate Student Opportunity Program Fellow LASITH ADHIKARI, Doctor of Philosophy, Applied Mathematics UMA SHANTINI RAMASAMY, Doctor of Philosophy, IGP Biological Engineering and Small-scale Technologies

President’s Dissertation Year Fellowship MARIEKA ARKSEY, Doctor of Philosophy, IGP World Cultures ERIN MAY ROBY, Doctor of Philosophy, Psychological Sciences

Southern California Edison Fellow BRANDON JAYMES STARK, Doctor of Philosophy, IGP Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

AWAR D R E C IP IE NTS | C l ass of 2017 OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS Legacy Award JOSEPH GOMES ANDRADE The Legacy Award honors graduating students whose influence, ideals and activities have left a lasting positive impression on UC Merced and raised the standard of excellence for future generations of students.

Carol Tomlinson-Keasey Award HAVILLIAH JACOB MALSBURY Selected from among the finalists of the Legacy Award, the Carol Tomlinson-Keasey Award is the highest leadership award given to a graduating student who has pioneered new opportunities for those who follow.

NIH MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) Scholar BENNY ESCOBEDO The NIH MARC U-STAR is awarded to honors students majoring in biomedical or behavioral sciences who have expressed interest in pursuing postgraduate education leading to the Ph.D., M.D.-Ph.D., or other combined professional degree-Ph.D. in these fields upon completing their baccalaureate degree.

School of Engineering MICKEAL THEODORE ADES, B.S., Materials Science and Engineering LANDON JOE BECKER, B.S., Computer Science and Engineering CARTER R. BROWN, B.S., Mechanical Engineering JOHN ANGELO CRONIN, B.S., Environmental Engineering STEVEN ALFRED DUNN B.S., Mechanical Engineering EDITH DURAN-ROBLES B.S., Bioengineering VICTOR GONZÁLEZ GARCÍA, B.S., Computer Science and Engineering OSCAR DC HUANG, B.S., Materials Science and Engineering JOSEPH THOMAS KOTLAREK, B.S., Computer Science and Engineering EDGAR LOZANO, B.S., Mechanical Engineering ROBYNN-LYNNE PALDI B.S., Materials Science and Engineering THOMAS SPANKOWSKI JR., B.S., Environmental Engineering

School of Natural Sciences JOURJINA ALKHOURI, B.S., Biological Sciences emphasis in Human Biology AMY LEE BOWER, B.S., Applied Mathematical Sciences emphasis in Economics ANH LOAN DIEP, B.S., Biological Sciences emphasis in Microbiology and Immunology KYLE MUYALDE KABASARES, B.S., Physics emphasis in Mathematical Physics AVERY FORREST KNIZEK, B.S., Earth Systems Science KATHLEEN JORDAN LARSON, B.S., Chemical Sciences emphasis in Materials Chemistry MARCOS LUCERO, B.S., Chemical Sciences emphasis in Chemistry GUILLERMO NAJARRO, B.S., Biological Sciences emphasis in Molecular and Cell Biology JACOB LUKE NAVARRETE, B.S., Applied Mathematical Sciences emphasis in Environmental TIFFANY QUYNH CHI NGUYEN B.S., Biological Sciences emphasis in Human Biology AUSTIN MICHEAL PERRY, B.S., Biological Sciences emphasis in Microbiology and Immunology SEBASTIAN RODRIGUEZ, B.S., Computer Science and Engineering and B.S., Applied Mathematical Sciences AARON DAVID ORMONDE STACY, B.S., Chemical Sciences emphasis in Chemistry AMANDA TSE, B.S., Earth Systems Science

AWAR D R E C IP IE NTS | C l ass of 2017 School of Social Sciences, Humanities And Arts JOVITA ANGEL, B.A., Sociology GABRIELLE MARGARITA CABRERA, B.A., Anthropology DAKARI JARAE FINISTER, B.A., Psychology and B.A., Sociology STEPHANIE JOANNE GAMBOA, B.A., Public Health EDDIE ALBERTO LUCERO, B.A., Political Science NATALIE LYNN ROBERTSON, B.A., English SARAI MICHELLE VELASQUEZ, B.A., Sociology KATRINA NICOLE VILLENA, B.A., Psychology

AC AD E M IC S E N AT E AWA R DS | 2016 – 2017 As we celebrate our graduate’s achievements, the UC Merced Academic Senate also congratulates the 2016-2017 Senate Award winners. Each year, the senate recognizes distinguished faculty who achieve excellence and bring distinction to the university through research, teaching and service.

Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching by a Senate Faculty Member DR. ANNEETH KAUR HUNDLE, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts The Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching by a Senate Faculty Member award encourages and recognizes excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level.

Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching by a Non-Senate Faculty Member DR. KAMAL DULAI, School of Natural Sciences The Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching by a Non-Senate Faculty Member award encourages and recognizes the outstanding work and contributions of non-Senate lecturers in teaching undergraduates at UC Merced.

Distinguished Graduate Teaching and Mentorship DR. JAN WALLANDER, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts The Distinguished Graduate Teaching and Mentorship award encourages and recognizes individual excellence in teaching at the graduate level and mentorship of graduate students.

Distinguished Early Career Research DR. FRED WOLF, School of Natural Sciences The Distinguished Early Career Research award encourages and recognizes a non-tenured faculty member for research and/or other creative activities that have had a major impact on the field, either through a sustained record of contributions or through a specific, highly influential contribution.

Distinction in Research DR. LINDA HIRST, School of Natural Sciences The Distinction in Research award encourages and recognizes a tenured faculty member for research and/or other creative activities that have had a major impact on the field, either through a sustained record of contributions or through a specific, highly influential contribution.

Dr. Fred Spiess Distinguished Service to the Academic Senate DR. SUSAN AMUSSEN, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts The Dr. Fred Spiess Distinguished Service to the Academic Senate award recognizes a faculty member who has performed outstanding service to the Academic Senate, campus and/or systemwide, and whose contributions have had a major impact on faculty governance.

Distinguished Scholarly Public Service DR. KATHERINE STEELE BROKAW, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts The Distinguished Scholarly Public Service award recognizes a faculty member who has energetically and creatively applied his or her professional expertise and scholarship to benefit the local, regional national or international community.

Excellence in Faculty Mentorship DR. MIGUEL CARREIRA-PERPIÑÁN, School of Engineering The Excellence in Faculty Mentorship award encourages and recognizes individual excellence in faculty mentorship.

UC M E RC E D’ S ENV IRONM E NTA L LE ADERSHIP The University of California, Merced, demonstrates smart, sensible and creative actions that promote the vision of sustainability. The university’s commitment to sustainability extends to all aspects of campus life — including commencement.

Sustainable commencement practices include selling caps and gowns made from recycled water bottles, using Forest Stewardship Council certified paper for all printed materials, publishing information online, and collecting and sorting all waste for composting and recycling. The campus takes steps to reduce water use everywhere possible. One example is the hydrogel system used on the Carol Tomlinson-Keasey Quad lawn and other grassy areas of campus. The hydrogel acts as a water and nutrient reservoir, allowing a slow release into the soil and roots so the turf stays green despite using 50 percent less water.

We invite you to support our efforts to minimize waste and have as little impact on the planet as possible during commencement by properly disposing of your used water bottles and print materials in one of the many recycling bins in the Carol Tomlinson-Keasey Quad.

CLASS OF

Class Gift Since UC Merced’s inception, each graduating class has carried on the tradition of giving a gift to the university, leaving a legacy for future Bobcats to come.

The UC Merced Class of 2017 has contributed to their alma mater and will be recognized for their philanthropic support through the installation of custom Bobcat Bricks on campus.

Every personalized brick recognizes each donor’s journey and will help pave the future of UC Merced.

Be a part of the tradition by supporting the 2017 Class Gift online at giving.ucmerced.edu/bobcatbricks.

Let The Journey Continue ‌ Today, UC Merced is proud to welcome the 12th graduating class into the UC Merced Alumni Association – expanding to nearly 8,000 members.

With regional chapters, annual events and the establishment of new traditions, the UC Merced Alumni Association serves as a bridge for alumni to maintain a lifelong relationship with their alma mater.

UC Merced alumni are valued members of the university community and important advocates who contribute to the campus through their leadership, public service and philanthropic support. Alumni continue to make an impact on campus and in their respective communities, aiding in the advancement of the university’s mission.

For more information about the UC Merced Alumni Association, and to learn about how to get involved and how to give back, visit alumni.ucmerced.edu.

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER | May 2017