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CLASS OF 2026

KEY: Dual Degree ∞ * Dean’s List (GPA 4.0)

Dean’s Honorable Mention (GPA 3.95-3.99)

Phi Alpha Honor Society

USC Student Affairs Order of Areté

CLASS OF 2026

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

MAY 15th, 2026

Order of Program

Processional

International Greeting

Welcome Address

Vassilios Papadopoulos, Interim Dean

Keynote Address

Kristen Kavanaugh

Dean’s Recognition Awards

Doctor of Philosophy - Presentation of Diplomas and Hooding

Doctor of Social Work - Presentation of Diplomas and Hooding

Master of Science in Nursing - Presentation of Diplomas

Nurse Practitioner Oath

Michelle Zappas, Director

Master of Science in Nursing Program

Master of Social Work - Presentation of Diplomas

Graduate Certificates Presentation

Social Work Oath

Jennifer Lewis, Director

Master of Social Work Program

Closing Remarks

Vassilios Papadopoulos, Interim Dean

Recessional

MSW MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK

Donia Abdelhameed

Johnesha Adams

Tatiana Adams ◊

Chelsea Agee

Zinnya Aguilar *

Christine Aguirre *

Arthur Agustin ∞

Shanta Akins

Noor Alassdi *

Alfredo Aldana Ruano

LeeAnn Allen

Erika Janella Almira ∞

Lauren Altaweel

Daniela Alvarado *

Santos Alvarado ∞

Sandra Antunez *

Daisyguadalupe Arias *

Diva Arias

Jennifer Arreguin ∞

Luis Avalos

Marline Avendano-Colmenarez

Hla Nandar Aye *

Irina Babajanyan

Suzanne Baeza ∞

Katie Bailey ∞

Amy Ballard ∞ Φ

Samantha Bano

Breana Banuelos Φ

Saray Barrera

Ashley Batts ∞

Megan Berkovits ∞

Milena Beyruti *

Jazman Blount

Lynn Bonds Rivas

Nidia Boswell *

Zoe Brin *

Tiara Brown

Katrina Buck

Alina Bujanda *

Hannah Burciaga

Marilynda Bustamante ∞

Alexis Cadiz

Donna Calzada Gonzalez

Yolexiz Camacho *

Ryan Cameron ∞ Φ

Yamilet Campos-Chavez ∞

Graciela Cano Φ

Edson Cano Rosas ∞

Rafael Consino-Pineda

Ariana Caronna ∞

Brigitte Carrillo ∞

Stephanie Castellon

Amaya Castillo *

Virginia Castro

Megan Cazimi *

Diana Champagne ∞

Asa Chan ∞

Jerry Chaney Φ

Sandy Chavez

Carolina Chavez Olivas

Nuo Chen ∞ Φ

Emily Chin

Camelia Churchian

Jaelyn Clark

Paige Coddington ∞

Julie Coffey

Yahdiya Coleman

Anne Condou

Christopher Conkey

Mark Contreras

Monique Contreras ∞

Elizabeth Coronel *

Nathalie Cortez

Jamaica Crearer

Wisner D Meza

William Danielson

Jazmyne Davis ∞

Marco Antonio Davis

Diana Del Toro

Damanpreet Dhillon ∞

Mariana Diaz

Dianna Do *

Hadassah Dorce *

Elizabeth Douglas ∞

Giselda Dubon

Charles Dunnam

Dulce Duque Pineda

Noemi Duran

Stephanie Durazo *

Megan Escalante

Mathilde Escalona

Alejandra Espino ∞

Beyla Espinoza *

Blessing Essien

Jaesen Evangelista ∞ Φ ◊

Tia Evans *

Cara Farley ∞

Quintin Fells

Sally Fernandez *

Yasmeen Fernandez

Haley Fick

Alyza Figueroa ∞

Julia Fitzory-Chow ∞

