Spring 2019 USF Sarasota Manatee Commencement Program

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA SARASOTA-MANATEE

Spring 2019 1

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Dear graduates, Congratulations! On behalf of all the USF faculty, staff, trustees, and our hundreds of thousands of alumni, I welcome you to the Spring 2019 USF Commencement Exercises.

Today marks an important milestone in your life. With your degree from USF, you join a community of scholars that is driven to discover, to make an impact, to make life better.

The investment you have made in your education opens up a future without limits.

Today you graduate from a Preeminent Research University, one of the most elite universities in the state of Florida. We are ranked among the top 25 research universities in the U.S. by the National Science Foundation. And we are widely recognized for our record-setting gains in student success. As we continue to lead in research, scholarship and innovation, your degree from USF becomes even more valuable. We know that as alumni, USF will always make you proud – just as you will, for us.

You can be confident that your degree from USF will equip you to embrace all the opportunities and the challenges ahead. As a USF alum, your future has no limits.

We hope that your journey takes you all over the world and that you always find a way back to USF. Congratulations, and GO BULLS!

Judy Genshaft, President University of South Florida System

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA SARASOTA-MANATEE COMMENCEMENT CONVOCATION Spring Commencement | Monday, May 6, 2019 3

To the graduates of USF Sarasota-Manatee, Congratulations on your great achievement! Receiving a college diploma is a significant milestone in life. We know that you will apply the knowledge gained from your USF experience. Please come back and see us, as a graduate student or an active member of the USF Alumni Association.

Thank you for choosing the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee—your public university—to further your education and your career.

Byron Shinn Chair, Campus Board

K aren Holbrook, PhD R egional Chancellor

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA SARASOTA-MANATEE

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he University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee’s (USFSM) mission is to provide high quality bachelor’s and graduate-level education and scholarly activity in a personalized learning community.

The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee will be nationally recognized as a student-centered, researchfocused, community engaged university with significant economic and cultural impact to the region.

The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus is conveniently located on U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) near Sarasota Bay, the Powel Crosley Estate, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, and the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

Established in 1975, USF Sarasota-Manatee is a separately accredited institution of the USF System and has served the Sarasota-Manatee community for over 40 years.

In response to community needs, USFSM became separately accredited in 2011 and welcomed its first

freshman class in 2013. In addition to continuously building its student life, USFSM is also growing its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) offerings along with a robust core curriculum of general education courses.

USFSM continues to emphasize excellence, convenience and affordability with a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and more than 85 percent of faculty with terminal degrees in their fields.

USFSM offers more than 40 bachelor’s degree, 12 master’s degree and certificate programs, an honors program, an arts-infused teacher preparation program, a hospitality management program, pre-engineering, pre-nursing, a biology program in partnership with Mote Marine Laboratory and a nationally accredited business college.

USF Sarasota-Manatee graduates immediately enter a network of more than 17,000 alumni who live and work in the area.

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM LEADERSHIP

USF BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Judy Genshaft, USF System President Ralph Wilcox, USF System Provost & Executive Vice President David Lechner, USF System Senior Vice President for Business and Financial Strategy Charles Lockwood, USF Senior Vice President for USF Health Paul Sanberg, USF System Senior Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Development Joel Momberg, USF System Senior Vice President for University Advancement

Jordan B. Zimmerman, Chair Leslie Muma, Vice Chair Michael L. Carrere Stephanie E. Goforth Oscar Horton Moneer Kheireddine Deanna Michael Harold Mullis, Esq. John B. Ramil Byron E. Shinn Charles Tokarz Nancy H. Watkins

USF SARASOTA-MANATEE LEADERSHIP Eddie Beauchamp, Regional Vice Chancellor for Business and Financial Affairs Gert-Jan de Vreede, Interim Dean, College of Business Karen Holbrook, Regional Chancellor Bonnie Jones, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research & Effectiveness Brett Kemker, Regional Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs Paul Kirchman, Dean and Associate Professor, College of Science and Mathematics Patrick Moreo, Dean and Professor, College of Hospitality and Tourism Leadership Jane Rose, Dean and Associate Professor, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Casey Welch, Assistant Vice President for External Affairs and Government Relations Lee Williams, Regional Vice Chancellor for Advancement

USF SARASOTA-MANATEE CAMPUS BOARD Byron Shinn, Chair, Bradenton David Eckel, Sarasota Dr. Anila Jain, Bradenton William Mariotti, Bradenton Fredrick Piccolo, Sarasota

The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Events, activities, programs, and facilities of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee are available to all without regard to race, color, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, age, Vietnam or disabled veteran status as provided by law and in accordance with the University’s respect for personal dignity.

