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Rossier Graduates Celebrate This year’s Commencement boasted the highest number of Rossier graduates in the history of the school.
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n May 10, doctoral candidates adorned in red velvet regalia were hooded at the Rossier Doctoral Commencement Ceremony in Founders Park. Close to 180 PhD and EdD candidates participated in the procession, led by flag bearers Kris De Pedro PhD ’12 and Chris McDonald EdD ’12. The ceremony also honored three outstanding dissertation award winners – Aime Black EdD ’12, Wendy Marshall EdD ’12, and Elizabeth Jordan EdD ’12. On May 11, close to 700 master’s candidates and their families and friends convened at Howard Jones Field, led by flag bearers Julisa Maldonado Vargas MAT TESOL ’12 and Briana Weiland ME PASA ’12. Commencement speaker Don Shalvey EdD ’95, deputy director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and co-founder of Aspire Public Schools, captivated the audience with stories of his rise through the education field and lessons he learned along the way. Student speaker Julio Cesar Ortiz MFT ’12 talked about his growth as a Rossier student and his commitment to advocating for urban communities and the underserved. Graduating Master of Arts in Teaching candidates started the celebration early on May 10 at the MAT Trojan Pride Day. Both online and on-campus students attended a discussion panel on the teaching job market led by former superintendents and Rossier faculty Darline Robles and Michael Escalante. The new graduates learned about alumni opportunities, listened to capstone presentations by their peers, and attended an evening cocktail reception hosted by 2tor, Inc. n
Do what needs to be done and check to see if it is impossible only after you’re finished.” — Don Shalvey
Keynote speaker Don Shalvey spoke of his experience as an educator in Central California prior to founding Aspire Public Schools t
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Futures in Urban Ed