Jennifer Fleming ∞

Dionne Flores

Horlenes Flores * Φ

Irismabel Flores

Sabrina Flores

Claudia Franco

Miriam Frunza

Sarah Gaines ∞

Jocelynn Galindo

Aleksi Galvan

McKenzie Gannon

Michelle Garber ∞

Alessandro Garcia

Angeleke Garcia

Jessica Garcia *

Andy Garcia Cazares

Lorraine Gardner

Mona Gerami ∞

Taylor Gerdeman ∞

Tyana Ghazanian ∞

Maleni Gilez

Leslie Giron

Laura Godinez ∞

Amine Golden

Lucylibeth Gomez Marroquin

Sharnyle Gonzales ∞

Rosa Gonzalez

Melissa Groves ∞

Christian Gudiel ∞

David Guerrero

Emi Guzman ∞

Mia Halladay ∞

Whitney Halleck

Melissa Ham ∞

Ashley Hankins

Halston Harper

Khaila Harris *

Lisa Harris

Lauren Hart ∞

William Hatcher * Φ

Lanay Hazzard-Marcell

Andrea Henneken

Carlie Hensley ∞ Φ

Jennifer Her

Natalie Herrera ∞

Melissa Herzstein ∞

Yvette Hong-Jones *

Emmily Hovhannisyan *

Natalie Hubbard ∞ ◊

Natalie Hung ∞

Justin Hwang

Vanessa Ibarra *

Ladoris Jackson

Titiana Jackson

Catherine Jara ∞

Elizabeth Jarquin

Justin Jenniges

Ashley Jensen

Eileen Jimenez ∞

Melody Jon *

Aisha Jones

Autumn Jones

Amandeep Kaur ∞

Kaden Kawamoto ∞

Megan Keefe

Daniella Kennedy *

Priyanka Khadka

Grace Kiralla ∞

Tabitha Kleiner ∞

Michelle Koperski

Rachael Kuhn ∞

Anthony Languren *

Alyssa Lee *

Analizeth Leiva *

Alexis Lema ∞

Lisa Lenihan

Sirena Lepe

Celia Lilly

Dong Lim ∞

Jennika Linsangan ∞

Jeoffrey Lopez

Vanessa Lopez

Kaitlyn Lozewski

Erika Lucio ∞

Jeffrey Luna

Paul Luna ∞

Christopher Lutz

Abigail Machado *

Johnny Maese ∞

Anthony Mai

Manuel Mancera

Samantha Manzo ∞

Eric Martin *

Gissel Martinez

Irene Martinez

Stephanie Martinez Φ

Sandi Martinez Monterroso

Jacqueline Mateo *

Shuichi Matsumoto

Grecia Matweef

Geoffrey Mayes ∞

Robery McCurley

Kerrie McDermott

Anne McLaughlin

Norma Medina Φ

Imani Meeks

Demmi Mejia *

Frankie Mejorado

Meilani Meleisea ∞

Brenda Mendez Mora

Ethan Mendoza

Cecilia Mercado ∞

Mary Miranda ∞

Kimberly Mitchell ∞ Φ

Trianna Mitsanas ∞

Chelsie Moak *

Diane Montano

Alejandra Mora

Sandra Mora

Delilah Morales ∞

Sabrina Morales *

Andrea Marie Morland-Tellez *

Lauren Morreale

Ella Moss-Vazquez ∞

Erin Moy *

Lauren Mulhern

Carmen Munoz *

Samantha Munoz

Fernando Murrain

Makaila Nartea *

Linda Nellis *

Vanessa Newman

April Nguyen

Tammy Nguyen ∞

Claire Nichols * Φ

Melissa Nolan ∞

Andrea Nuno

Gloria Ochoa ∞

Lauren Ofman

Caitlyn Oh

Souha Omar

Jennifer Ortega *

Melina Osmundson

Isamar Osorio

Mark Pabalate

Joey Anne Pangilinan

Olivia Panozzo ∞

Oscar Paredes-Hinestroza ∞

Sarah Park *

Shin Young Park ∞

Isabel Payne ∞

Brenda Perez

Devonne Perez ∞

Laura Peterson *

Janesha Pitts

Sophia Plache-Creech ∞

Adrian Prasad

DeShonna Prescott

Thomas Radford

Karla Ramirez

Aminah Ramjan

Larissa Ramos Alvarez

Melanie Reyes

Tara Riffle *

Carol Rodriguez

Giovanna Rodriguez