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THE SYMBOLS OF LEARNING

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odern academic regalia evolved from the kinds of apparel worn by monks and students in the 11th and 12th centuries to keep warm in the medieval castles and halls in which they studied. Academic life as we know it today began in the Middle Ages — first in the church, then in the guilds. The teaching guild was the Guild of the Master of Arts, and the Bachelor was the apprentice of the Master. Their dress was the outward sign of stature and responsibility. Academic regalia was thus a visible manifestation — in color, pattern and design — that unified those of common discipline and like purpose. In later centuries, to preserve the regalia’s dignity and meaning, universities set rules of academic dress. American universities agreed on a definite system in 1895, establishing a code of approved attire. In 1932, the American Council on Education revised this code, which, for the most part, governs the style of academic dress today. The principal features of academic dress are three: the gown, the cap and the hood.

THE GOWN — The gown has become symbolic of the democracy of scholarship, for it completely covers any dress of rank or social standing. The sleeves of the gown indicate the level of the degree held by the wearer. A long, pointed sleeve indicates the bachelor’s degree. The master’s gown has an oblong sleeve cut in an arc, with a slit at either the upper arm or wrist. The USF doctor’s gown has bell-shaped sleeves and three black bars on the sleeve. The doctoral robe also has the seal of the university on the velvet facing.

honors society. International students may choose to wear a special sash honoring their home country. The colors of their sash reflect the colors of their native flags.

THE CAP — The freed slave in ancient Rome won the privilege of wearing a cap, and so the academic cap is a sign of the freedom of scholarship and the responsibility and dignity with which scholarship endows the wearer. Old poetry records the cap of scholarship as a square symbolizing the book, although other authorities claim that it is a mortar board, the symbol of the masons, a privileged guild. The color of the tassel on the cap denotes the discipline. The tassels on the caps (mortar boards) worn by the faculty may be black or a color indicating the degree. Those who hold a doctoral degree may wear a gold tassel. It is traditional for degree candidates to wear their tassels on the right and for those holding degrees to wear them on the left. Graduates transfer their tassels to the left after conferring of the degrees by the President.

THE COLORS — In regalia, academic disciplines are noted by color. These colors can be found on undergraduate and masters tassels and on master and doctorate hoods on the velvet edging.

THE HOOD — The hoods are lined with the official colors of the institution conferring the degree. They are edged and bound with velvet of the color appropriate for the degree. At USF, the lining of the hood is green with a gold chevron, representing the university’s colors.

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THE MACE — The USF Mace, used during all Commencement ceremonies, is a ceremonial staff similar to those used by many institutions of higher learning to show the right of academic institutions to grant degrees to graduates. The USF mace is used during all Commencement ceremonies and is carried by the President of the Faculty Senate. Our mace includes a gold pine cone at its top to represent growth and continuity. Eight silver semicircles, which support the pine cone, stand for the eight colleges in existence at USF when the mace was commissioned in 1998. When not in use, today’s mace is displayed in the foyer of the President’s office. The original university mace is on display in the Alumni Center.

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THE MEDALLION — The medallion worn by candidates for the bachelor’s degree identify those graduating with honors based upon GPA.

THE SASH — The golden-colored sash is made available to students who are members of university honors societies. The sash is embroidered with the university seal and the student’s

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Apricot — Nursing Blue (dark) — Philosophy (doctorate) Blue (light) — Education Blue (peacock) — Public Administration Blue (Rhodes) — Audiology Brown — Visual and Performing Arts Citron — Social Work, Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Crimson — Advertising, Journalism and Mass Communications Copper — Economics Drab — Business Gold — Psychology Green (Kelly) — Medicine Green (olive) — Pharmacy Green (sage) — Political Science (masters) Orange — Engineering Pink — Music Salmon — Public Health Scarlet — Religious Studies Science Gold — Anthropology, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Criminology, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Gerontology, Health Sciences, Information Technologies, Medical Science (masters), Medical Technology, Mathematics, Marine Science, Physics, Speech Pathology, Statistics Silver — Speech Communications Teal — Physical Therapy Violet — Architecture White — Arts and Letters and Humanities, including African Studies, American Studies, Applied Linguistics, Art and Art History, Classics, English, Foreign Language, General Studies, History, Interdisciplinary Social Science, International Studies, Liberal Studies, Linguistics, Political Science, Sociology, Women’s and Gender Studies Yellow (lemon) — Library Science Yellow (pineapple) — Hotel and Restaurant Management

