49th Annual Class of 2019 GRADUATE HOODING CEREMONY UNDERGRADUATE CEREMONY MAY 22, 2019 | 6:00PM MAY 24, 2019 | 7:30AM SOCCER FIELD SOCCER FIELD 2 w Commencement 2019 CommencementC A L I F O R N I A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y, B A K ER S F I E L D PRESIDENT ZELEZNY A MESSAGE FROM LETTER TO THE GRADUATES CHANCELLOR WHITE TO OUR GRADUATES Dear Graduates: Dear Class of 2019: It is with great pride that I offer my heartfelt Today, you are in many ways different from congratulations for accomplishing this the person you were on your first day on important milestone – graduating from campus. In your time at the California State California State University, Bakersfield. You University, you have transformed from have earned the University community’s someone who learns about innovations deepest congratulations and respect for this in your field into a person fully capable of significant achievement. advancing those innovations. Today is a day of joy and celebration. It Your educational transformation was marks the completion of an amazing spurred by your faculty, who trained you journey, one in which you have overcome to look at the world with a critical eye and countless challenges through your hard work, perseverance, and an open mind. Their efforts were supported by the work of your belief in yourself. In so many ways, you already have established counselors, advisors, librarians, tutors and coaches who created an yourselves as leaders. encouraging environment for you to succeed. All the while, your family, friends, colleagues and loved ones kept you motivated and After today, you will start another journey. Substantial challenges saw you through your academic journey. await you in these exciting and demanding times as you embark on the next phase of your life. I urge you to go forward with Your accomplishment today fills all of them—indeed all of us— confidence because of the skills and the character that you have with pride. developed at California State University, Bakersfield. I encourage you to live a life with meaning and to seek excellence in everything You are now part of the 3.7 million CSU alumni who are powering that you pursue. California, the nation and the world. These alumni are solving our greatest challenges, educating the next generation, fighting for As you celebrate with your friends and family, please also equality and creating new opportunities for economic prosperity. recognize that your success brings a responsibility to serve others, give back and make life better for those in your families and your I encourage you to stay connected to the CSU. Use these communities. Please commit yourselves to becoming engaged, connections—both to your campus and to other CSU alumni—to civic-minded citizens. expand your opportunities and to make a meaningful impact on your community and the world. I also encourage you to support I also encourage you to stay fully engaged with California State the generations who endeavor to follow in your footsteps. University, Bakersfield and join our more than 50,000 alumni and thousands of friends who are working toward a brighter future for The word we use to commemorate an earned university degree CSU Bakersfield, our region and beyond. is “commencement.” This is, of course, deliberate. Today is not an end, but rather a beginning. And as you embark upon your Again, congratulations to the Class of 2019! Please continue to push life’s journey, may your hard work and sacrifices pay dividends far yourself, challenge yourself, think creatively and independently, beyond today’s celebration, both in your life and in the lives of and, most of all, always think big and dream big! those around you. I offer you my best wishes for a successful future. Congratulations, California State University Class of 2019. I look forward to all that you will accomplish. Sincerely, Sincerely, Lynnette Zelezny, Ph.D., M.B.A. President Timothy P. White Chancellor Commencement 2019 w 3 CommencementC A L I F O R N I A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y, B A K ER S F I E L D ASSOCIATED STUDENTS, INC. CSUB ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE To the Graduating Class of 2019: Class of 2019: On behalf of the Associated Students, Inc. Congratulations! On behalf of the more at CSU, Bakersfield, I would like to extend than 50,000 graduates of CSUB, let me be my sincerest congratulations on this the first to welcome you to the family of wonderful accomplishment. Roadrunner alumni. This is one of those days we will remember Today we celebrate your hard work, for the rest of our lives! It may not have tenacity and grit. A college degree is a been easy, and there may have been times remarkable accomplishment. Never lose where we wanted to give up, but we made sight of this fact. No matter