Melissa Rodriguez-Parra

Luis Rojas ∞

Jasmine Rojas Gonzalez ∞

Adrianna Roldan ∞

Rebecca Rosenzweig *

Holly Rowan Chandler ∞

Razak Sadiq ∞

Vanessa Salazar Φ

Jackelin Salgado ∞

Eliza Samore ∞

Catherine Sanchez

Nala Sanchez ∞

Jacqueline Sandoval Islas

Allison Sariles ∞

Denise Saucedo

Alyssa Savala ∞

Mikayla Scales

Carolyn Schroeder

Misha Scott

Alison Segel *

Noel Seriale ∞

Elizabeth Serrato ∞

Hiral Shah

Monica Sharber

Jacob Shelton

Icee Shields-Harris

Naomi Shifman ∞

Paul Shirey ∞

Molly Silk ∞

Whitney Sims

Jaylan Snowden

Margarita Solorzano Hernandez

Eloise Somerby

Allen Soong ∞ Φ

Sarah Sorensen ∞

Alaysia Spikes ∞

Javan Spoolstra

Jennifer St Jude ∞

Geneva Steward ∞

Melissa Struzzo ∞

Malik Summers

Astrid Tadeo ∞

Corrina Tadros

Lamrot Tafesse

Shuyi Tang

Christina Tejada

Ethiopia Tesfaye *

Ariana Tett-Fowler ∞

Olivia Thomas ∞

Susana Thompson Φ

Christeen Tilenius *

Darling Tobar

Christina Tonapetian *

Azul Torres Martinez ∞

Jacqueline Torres-Raya

Deztenie Toscano

Christine Toth ∞

Sally Troncoso

Anthony Tucker

Chloe Turcotte ∞ Φ

Cassandra Vaglienty ∞

Sueraine Valderrama Rios ∞

Jazmin Valencia ∞

Martha Valencia ∞

Tatevik Vardanyan

Karen Ventura

Karsyn Wallace

Cornella Ward ∞

Audrey Webb

Owen Weber ∞

Clavin Westbrook

Ingrid Wik

Asia Williams ∞ Φ

Jie Wu *

Megan Wu

Shiaw-Lii Wu ∞

Wei Xiong ∞

Deanna Yadollahi

Adrianna Yanez

Ryann Yassine

Michaela Yatauro ∞

Kathleen Yi ∞

Francesca Youn ∞

Corinne Zachry ∞

Jazmine Zamarripa

Isaac Zuniga *

Rafael Zuniga

MSN MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

Christine Adams ∞

Lilit Arakelian

Sera Benedetti

Austin Bratton

Nadire Bringas *

Minette Bunag *

Kaitlin Callorina

Darrell Cave *

Lisa Chi

Yejin Cho

Rebecca Choi

Timothy Cookerly

Erick Duddy

Olivia Dumas

Faythe Elimelech ∞

Maria Escoto ∞

Robin Evanson *

Ariana Gallarzo

Mahshid Ghazaryan

Kulsum Gosain

Anne Gronlund *

Jessica Heddinger *

Leticia Hernandez

Linda Hyun *

Judy Jeong

Anita Jindani

Shrabya Joshee *

Jaspreet Kaur *

Deni Lam ∞

Abigail Ledbetter *

Chelsea Lim

Cora Lim *

Xinran Li-Ugalde ∞

Emily Lock ∞

Lorena Molina

Brittany Morland

Maya Mousa

Momoka Nakamura

Adriana Paredes

Jeet Patel

Katie Prescott

Keyonda Proctor *

Jennifer Quach

Simran Sangha

Diana Santana

Kimberlee Sapanghila

Emely Shoenfelt

Gabrielle Marie Siao

Mariane Tolentino *

Katharine Triplett

Shelby Wakeman *

Veronica Williams

Jena Willis *

Kylee Xu ∞

DSW DOCTOR OF SOCIAL WORK

Rihana Acklin ∞

Activating the Code: A Blueprint for Systemic Justice in Black Maternal and Infant Health

Olivia Ale

Eradicating Obesity in the Samoan Community

Kaye Anderson Bay Area Mental Health Workforce Initiative

Namier Aziz-Yasoua Street To Retreat, “We Practice What We Preach, Neighbors Helping Neighbors.”