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA SARASOTA-MANATEE FACULTY Anurag Agarwal, Professor, Information Systems and Decision Sciences Faizan Ali, Assistant Professor, Hospitality Management Katerina Annaraud, Associate Professor, Hospitality Management Michelle Arnold, Assistant Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders Joe Askren, Instructor II, Hospitality Management Karen Atwood, Instructor I, Biology Edie Banner, Instructor II, Chemistry, and Lab Coordinator Keith Barron, Instructor II, Hospitality Management Thomas Becker, Professor, Management Kathy Black, Professor, Social Work, Gerontology Brett Blackburn, Visiting Instructor I, Biology Richard Borghesi, Professor, Finance Christelle Bouchard, Assistant Professor, Biology Marie Byrd, Associate Professor, Elementary Education, and Director, School of Education Elizabeth Carlson, Instructor I, Accounting Adam Carmer, Instructor I, Hospitality Management Ken Caswell, Instructor I, Chemistry Kiyoung Chang, Associate Professor, Finance Cihan Cobanoglu, Professor, Hospitality and Management, and McKibbon Endowed Chair and Director of M3 Center Kelly Cowart, Assistant Professor, Marketing Anthony Coy, Assistant Professor, Psychology James Curran, Professor, Marketing Joy D’Andrea, Instructor I, Mathematics Wilma Davidson, Instructor II, English, Professional and Technical Communication Rustu Deryol, Instructor I, Criminology Madeline Domino, Associate Professor, Accounting Diane Fulkerson, Assistant University Librarian and Director of Information Commons Michael Gillespie, Associate Professor, Psychology, and Faculty Senate President Ramakrishna Govindu, Instructor I, Information Systems and Decision Sciences Jane Govoni, Instructor I, TESOL Jessica Grosholz, Assistant Professor, Criminology Murat Haner, Instructor I, Criminology Feng Hao, Assistant Professor, Sociology, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Eric Hodges, Assistant Professor, Government and Globalization, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Giti Javidi, Associate Professor, Information Technology Carlos Jimenez-Angueira, Assistant Professor, Accounting Roberto Jimenez-Arroyo, Instructor II, Spanish Jean Kabongo, Associate Professor, Management Matthew Karlesky, Instructor I, Management Ranjith Korala-Gamage, Instructor I, Chemistry Lora Kosten, Instructor III, Elementary Education Garret LaForge, Instructor I, Mathematics Ann Lawrence, Instructor I, English Valerie Lipscomb, Associate Professor, English, and Department Chair for Liberal Arts Sunita Lodwig, Instructor II, Information Technology

Jenna Luque, Instructor I, Communication Sciences and Disorders Vanessa Marasco, Instructor I, Elementary Education Jennifer Mariano, Associate Professor, Literacies Education Nicholas Mastracchio, Associate Professor, Accounting Jody Lynn McBrien, Professor, Literacies Education Jay Michaels, Assistant Professor, Psychology Fawn Ngo, Associate Professor, Criminology Noel Mark NoĂŤl, Instructor II, Accounting Kip Ortiz, Instructor I, Mathematics Terry Osborn, Professor, Educational Leadership Lisa Penney, Associate Professor, Management Jonathan Scott Perry, Associate Professor, History Zacharias Pieri, Instructor I, Government and Globalization, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Donna Polelle, Instructor II, Communication Sciences and Disorders Lila Rajabion, Assistant Professor, Information Technology Brianne Reck, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership Jane Roberts, Instructor II, Social Work, Interdisciplinary Social Studies Thorold (Tod) Roberts, Instructor II, English, Professional and Technical Communication David Robertson, Visiting Instructor I, Psychology Helene Robinson, Instructor I, Elementary Education Stephen Rushton, Associate Professor, Elementary Education Christine Ruva, Associate Professor, Psychology Eddie Sanchez, Instructor I, Finance Carlos Santamaria, Assistant Professor, Biology Sukanya Senapati, Instructor II, English, and Faculty Coordinator, Learning Support Services Ehsan Sheybani, Associate Professor, Information Systems and Decision Sciences Melissa Sloan, Associate Professor, Sociology, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Michael Snipes, Instructor II, Economics John Stewart, Instructor I, Professional and Technical Communication Sandra Stone, Professor, Criminology, and Department Chair for Social Sciences Jessica Szempruch, Instructor Librarian Sarah Szynkiewicz, Assistant Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders Aparna Telang, Assistant Professor, Biology Steven Teppler, Visiting Instructor I, Information Technology Ildiko Toth, Instructor II, Accounting Timothy Turner, Assistant Professor, English Bhuvanesh Unhelkar, Professor, Information Technology James Unnever, Professor, Criminology Carol Vance, Instructor II, Accounting Phillip Wagner, Instructor II, Communications, and Core Curriculum Coordinator Richard Warner, Instructor I, Mathematics Georgia Pat Wilson, Associate Professor, Elementary Education Donald Wood, Instructor I, Hospitality Management Jeanine Yacoub, Visiting Instructor I, Chemistry Cassandra Yacovazzi, Visiting Assistant Professor, History

