2024 2024 2024 2024 2024 COMMENCEMENT
Dear Class of 2024,
Welcome to The University of Texas 2024 Graduation Ceremony! Tonight, we join with your family and friends to celebrate all that you have learned, undergone, and accomplished during your time on the Forty Acres. The University of Texas will forever be a part of your story, and you will always be a part of the story of UT. You have added to our campus community and helped shape the education and experiences of your fellow Longhorns. Our faculty and staff have learned from you as well. Now it is time to leave the student experience in the hands of those who will follow you.
While commencement is a time to reflect on what is behind us, what lies ahead should be our greater focus. It is now time for you to make your impact in the broader world. Impact comes in all different forms and at various times in our lives, but for you, I trust it will come. As Beyoncé sings, “I gave my all, did my best, brought someone some happiness. Left this world a little better just because I was here.” As graduates of one of the world’s great universities, you have a responsibility to leave the world a little better—or maybe a lot better—just as you have left our University better than you found it.
Some of you have well-formed plans, others are trying to decide what is next. Either way, you should all know that not everything will go according to plan. Things change. There will be moments when you fall short, because we all occasionally fall short. What matters is that you continue to move forward.
You will have help along the way, in part because you are joining a network of 570,000 living alumni throughout the world. Longhorns love to help Longhorns, and I encourage you to connect with other UT alumni as you write the coming chapters of your life. Just as our alumni have enriched your experience on the Forty Acres, please remember all that you have to offer future Longhorns.
We are all proud of what you have achieved here at UT Austin. You should be proud of yourself, too, as you reflect on your accomplishments and prepare to look forward. There are endless ways to create a change in the world and we cannot wait to see what changes you will make! And if you fall down along the way, your fellow Longhorns will help you get back up.
Congratulations again! Thank you for the impact you have made on The University of Texas at Austin.
Hook ’Em!
Jay Hartzell, President The University of Texas at Austin
RETIRED MAJOR GENERAL
JEANNIE M. LEAVITT COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
General Leavitt entered the Air Force in 1992 after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University. She earned her commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. She graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training in January of 1993 and became the first female fighter pilot for the United States Air Force in April of 1993 when the Department of Defense changed the combat exclusion policy.
General Leavitt has served in a variety of flying, staff, and command assignments. As Commander, Air Force Safety Center—and Chief of Safety for the Air Force and Space Force—she developed, directed, and evaluated all aviation, ground, weapons, space and system mishap prevention and nuclear surety programs. As Director of Operations and Communications, Air Education and Training Command, she was responsible for providing initial skills, undergraduate flying, post graduate combat crew and supplemental training for more than 300,000 Air Force, Space Force, joint, and international personnel at 65 Air Force and Department of Defense locations.
Other positions General Leavitt held include Air Force Recruiting Service Commander, 57th Wing Commander, Principal Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, 4th Fighter Wing Commander, and Fellow at the Central Intelligence Agency. Additional graduate degrees she earned include a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University, a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University, and a Master of National Security Strategy from the National War College, National Defense University.
Her extensive experience in wartime, contingency and humanitarian relief operations include Operations Southern and Northern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. She is a command pilot with more than 3,000 hours, including 300+ hours in combat. General Leavitt is a graduate and former F-15E instructor pilot of the United States Air Force Weapons School.
General Leavitt was recognized as an Outstanding Young Texas Ex in 1997 and was presented with the 2021/2022 Distinguished Engineering Graduate award from the Cockrell School of Engineering. General Leavitt was also one of six recipients of the UT Distinguished Alumni Award in 2023.
The University of Texas at Austin
Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium
MAY 11, 2024 | 7:30 pm
OPENING PROCESSION
Procession of the Faculty
Procession of Officials and Distinguished Guests
DECLARATION OF THE FORMATION OF THE CONVOCATION
Charles Ramírez Berg
Marshal of the University
University Distinguished Teaching Professor
John M. Dealey, Sr. Professor in Media Studies
Moody College of Communication
PRESIDING
Jay C. Hartzell
President, The University of Texas at Austin
WELCOME TO NEW ALUMNI
Gay Gaddis, B.F.A 1977
President and Chair, Texas Exes Board of Directors
REMARKS ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS
Helen Getachew
2023-24 President, Student Government
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Retired Major General Jeannie M. Leavitt, B.S. 1990
United States Air Force
Texas Exes Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipient, 2023
PRESENTATION OF DEGREE CANDIDATES
Sharon L. Wood
Executive Vice President and Provost
Announcement of ROTC Commissions
Lieut. Col. Timothy R. Jones
United States Army
Professor and Chair, Department of Military Science
School of Architecture
Dean Heather Woofter
McCombs School of Business
Dean Lillian F. Mills
Moody College of Communication
Dean Rachel Davis Mersey
College of Education
Dean Charles R. Martinez, Jr.
