2020 Commencement Exercises of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler

Commencement Exercises of

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT TYLER Friday, September 11, 2020 | 6:00 p.m.

Virtual Ceremony Tyler, Texas

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM BOARD OF REGENTS

Officers Kevin P. Eltife, Chairman Janiece Longoria, Vice Chairman James C. “Rad” Weaver, Vice Chairman

Members with term set to expire February 2021 Regent David J. Beck Regent R. Steven Hicks Regent Nolan Perez Members with term set to expire May 2021 Student Regent Patrick O. Ojeaga, II Members with term set to expire February 2023 Chairman Kevin P. Eltife Vice Chairman Janiece Longoria Vice Chairman James C. “Rad” Weaver Members with term set to expire February 2025 Regent Christina Melton Crain Regent Jodie Lee Jiles Regent Kelcy L. Warren Each Regent’s term expires when a successor has been appointed, qualified and taken the oath of office.

The Student Regent serves a one-year term.

Executive Officer Chancellor James B. Milliken, JD The University of Texas System

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT TYLER

Executive Committee Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP

Kris Kavasch

President & Chief Executive Officer

Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer

Joe Woelkers, MA Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Business Officer

John Yoder

Jeffrey Levin, MD, MSPH, PhD, DrPH

Cynthia Scott

Provost & Sr. Vice President, Academic Affairs

Vice President, Information Technology & Chief Information Officer

Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources

Carl Baranowski, JD Steven Idell, MD, PhD Sr. Vice President, Research & Graduate Studies; Dean, School of Medical Biological Sciences

Steven Cox, MD, FACS Senior Vice President, Clinical Affairs; Chief Medical Officer & Physician in Chief

Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Legal Affairs

Daniel Deslatte, MPA, FACHE Sr. Vice President, Business Affairs & External Relations

Gerald R. Ledlow, PhD Dean, School of Community and Rural Health

Academic Administration Pierre Neuenschwander, PhD Sr. Associate Provost

Mickey Slimp, EdD Associate Provost, Teaching, Learning & Technology

Kent L. Willis, PhD Associate Provost, Institutional Effectiveness & Engagement

Martha Weatherly, PhD Interim Associate Provost, Distance Learning

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT TYLER Order of Exercises Pomp & Circumstance The National Anthem Invocation

Rev. Jack Voss Director of Pastoral Care, UT Health East Texas

Welcome

Vanessa Casanova, PhD Ceremonial Macebearer

Opening Remarks

Joseph Woelkers, MA Executive Vice President, COO & CBO, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler

Address by the President

Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP President, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler

Recognition of Degrees

Pierre Neuenschwander, PhD Sr. Associate Provost

Presentation of Degree Candidates

Steven Idell, MD, PhD

Presentation of Degree Candidates

Gerald Ledlow, PhD

Conferring of Degrees

Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP

Sr. Vice President, Research & Graduate Studies; Dean, School of Medical Biological Sciences

Dean, School of Community and Rural Health

President, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler

Message from Alumni

Francisco Parra, MPH Class of 2019

CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES

Order of Exercises (Cont.)

Benediction

Rev. Jack Voss Director of Pastoral Care, UT Health East Texas

Musical Recessional

Commencement Marshals, Kent L. Willis, PhD, and Torry Tucker, PhD

School of Medical Biological Sciences Dean, Steven Idell, MD, PhD

Master of Science in Biotechnology Sandra Davis

Joshua Kleam

Tyler, TX

Chapel Hill, TX

Kristin Dean

Ranisha Logan

Troup, TX

Brooklyn, NY

Christian De Vera

Adrian Maples

Naga City, Philippines

Henderson, TX

Rebekah Emerine

Madeline McAllister

Bullard, TX

Abilene, TX

Kelsey Howard

Danna Morris

Nacogdoches, TX

Bristol, VA

CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES (CONT.)

School of Community and Rural Health Dean, Gerald Ledlow, PhD

Master of Public Health Abygayl Alvarez

Valerie Smith

Lindale, TX

Dallas, TX

Cindy Crye

Dana Smotherman

Jefferson, TX

Winona, TX

Celeste Fisher

Michael Wirsching

Tyler, TX

Laredo, TX

Sandra Perez

Lela Wolfe

Harlingen, TX

Alba, TX

Shelbie Powell

Ashiq Zaman

Tyler, TX

Norman, OK

Degrees will be officially conferred to candidates for graduation who have met all requirements. Individuals identified in this commencement booklet do not constitute official representation of degree completion.

Upon the recommendation of the faculty of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, and by the authority vested in the faculty and dean by the Regents of The University of Texas System, degrees will officially be awarded to candidates who satisfy all requirements.

Academic Heraldry and Regalia Although the people, places and styles have changed, you are about to participate in a reenactment of a ceremony that has existed for nearly nine centuries: the recognition of academic achievement.