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ORDER OF EXERCISES JUDY GENSHAFT, PRESIDING

MONDAY, MAY 6, 6:30 P.M. COMMENCEMENT CONVOCATION BRADENTON CONVENTION CENTER PROCESSIONAL (please stand) CEREMONY OPENING Michael Gillespie

President, Faculty Senate NATIONAL ANTHEM Logan Mies, Student USF School of Music PLATFORM INTRODUCTIONS Karen Holbrook AND WELCOME Regional Chancellor PRESIDENT’S WELCOME Judy Genshaft

USF System President STUDENT WELCOME AND Michael Klene, President PRESENTATION OF CAMPUS AWARDS Student Government Association PRESENTATION OF USF ALUMNI Merritt Martin, USF Alumni Association Chair ASSOCIATION AWARDS USF Alumni Association Board of Directors member

PRESENTATION OF MASTER’S DEGREES Brett Kemker, Regional Vice Chancellor for Academic (Listed in college alphabetical order) and Student Affairs Gert-Jan de Vreede, Interim Dean, College of Business

Patrick Moreo, Dean, College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership Jane Rose, Dean, College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

CONFERRING OF MASTER’S DEGREES President Genshaft

PRESENTATION OF BACCALAUREATE DEGREES Gert-Jan de Vreede, Interim Dean, College of Business (Listed in college alphabetical order) Patrick Moreo, Dean, College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership Jane Rose, Dean, College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Paul Kirchman, Dean, College of Science & Mathematics CONFERRING OF BACCALAUREATE DEGREES President Genshaft CLOSING REMARKS Regional Chancellor Holbrook ALMA MATER (please stand) Logan Mies CLOSING/RECESSIONAL Michael Gillespie

PARTICIPANTS Ceremony Reader Phillip Wagner Ceremony Announcer Jay Riley Interpreter VisCom Sign Language Interpreter Please remain at your seats until recessional has cleared the auditorium.

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SPRING 2019 USF SARASOTA-MANATEE AWARDS

OUTSTANDING PROFESSOR AWARD Honorees for the Outstanding Professor Award at USF Sarasota-Manatee share a sincere involvement with their students, passion for the university and its mission and a commitment to excellence through education. Presented by the Student Government Association on behalf of the graduating seniors, the award is the highest campus-level honor for USF Sarasota-Manatee faculty members. It recognizes exceptional accomplishments, leadership and service to the campus and community

STEPHEN RUSHTON, PhD Stephen Rushton is an associate professor in the School of Education within the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences at USF Sarasota-Manatee, with expertise in elementary education and teacher preparation. He teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in creativity, classroom management, the writing process, science and the learning environment.

Passionate about the teaching profession, Rushton is proudest of his efforts to develop teachers and watch them progress from students to fully mature educators equipped with the knowledge and confidence to step into any K-6 classroom setting.

Rushton likes to challenge his students through experiential learning and strives to communicate principles of education in a way that imparts a sense of enthusiasm and passion for teaching young children.

The longest-serving professor at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, Rushton arrived at USFSM in 1998 when it was located at the New College of Florida campus. He received a doctorate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in teacher preparation (elementary education) in 1997.

Rushton has received several teaching awards during his time at USFSM, including the Outstanding Professor Award in 2003, the Undergraduate Teaching Award (2001 and 2003) and the Excellence in Teaching Award (2014 and 2017).

“I am honored and deeply touched to have had the School of Education graduating class nominate me for this award,” Rushton said.

To those who attended his classes, he added, “Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future as you begin to mold the minds and hearts of your students.”