Cockrell School of Engineering
Dean Roger T. Bonnecaze
College of Fine Arts
Dean Ramón H. Rivera-Servera
Jackson School of Geosciences
Dean Claudia I. Mora
School of Information
Dean Eric T. Meyer
CONFERRING OF DEGREES
Kevin P. Eltife
Chairman, The University of Texas System Board of Regents
President Hartzell
CONCLUDING REMARKS
President Hartzell
RECESSIONAL
* Enrollment begins Fall 2024
School of Law
Dean Robert M. Chesney
College of Liberal Arts
Dean Ann Huff Stevens
Dell Medical School
Dean Claudia F. Lucchinetti
College of Natural Sciences
Dean David A. Vanden Bout
School of Nursing
Dean Eun-Ok Im
College of Pharmacy
Senior Associate Dean W. Renee’ Acosta
Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
Dean JR DeShazo
Steve Hicks School of Social Work
Dean Allan H. Cole
Graduate School
Dean Sarah Ades
School of Civic Leadership*
Dean Justin Dyer
Jay C. Hartzell President
Jay C. Hartzell
Sharon L. Wood
Sharon L. Wood
Executive Vice President and Provost
President
Darrell Bazzell
VICE PRESIDENTS AND DEPUTIES
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Nancy Brazzil Oakley
Deputy to the President
Amanda Cochran McCall
Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel
James E. Davis
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Chris Del Conte
Vice President and Athletics Director
Tom Dison
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
Richard R. Flores
Deputy to the President for Academic Strategies
Janet Huang
Deputy to the President for Transformation Strategies
Daniel T. Jaffe
Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors
David Livingston
Vice President for Development
Executive Vice President and Provost
Claudia F. Lucchinetti
Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of Dell Medical School
Emily Reagan
Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Andrea Sheridan
Deputy to the President for Governmental Affairs and Initiatives
Daniel T. Slesnick
Interim Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
LaToya C. Smith
Vice President of Campus and Community Engagement
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM BOARD OF REGENTS
OFFICERS
Chairman Kevin P. Eltife
Tyler
Vice Chairman Janiece Longoria
Houston
Vice Chairman James C. “Rad” Weaver
San Antonio
MEMBERS
Regent Christina Melton Crain
Dallas
Regent Robert P. Gauntt
Austin
Regent Jodie Lee Jiles
Houston
VICE PROVOSTS
Sarah Ades
Senior Vice Provost for Graduate and Doctoral Students and Dean of the Graduate School
Tasha Beretvas
Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Sonia Feigenbaum
Senior Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Chief International Officer
Richard J. Reddick
Senior Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Larry D. Singell
Senior Vice Provost for Resource Management
Regent Nolan Perez, M.D. Harlingen
Regent Stuart W. Stedman
Houston
Regent Kelcy L. Warren
Dallas
Student Regent John Michael Austin
The University of Texas Health Science Center
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN STUDENT, FACULTY AND STAFF LEADERSHIP
Dana Sheinhaus
2023-24 President
Graduate Student Assembly
Helen Getachew
2023-24 President
Student Government
Corinne Floyd
2023-24 President
Senate of College Councils
Jennifer Moon
2023-24 Chair
Faculty Council
Ann Sellers
2023-24 Chair
Staff Council
Jessica Toste
2023-24 Chair
Graduate Assembly
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN ADMINISTRATION
MARSHALS FOR THE ACADEMIC PROCESSION
Marshal of the University
Charles Ramírez Berg
Marshals for the General Faculty
Douglas Bruster
Charlotte M. Canning
Juan Dominguez
Marshals for the Platform Party
Janet M. Dukerich
Arthur B. Markman
Marshal for Deans Certifying Degree Candidate
Richard J. Reddick
Marshal for Regents, Distinguished Guests, and Administrative Officials
Richard R. Flores
COLLEGE AND SCHOOL MARSHALS
Graduate School
Marvin L. Hackert
School of Architecture
Charlton N. Lewis
McCombs School of Business
Steven Kachelmeier
Clemens Sialm
Moody College of Communication
Cassandre Alvarado
College of Education
Keryn Pasch
Cockrell School of Engineering
Jean Anne Incorvia
Derek Haas
College of Fine Arts
John R. Turci-Escobar
Jackson School of Geosciences
Daniel Stockli
School of Information
James Howison
School of Law
Elizabeth T. Bangs
College of Liberal Arts
Erika Bsumek
Dell Medical School
Mrinalini Kulkarni-Date
College of Natural Sciences
Carlos Baiz
School of Nursing
Janice Hernandez
College of Pharmacy
Ashley Castleberry
Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
Shannon M. Chapman
Steve Hicks School of Social Work
Jaime Fuentes
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