what life it through! We did it! This is something to throws your way, this achievement should be proud of. remind you of all that you are capable. But your journey does not end here. Each and every one of you I want to personally invite you to join the CSUB Alumni Association will go off and do wonderful things in life! The struggle is finding and remain connected to our alma mater. Membership is free; all it. Michelangelo once said, "The greater danger for most of us lies you have to do to join is visit our website (www.csub.edu/alumni) not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our and update your contact information. Our Alumni Association aim too low, and achieving our mark." Never settle. Use what you Directors, along with the Office of Alumni Engagement, work have learned here at CSUB to continue to push yourself through tirelessly to offer programs and events for alumni to connect, the new challenges that happen as we enter the next chapter of develop and grow. our lives. In "The Road to Character," author David Brooks writes, “We As your ASI President, I witnessed the countless sacrifices don’t become better because we acquire new information. We and struggles you have gone through to be here today. Even become better because we acquire better loves... Education is a through these struggles, I have witnessed strength and process of love formation. When you go to a school, it should resilience. More importantly, I have seen the selflessness and offer you new things to love.” support to others that you have shown throughout this journey. It is an honor to stand alongside you as a member of the Graduating It is my hope that as you leave CSUB, you take with you more Class of 2019. than information. That you take better, higher loves. And that you possess a desire to grow and contribute to the well-being of our It has been an honor to serve as your ASI President. I cannot wait neighborhoods, cities and world that never ends. to see all the fantastic things that you will accomplish throughout your lives! I am excited to see how you all take what you have Today is just the beginning. learned here and make our world a better place. Again, congratulations on this tremendous achievement! Now go out and continue to push yourselves and change the world! Sincerely, Justin Salters, B.A., Political Science '11 President, CSUB Alumni Association Ashley Schmidt '19 President & CEO, Associated Students, Inc. 4 w Commencement 2019 Graduate and Hooding Ceremony May 22, 2019, 6 P.M. Main Soccer Field Arts and Humanities | Business and Public Administration | Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering | Social Sciences and Education Order of Ceremony Platform Party Prelude Dr. Lynnette Zelezny President CSUB Symphonic Band Mr. John Nilon Alumni Trustee, California State University Processional Mr. Andrew Maiorano, J.D. General Counsel, California State University Faculty Marshals Dr. Anna Jacobsen and Dr. Michael Burroughs Dr. Vernon Harper Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Posting of Colors Dr. Thomas D. Wallace Vice President for Student Affairs CSUB and Kern High School District Mr. Thom Davis Vice President for Business and Police Departments' Joint Honor Guard Administrative Services/ Chief Financial Officer National Anthem Mr. Victor Martin Vice President for University Ms. Madelynn Heiss Advancement Veterans Recognition Mr. Michael Lukens Chief of Staff to the President Dr. Vernon Harper Ms. Claudia Catota, J.D. Chief Diversity Officer and Special Assistant to the President Moment of Silence Dr. David Schecter Vice Provost and Associate Vice Dr. Vernon Harper President for Faculty Affairs Dr. Kathleen Knutzen Interim Associate Vice President Graduation Blessing for Enrollment Management Dr. Michael Burroughs Dr. James Drnek Associate Vice President for Student Welcome and Introductions Affairs Dr. Vernon Harper Dr. Steven Bacon Dean, Social Sciences and Education President’s Address Dr. Robert Frakes Dean, Arts and Humanities Dr. Lynnette Zelezny Dr. Angappa Gunasekaran Dean, Business and Public Presentation of Candidates Administration Dr. Steven Bacon (SSE), Dr. Robert Frakes (AH), Dr. Angappa Dr. Kathleen Madden Dean, Natural Sciences, Gunasekaran (BPA), Dr. Kathleen Madden (NSME) Mathematics, and Engineering Mr. Curt Asher Dean, Walter Stiern Library Conferring of Degrees Dr. Mark Novak Dean, Extended Education & Dr. Lynnette Zelezny Global Outreach Alumni Pinning Dr. Randy Schultz Dean, Antelope Valley Dr. Lynnette Zelezny Dr. Debra Jackson Associate Dean, Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Alma Mater – Long Live CSUB Dr. Matthew Woodman Faculty, Outstanding Lecturer Ms. Madelynn Heiss Dr. Anna Jacobsen Faculty Marshal Closing remarks Dr. Michael Burroughs Faculty Marshal Dr. Vernon Harper Mrs.