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SPRING 2019 USF SARASOTA-MANATEE AWARDS

OUTSTANDING GRADUATE AWARD The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Outstanding Graduate Award is presented at each commencement by the USF Alumni Association. This prestigious award recognizes the graduating senior who exemplifies scholarly commitment, leadership, character, school spirit and dedication to community service.

LUKAS OEST Lukas Oest is as devoted to his studies as he is to USF Sarasota-Manatee, where he has shone as a campus leader and demonstrated the qualities worthy of the Outstanding Graduate Award.

A marketing student with a focus on strategic marketing, Oest carries a 3.65 grade-point average. He has served as director of marketing and promotions for Student Government, represented USFSM as a USF Ambassador and escorted prospective students on campus tours as a campus experience guide.

He has served as president of the Adventure Club, led orientations as a community leader and participated in the Service Saturday campus outreach program. Recently, he was inducted into the Order of the Golden Brahman, an organization of elite student and alumni leaders.

Oest considers his service-related activities to be as important as his studies and a way to give back to all of those at USFSM and in the community who have helped him along the way.

“It’s an honor for me to be awarded in this way, and I’m incredibly grateful to receive this award, but ultimately it’s not the award, itself, that’s important,” he said. “It’s more important that this award help inspire other international and first-generation college students to persevere, so they can excel during their college years.”

Born in a small industrial town in Germany, Oest came to the United States as an exchange student in high school.

After graduating, he enrolled at USF Sarasota-Manatee and received support from members of his church, Lakewood Ranch Baptist Church, and, in particular, its pastor, the Rev. Rick Hardison, and his wife, Staci, who took Lukas into their home.

“If it weren’t for them and for the church members, I literally would not be here today,” Oest said. “It was their kindness and generosity that allowed me to study here and finish my degree. So many helped me. I am grateful to all of them and they know who they are.”

As for the future, Oest hopes to remain in Florida. In June, he’ll start a job at a local company that sells citrus products in the United States and overseas, including in Germany.

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SPRING 2019 USF SARASOTA-MANATEE AWARDS

GOLDEN BULL SERVICE AND OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD The Golden Bull Service and Outstanding Leadership Award is sponsored by the USF Sarasota-Manatee Student Government and given to the student who has excelled in leadership, academics and community and university involvement.

CASSANDRA BENJAMIN Cassandra “Cassie” Benjamin was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands and divided her childhood between there and Florida. Influenced by cultures of both places, she credits her upbringing for inspiring her to pursue a history degree.

Benjamin has excelled in the classroom at USF Sarasota-Manatee, where she carries a 3.60 grade-point average and will graduate cum laude, and also feels called by a duty to help others. That helps explain why she was selected to receive the Golden Bull Service and Outstanding Leadership Award for Spring 2019.

“I’m the type of person who doesn’t want to live with regrets. It’s important for me to try to make a difference while I’m here, to make a difference in people’s lives,” she said. “If I can do something for someone else, I’ll do it.”

That need to help others compelled Benjamin to serve for two years on USFSM’s Multicultural Affairs Committee and join the Service Saturday campus outreach program.

She also served as vice president of the Latin American Student Association, as co-president of the Hillel Jewish student society and as a student advisor during the recent Alternative Spring Break trip to the U.S.-Mexico border to learn about immigration issues from all perspectives.

She credits her parents for her altruistic side. Benjamin’s family history is steeped equally in education and adventure. Both her mother and grandmother were college graduates. When her mom, a Purdue alum, sought a change in lifestyle after graduation, she flipped open an atlas, closed her eyes and poked a finger onto the map. Opening her eyes, she saw the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Benjamin smiles at the story, while admitting an affinity for both the Caribbean and Florida. “I feel at home in both places,” she said.

As she looks to the future, Benjamin plans to pursue a master’s degree in art history, but first wants to test the job market – perhaps at a nonprofit where she can help others.

“I’m very, very honored to receive the Golden Bull Award,” she said. “I put a lot into what I do every day and to be recognized for it just means the world to me. Maybe I’m doing something right.”

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SPRING 2019 USF SARASOTA-MANATEE AWARDS

PAUL SEARLS WEBECKE AWARD The Webecke Award is presented to one student in the USF Sarasota-Manatee MBA program who embodies the highest principles of leadership. Established by Boar’s Head Provisions, Inc., the award honors Paul Searls Webecke, a USF Sarasota-Manatee MBA student who lost his life just prior to his graduation. Searls Webecke was an outstanding individual with qualities that extended beyond academic excellence. The awardee who exemplifies these qualities is selected by graduates of the current MBA cohort.