Jacqueline Becton Φ Rally Point!: Social Empowerment for Older Veterans

Joterrica Cross

It Takes a Village: The Path to the 4th State of Declare an End to Veteran Homelessness-Homeless Veterans Program (HVR) Roadshow

Rachel Ferrara ∞

Closing the Health Gap: Recovery in The Parks

Myiesha Freeman

Helping Youth with Mind Over Matter (HY MOM)

Victoria Grey ∞

Inclusive Therapeutic Role-Playing Games: A Practice for Managing Trauma in Multiple Marginalized People

Elizabeth Jacobs-Ware ∞

Planted in the Middle: Developing an On-Demand Support Mechanism for African American Female Sandwich Generation Caregivers

Isabella Karabed

AHORA Framework for Resilient Conflict Resolution: A Training and Digital Application to Strengthen Psychological Safety and Inclusive Culture in Social Service Organizations

Meaghan Kauffman *

Cultivating Survivor-Affirming Spaces to Counter Campus Rape Culture

D’Asha Leonard-Johnson *

Planting Seeds of Success: Belonging First- Black Family School Partnership Journey Map

Anaiah Mitchell *

GenLabs: An Intergenerational Mentoring Program Designed to Shift Negative Perceptions of Justice-Involved Young Adults to Reduce Recidivism and Mass Incarceration

Beth Morgan ∞

Social Change Activator: Partnering with Black Women Entrepreneurs to Create Sustainable, Positive Change in Black Communities

Meghan Murphy ∞

Not Every Path Leads to Hospice: Redefining Follow-Up Care for Palliative Patients in Disease Remission

Ashley Nelson

Aging Out of Foster Care: Ensuring Successful Outcomes for Vulnerable Youth

Vincent Oviedo

Transforming Digital Isolation into Connection: Leveraging Gaming Culture Through a Mobile App to Promote Social Health in Gen A Males

Kellye Palmer

PSA Advocacy Network: A Trauma-Informed Toolkit Model for Survivors and Systems Responding to Post-Separation Abuse

Ashley Parks *

Create the Culture (CtC): Emotional Intelligence as an Upstream Suicide Prevention Strategy for Junior Enlisted Sailors in the U.S. Navy

Xavier Perez

The Rebuilders Project: A Community-Driven Approach to Preventing Situational Homelessness Through Appalachian Revitalization

Heather Pham ∞ Φ

Rebuilding Financial Independence for Survivors of Financial Coercion: A Community-Informed Project Addressing Coerced Debt

Pixie Popplewell ∞ Φ ◊

Rainbow Learning Library: Navigating the Queer Information Jungle with Community Knowledge and Third Spaces

Rachel Radjewski ∞

How Emotional Intelligence Can Be Used to Reduce Burnout in Emergency Veterinary Clinicians: A Curriculum Focused on EmERge Doctors While in Training

Kieyonna Roberts

Expanding Access to Maternal Health Care: A Maternal Health Toolkit Intervention

Kathryn Storm ∞ Φ

The Belonging Bus: Connection without Condition

Patrick Taylor

Addressing the Micro Pipeline in Social Work: A Prototype Workshop for Macro Career Navigation

Justin Uzzle

All Together Now: Connection/Engagement/Relationship Building

Donald Ward

Rosalyn Warren

Eradicating Social Isolation in Black Women Aged 35-44 Who Disproportionately Suffer from Depression and Social Isolation and are at Risk for Suicide

Heather Weaver

Jerry Wilburn

Community Integration of the Backyard Portable Dwelling Units Project

Larry Woodard

Hello Friend : A Study of Social Isolation Among the Blind and Visually Impaired — Connecting Without Barriers

Jasmine Wynn ∞

Identify Early: A Culturally Responsive Toolkit for Mental Health Support in Schools

PHD DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

John Bosco Bunyi

Dissertation Chair: Hans Oh

The Use of Digital Tools to Support Mental Health Among a Diverse Sample of Asian American and Pacific Islander Emerging Adults (AAPI-EA): Understanding Digital Mental Health Using a Mixed Methods Approach

Maiya Hotchkiss ∞

Dissertation Chair: John Blosnich

Understanding Sucidality among Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness

Corinne Zachry ∞

Dissertation Chair: John Blosnich

Social Inequities, Mental Health Needs and Barriers to Care for Bisexual People

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE

Breana Banuelos

Jazmin Blout

Katrina Buck

Sandy Chavez

Nathalie Cortez

Mariana Diaz

Stephanie Durazo

Aleksi Glavan

Jessica Garcia

Andy Garcia Cazares

Lisa Harris

Carlie Hensley

LaDoris Jackson

Catherine Jara

Irene Martinez

Sabrina Morales

Melissa Nolan

Shin Young Park

Tara Riffle

Melissa Rodriguez-Parra

Jackelin Salgado

Social Work Practice in Addiction

Trauma-Informed Practices in Educational Settings

Social Work Practice in Addiction

Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice

Trauma-Informed Practices in Educational Settings

Advanced Clinical Social Work Pratice

Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice

Trauma-Informed Practices in Educational Settings

Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice

Social Work Practice in Addiction

Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice

Social Work Practice in Addiction

Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice

Trauma-Informed Practices in Educational Settings

Truama-Informed Practices in Educational Settings

Catherine Sanchez

Melissa Struzzo

Christina Tejada

Karen Ventura

Karsyn Wallace

Law and Advocacy

Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice

Trauma-Informed Practices in Educational Settings

OATH

SOCIAL WORK

I do affirm that as a professional social worker:

I will work to help all people in need.

I will work to reduce the social problems in our society.

I will challenge injustice particularly to vulnerable and oppressed individuals.

I will respect the inherent dignity and worth of every person.

I will work to enhance the well-being of individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities.

I will strive to increase my professional knowledge and skill and to advance the knowledge base of the profession.

I shall conduct myself in a professional and ethical manner and abide by the profession’s code of ethics as established by the National Association of Social

OATH

NURSE PRACTITIONER

As a nurse dedicated to providing the highest quality care and services, I solemnly pledge that I will:

Consider the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering my primary concerns.

Act in a compassionate and trustworthy manner in all aspects of my care.

Apply my knowledge, experience, and skills to the best of my ability to assure optimal outcomes for my patients.

Exercise sound professional judgment while abiding by legal and ethical requirements.

Accept the lifelong obligation to improve my professional knowledge and competence.

Promote, advocate for, and strive to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient.

With this pledge, I accept the duties and responsibilities that embody the nursing profession.

I take this oath voluntarily with the full realization of the responsibility with which I am entrusted by the public.

KRISTEN KAVANAUGH

Kristen Kavanaugh is shaping the future with courage and conviction. A Marine Corps veteran, former senior executive at Tesla, and founder of a leadership firm dedicated to building trust and resilience in high-stakes environments, Kristen has spent her life serving people and building systems that work—for everyone.

She is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Agency Initiative, an Austin-based consulting firm focused on organizational effectiveness and courageous leadership. Dedicated to creating a world where more leaders choose courage in their most critical moments, Kristen equips executive teams to navigate complexity with clarity, integrity, and impact.

Kristen is also the co-author of Courage Over Fear: Harness the Power of Agency to Lead in Uncertain Times, a leadership book born from her work at The Agency Initiative with organizations navigating polarization and transformation in the face of uncertainty. The book offers a practical path for leaders to align their values, decisions, and actions in high-stakes environments. Through stories, research, and reflection, Courage Over Fear makes the case for a different kind of leadership—one rooted in trust, resilience, and curiosity rather than control and fear.

Kristen’s journey has taken her from the U.S. Naval Academy to the frontlines of military service, from grassroots community leadership to executive roles at the highest levels of the private sector. Appointed by the Secretary of Defense, Kristen served as Vice Chair of the Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, where she helped shape policy recommendations for one of the nation’s largest and most complex institutions. Today, she continues to advise senior leaders across sectors on building cultures that are bold, inclusive, and built to last.

As Senior Director of Inclusion, Talent, and Learning at Tesla, she led Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Talent Management, and Learning & Development for the global organization—formulating many of her foundational ideas on courage and leadership while driving inclusion, performance, and purpose at scale.

Kristen believes the future demands more than competence—it demands courage. She’s spent her life helping others rise to meet that call, while striving to meet it herself every day. Kristen’s voice and work have been featured in leading institutions across the country, including Harvard, Yale, MIT, and the U.S. Naval Academy. She has spoken on stages from TEDx to the Democratic National Convention, and her writing on LGBTQ+ military and veteran experiences has been published in academic texts and professional references. Whether addressing national security, leadership, or inclusion, Kristen brings clarity, candor, and courage to every room she enters.

She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in English from the United States Naval Academy.