The tradition of recognizing academic accomplishment with ceremony, bright color and distinctive dress is an exercise that has existed through the ages. Although the commencement ceremony and academic costume of most colleges and universities in the United States today are guided by a 20th century standard, their roots are found in the development of the universities during the Middle Ages. The medieval universities of Western Europe, such as Paris, Bologna, Cambridge and Oxford, have provided us with an institutional format — the university structure; a measure of progress — degrees; and a ceremony of achievement — commencement.

The academic hood is derived from the cloak, which was worn over the gown in medieval times. Attached to the cloak at the back of the neck was a cowl hood, which hung down or could be pulled over the head for warmth. Over time, this hood became a separate article, worn over the shoulders and hanging down the wearer’s back. With the coming into fashion of caps and hats during the 15th century, the hoods soon became more ornamental than functional.

Whereas it is generally understood that gowns were necessary for warmth and hoods covered the academic clerics’ tonsured heads in Europe, the American tradition today has evolved toward individual expression of the institution. Although the style of the hood is not unique to each institution, the combinations of colors and chevrons have been standardized in the United States for nearly 100 years. The satin colors of the hood lining represent the institution conferring the degree. The academic colors for all components of The University of Texas System are orange and white. The color of the academic hood’s velvet trim is distinctive of the degree earned, as is the tassel on the cap.

Historical associations of color continue to signify the various faculties and generally carry the traditions established by their early English counterparts. The green of medicinal herbs immediately identifies a medical degree. Philosophy is signified by dark blue, the traditional color of truth and wisdom. The wealth of information earned through research in science is represented by golden yellow. The arts, letters and humanities are represented by the purity of white.

History of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler The site where the university stands today — 614 acres located northeast of Tyler, Texas — is rich in history. It was activated in 1943 as Camp Fannin, a World War II infantry training base where more than 100,000 men were prepared for combat. During the height of the war, troop capacity was slightly over 18,000 soldiers. The camp hospital had 1,074 beds. The camp also served as a prisoner-of-war camp.

The genesis of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler was established in 1947, when the 50th Texas Legislature chartered it as the East Texas Tuberculosis Sanatorium. It was later designated as the East Texas Tuberculosis Hospital. In 1971, the 62nd Texas Legislature renamed the institution as the East Texas Chest Hospital and designated it as a primary referral facility in Texas for treatment of pulmonary and heart diseases. In 1977, the institution joined The University of Texas System, becoming The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler. The late State Senator Peyton McKnight of Tyler sponsored a bill that transferred the East Texas Chest Hospital from the Texas Department of Health to the UT System. The primary mission of this academic medical center, governed by the UT System Board of Regents, was three-fold: patient care, research and education in the treatment of pulmonary and heart diseases.

In education, a Family Practice Residency Program opened in 1985. It was the first graduate-level medical training program in East Texas. In 1993, the 73rd Texas Legislature established the Center for Pulmonary and Infectious Disease Control (CPIDC) on the health center campus.

An Occupational Medicine Residency Program began in 1995, and the university partnered with Stephen F. Austin State University to offer master’s degrees in both environmental science and biotechnology.

To further its educational mission, the 79th Texas Legislature gave degree-granting authority to UT Health Science Center at Tyler in 2005.

This was followed in 2008 by the UT System Board of Regents’ approval of the addition of “Science” into the institution’s name to officially become The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler.

In 2012, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board officially approved the establishment of the School of Medical Biological Sciences at UT Health Science Center at Tyler and the master’s degree program

History of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (Cont.) in Biotechnology — the first degree-granting program at the university.

Its first cohort of students was welcomed in August 2012. In December 2015, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting, higher-education institutions in the southern states) accredited The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler at the master’s degree level.

Professional Pledge I pledge and commit myself to the ethical, responsible and diligent practice of my profession. I will respect and uphold the laws that govern my profession and adhere to its ethical principles.

I. pledge faithfully to honor the inherent dignity of all, to treat those who depend on my help with respect, consideration and appreciation for our diversities.

I pledge always to protect the rights and confidentiality of those who seek my help and to act only for their benefit. I pledge continually to strive to learn, to further my professional competence and to share my knowledge with those who seek it.

I pledge always to serve to the best of my ability, to conduct myself with dignity and to place service to humankind before personal or material gain. With honor and pride, I commit myself to my profession.

Commencement Committee Sarah Buchanan Marketing & Communications Specialist Noah Burwell Academic Outreach Coordinator Katie Hall, MBA Manager, Administration, Admissions & Enrollment Jeff Johnson Sr. Digital Communications Specialist Carson Perry, MS Senior Academic Advising Coordinator Christina Tuell, MS Program Manager, Student Services Kent L. Willis, PhD Associate Provost, Institutional Effectiveness & Engagement

11937 U.S. Hwy. 271 Tyler, Texas 75708 uthct.edu