JOHN HOLDWAY, COLLEGE OF BUSINESS John Holdway graduated from USF Sarasota-Manatee with a master’s in business administration (MBA) in December 2018 after earning a bachelor’s degree in information technology from USFSM in 2015.

A mechanic at Tropicana Products, Inc., in Bradenton, Holdway also launched a home inspection business, Precision Home Inspection & Property Services, this past spring.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Holdway joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served in Virginia and Washington, D.C., before relocating in 1999 to Miami, where he participated in drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean. He came to Bradenton in 2000.

Holdway opted to pursue higher education as part of a “lifelong dream” to obtain a bachelor’s degree, and later decided to enrich his education with an MBA to help him start his home inspection business. He is a licensed home inspector and is working toward a general contracting license.

“To be voted for this award by my peers is an honor,” Holdway said. “Through my coursework, I’ve worked with some of the most intelligent, hard-working and creative individuals in my life. I’ve learned more from them, my classmates, than I ever could have on my own. This is a great honor and I’m very humbled.”

MERRITT MARTIN USF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CHAIR Congratulations! Today is your first day as a USF alumnus, a distinction you have earned and will proudly hold for the rest of your life. It is a special day for you and the friends and family who supported you.

Since the first graduating class in 1963, USF alumni have brought honor and distinction to the university in many areas, including medicine, business, law, the arts, public service, technology, engineering and education. With each passing year — and graduating class — the university’s stature grows as its alumni are recognized across the state and nation, and around the world.

From this day forward, you will carry on that tradition. Wherever your future takes you, you’ll carry with you the distinguished reputation of a world-class university. I personally invite and encourage you to stay connected to your Alma Mater through the USF Alumni Association. Your membership connects you with your fellow Bulls and creates meaningful ways for all of us to: promote and protect USF, share your USF pride, stay connected and make an impact, and help USF succeed.

Take full advantage of your first year complimentary USF Alumni Association membership by getting involved in your local chapter and your college alumni society.

We are incredibly proud of the accomplishments you and your family celebrate today. With your degree and educational experiences to reflect on, you are now truly Unstoppable!

In Bull Pride,

Merritt Martin, ’04, MPA ’06 Chair, USF Alumni Association 12

CANDIDATES FOR THE MASTER’S DEGREE

CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR’S DEGREE

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Gert-Jan de Vreede, Interim Dean

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Christina Riccobono Michael Roberts Marlena Carolyn Turner Qiufeng Shi Elizabeth Shirey

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

General Business Administration, Marketing, Management

Gert-Jan de Vreede, Interim Dean

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Business Administration Veronica Y. Hernandez Lisa Alexandra Hughes Dean Michael Mackey Ildiko K. Nyeste David Pascual Vinal Patel Rob Tallini Jamie Lee Testa Roger Thomas Walser, Jr.

Accounting

COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY & TOURISM LEADERSHIP Patrick Moreo, Dean

MASTER OF SCIENCE Hospitality Management Luana Nanu

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Judith A Alton Matthew Berube Cynthia J. DeBlock Andrew Joseph Garcia Noel Hilliard Natalie Jaskolski* Xianli Johnson Michael Jones Jordan Laterreur Jonathan Martin Patrick Andreas Pestka Justin Proshka Kelly Rossa Jennifer Trotter** Xiaojia Zhao

Amanda Smith

Accounting and Finance Gustavo A. Delgado*

Management and Marketing

Cybersecurity and Information Technology

Marketing

Angelica Elizabeth Colon

Finance

Jane Rose, Dean

Gabriella Avivi* Ashley Choiniere Jose Antonio Fernandez Suarez Alex Patterson Adam Wilkerson

MASTER OF ARTS Criminal Justice Marissa H. Fleenor Kaitlyn D. Parsons

Education, Online Teaching and Learning

Finance and Risk Management and Insurance

Bailey Beck Briana Elyce Byers Brooke Schulte Olivieri Breanna Renfro

John Raymond Abreu Kastriot Bisheva Kevin Capuri Emilia Davis** Kenneth Graham Megan Griffiths Robert A. Hanna III* Haley Harrison Ryan Nelson Miller*** Fred Odierno

English Education Rebecca Best

Secondary English Education Heather A. Catell

MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING Elementary Education

General Business Administration, Applied Business

Sydney Starcher

MASTER OF EDUCATION

Jacob Blue Michael James Bock Justin Carter Carla Patricia Guerra** Tameka M. Hannon Peter John Lynn Jr. Christian Moreno Hernandez Thomas Niedospial Vincent Paraspolo Krisi Perez

Educational Leadership, Public School Leadership Cindy Fisher Hutchinson

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Management Sherri Jo Connor** Ydelmis Cutino Ciara Marie Finn Megan Griffiths Brent Hurley Vralon Jackson Kayla Kraft Nathaniel Lancaster Cole Mathis Samantha Lynn Rankin* Bradley Schalk Austin J. Wright

Louis Carey Johnna Bakos Margarita Costa Emily Cranmer Brianna Graber Austin Lefebvre Lukas Tobias Oest Taylor Gregory Rahn Alexis Salameh Heinrich Swanepoel* Joanna Velez Jessica Vitale Savannah Ashton Leigh West Raquel Alicia Zegarra Del Valle*

Marketing and Management Bria Lorel Miller**

Risk Management and Insurance and Finance Summer Krizen

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Information Technology, Applications and Mobile Development Sean Patrick Conquest*

Information Technology, General Information Technology Megan Beyerlein Cory Schimmoeller*

Information Technology, Information Security/ Systems Administration Shawn T. Clark Ruben Michael Sanchez Nicholas Tutterow Leander White Ryan Woodson

Information Technology, Technology/Project Management Louis A. Barone III Michaela Clifford Jermain Clive Hyatt

COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY & TOURISM LEADERSHIP Patrick Moreo, Dean

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Hospitality Management Megan L. Carrigan Kayla J. Graham Christine Lamarche Yupeng Liu* Arda Okutur Jason Pabst Kaytlynn Petersen Kyle A. Primrose Anastasia Zoe Taylor Raquel Alicia Zegarra Del Valle*

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED SCIENCE Applied Science, Hospitality Management Erica K. Gomez* Jean A. Guzman Quiles Destynee Pomales

Arnold A. Cervetto III Inesse Chichou Michell E. Escoto Amy E. Holmes Maria De Los Angeles Jaimes Olivia Victoria Kawula Jill E. Keene Allison McBee Lane Michael Moore Jessica E. Novak Kaela S. Owen Anastasiya Zapolskaya

Elementary Education Amber O’Carroll**

English, Literature Carley A. Baker Yolanda Holland Kennedy Kovalick Kimberly A. Nance Dennis Quigley***

History Fay M. Baldwin Cassandra Benjamin* Jeaninne H. Johnson*** Gloria Cristina Lopez Daniel Martinez Arminda M. Mata*** Matthew Burton Mercier** Sofia Ariadna Paschero* Alec Stafford** Jason Wall

Interdisciplinary Education, Education Lyudmila A. Dunchyk** William E. Padelford

Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Criminology, Social Work Lacey L. Davis

Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Environmental Studies Ronald Hans

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Government & Global Affairs

BACHELOR OF ARTS

Patrick J. Keane Catherine Mulcahy Anya L. Pardy*** Richard Ryan Thomas Young

Jane Rose, Dean

Criminology Robert K. Bordin

Carter A. Jones

Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Social Relations & Policy

Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Social Work, Sociology Karen Kay Sutton**

Professional and Technical Communication Sarah Araboghli Shane William Baker*** Victoria P. Barendse** Austin Bartley** Lindsey Ann Carlson Haley Cherry Brett Michael Davis Amanda M. Hassen Seth Joseph Horner Cristyne A. Ramirez Corina Alyse Suarez Janet Elizabeth Wells

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Elementary Education Samantha Haga** Cassandra G. Ham*** Abby M. Hamilton** Logan Elizabeth Harrington** Kelsey A. Hayes Kasey Nicole Helms** Ruth Kolesnikovich** Alyssa A. Krempel* Melissa L. Malatesta Cailei Meluch Jasmar Molina* Nicole C. Padilla** Sierrea J. Passmore** Joel G. Smith* Kimberly Ann Stinton Adrienn Ujvari**

General Studies, Business, Information Technology, Hospitality Ryan Christopher Vella

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS Paul Kirchman, Dean

BACHELOR OF ARTS Psychology Jennifer L. Berg Courtney P. Berkland Samantha L. Boddy Brenna Butler Alana Nancy Cassanelli** Larisa Cholak Genesis Cipriano* Gary R. Clarke Amanda R. Coviello Anna K. Durzynski** Chelsea W. Darden Jessica J. Engel William A. Esposito Stephanie Ferguson Jeremiah S. Finley Jennifer Paola Fuenmayor*** Iliana Garcia Carolyn Herrera** Tristen M. Hynard Zachary Scott Jay Carmen G. Judge Rhonda Linette Kilgore Magdalena Luna Joseph A. Marra Lauren R. Marsh Lexie-Sue Morgan** Kathleen A. O’Grady Lauren Olson*** Cristy D. Owen Alexandra Riano Kaitlyn R. Richman Nevin Dale Riedler Ryoko Sadoshima*** Zoe Eva Skowronski* Lauren Ann Smith Nicole W. TavernierLuebcke Jaina Van Horne Anastasiya Zapolskaya

General Studies, Education, English, Social Work Psychology and Criminology Mariah Sarah Godwin General Studies, Transferred Studies, Business, Hospitality

Sandra Edmarie Sabino

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

Paul Gerard Dabule

Biology

General Studies, Transferred Studies, Business, Professional and Technical Communications

Samantha Cahoone Daniel O. Careaga Debra A. Chestnut Alex Conrad Sondos Odeh Dartawil Mitchell Farmer Ashley Foltz

Taylor R. Wallace

Lauren Christine Gadoury Belen Garcia** Isabella Hetherington Angela Hoti David B. Jones* Teresa Kirshner Julia Lawlor Katherine Rose McClure** Kacey L. Ogline Rachel Iantha Padula Katie Perez** Christopher G. Rodriguez Lauren Anne Scarry Jessica Skinner*** Savannah R. Souders*** Helen A. Stranahan Jaimie A. Tabar Ian A. Thompson* Taylor Lauren Tran Daniel Veitkus Ian Weinstein***

Communication Sciences and Disorders, SpeechLanguage Sciences Shaakurah Khaadijah Abdullah Taylor C. Aleman Morgan Ann Brandt Priscilla M. Cabezas Amanda Mae Chalaire Gabriela Lia Colon-Kaiser Taylor B. Croft Erika Dahl Caitlin L. Dawson Claudia Blaire Dever Thais H. Duncan Suzanne Elliott Lori Feingold Lauren Ferrell Amber Elizabeth Ferrer Paula Fraley Lindsay Franzel Kathryn L. Franzese Jaimie E. Gant Heather N. Hetzel Courtney E. Houston Faith Ivanenko Crystal Gregory Jenkins Kurt R. Lamp Ashley Levy Scott E. Lindgren Emily Rose Lucero Tiffany Manning** Mckenzie L. McCormick Karla F. Perozo Tiffany N. Pitre-Zampol** Melissa E. Prosser Alexandra N. Querci Angel Abel Rivera Rachel E. Stokes Amy Sykes Lynda Werre Angelica Young**

HONORS AT GRADUATION To be considered for honors at graduation, a baccalaureate candidate must have completed at least 40 credits of graded coursework at USF and have earned a grade point average of 3.50 or higher for all graded coursework attempted at USF. In addition, to be eligible for honors, transfer students and USF students who have postsecondary work elsewhere must have an overall GPA of 3.50 or higher counting all USF courses as well as all transferable work attempted at other institutions. * Candidates with a USF GPA of 3.50 or higher and an overall GPA of 3.50 but below 3.70 shall receive a diploma designation of cum laude (with honor). ** Candidates with a USF GPA of 3.50 or higher and an overall GPA of 3.70 but below 3.90 shall receive a diploma designation of magna cum laude (with high honor). *** Candidates with a USF GPA of 3.50 or higher and an overall GPA of 3.90 or above shall receive a diploma designation of summa cum laude (with highest honor).

In addition, each dean has the option to select on the basis of exceptional achievement 1% of the college’s graduates or one student per semester for graduating with distinction.

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Names published in this Commencement program are a list of candidates who have applied to graduate for this term or who have elected to participate in this ceremony. Names may not appear if the application was not submitted by the application deadline or for those who applied to graduate in an earlier term or who plan to apply in a later term.

Names are also not printed for those who elected total privacy on their university record.

The list of candidates in this program is not a certified list of graduates.

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ALMA MATER Hail to thee, our Alma Mater May thy name be told, Where above thy gleaming splendor, Waves the green and gold.

Thou our guide in quest for knowledge Where we all are free University of South Florida, Alma Mater, hail to thee!

Be our guide in truth and wisdom As we onward go, May thy glory, fame and honor Never cease to grow, May our thoughts and prayers be with thee through eternity, University of South Florida, Alma Mater, Hail to thee!

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