2015 Fall Commencement

2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT As graduates gather with family and friends for today’s commencement ceremonies, we reflect on the creation of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the first public university in Texas in the 21st century. On May 22, 2013, the Texas Legislature cast a unanimous, historic vote to create a new university, built on the solid foundations of The University of Texas at Brownsville and The University of Texas-Pan American. Drawing on the legacy institutions’ resources, the new university also would benefit from The UT System’s significant assets. In another unanimous vote, The UT System Board of Regents determined the university would be called The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, a symbolic naming that would reflect the fertile delta along the U.S.–Mexico border and its unique intersection of two cultures. Today, UTRGV is a bicultural, bilingual and biliterate institution, with a School of Medicine that opens in fall 2016. Across disciplines, UTRGV offers educational opportunities never before available south of San Antonio. And those opportunities continue to grow. Faculty and staff are committed to supporting students on their journey. The highest priority at UTRGV is simple: student success. Today, one journey ends. Another begins. 2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT Congratulations to the Class of 2015! You hold the distinction of being the inaugural class to graduate from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and you are part of a historic moment in higher education and the state of Texas. You have made your family and friends extremely proud, and we thank them for providing you love and support throughout this journey. A university is measured by the success of its students. We know that earning a college degree can be challenging, but our students routinely respond with passion, dedication and commitment. Every day our faculty and staff strive to empower our students to reach their potential. The future is bright for UTRGV, and you should take pride that your historic graduation as the first class helped lay an important Guy Bailey foundation for our university. The students who follow in your Founding President footsteps will benefit from expanded educational opportunities that previously were not available in the Rio Grande Valley. Our medical school will transform lives by producing doctors and conducting research on relevant health issues impacting this region. I invite you to stay connected to your university and join our alumni association. As alumni, you can mentor and inspire current and future generations of students and serve as an advocate for your university as it continues to evolve. On behalf of our faculty and staff, we are so proud of you. Congratulations and all the best as you begin the next chapter of your lives. We know you will transform lives. We know you will inspire the world. Guy Bailey Founding President The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT PLATFORM GUESTS Dr. Guy Bailey ...................................................................................................... Founding President Dr. Havidán Rodríguez ........................................................................................ Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Cynthia Brown ................................................................................................. Deputy Provost Dr. Kristin Croyle ................................................................................................... Vice President for Student Success Dr. Ala Qubbaj ........................................................................................................ Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs & Diversity Dr. Theresa Maldonado ..................................................................................... Senior Vice President for Research, Innovation & Economic Development Dr. Janna Arney ..................................................................................................... Chief of Staff and Vice President for Operations Dr. Francisco Fernandez ..................................................................................... Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine Dr. Mark Kroll .......................................................................................................... Dean, Business & Entrepreneurship Dr. Patricia Alvarez McHatton ............................................................................ Dean, Education & P-16 Integration Dr. Miguel Gonzalez ............................................................................................ Interim Dean, Engineering & Computer Science Dr. Dahlia Guerra .................................................................................................. Interim Dean, Fine Arts Dr. Michael Lehker ............................................................................................... Dean, Health Affairs Dr. Parwinder Grewal .......................................................................................... Dean, Sciences Dr. Walter Diaz ....................................................................................................... Dean, Liberal Arts Dr. Dave Jackson .................................................................................................. Interim Dean, Graduate College Dr. Mark Andersen ................................................................................................ Dean, Honors College Dr. Dora E. Saavedra ........................................................................................... President, Faculty Senate Mrs. Rebecca Gadson ......................................................................................... Interim Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Dr. Bobbette Morgan ........................................................................................... Grand Marshal Faculty Senate Representative Dr. Dora E. Saavedra ........................................................................................... Grand Marshal Faculty Senate Representative Mrs. Wilma Mealer ............................................................................................... Grand Marshal Faculty Senate Representative HONOREES Representative Rene Oliveira ............................................................................ Texas State Representative, District 37 Senator Eddie Lucio Jr. ........................................................................................ Texas State Senator, District 27 (Represented by Eddie Lucio III, Texas State Representative, District 38) Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa ........................................................................ Texas State Senator, District 20 Dr. Francisco Cigarroa ........................................................................................ Former Chancellor of The University of Texas System ANNOUNCING THE CANDIDATES Ms. Marcy Martinez ................................................................................................ 9 a.m. CBS4 News Anchor Mr. Oscar Margain .................................................................................................. 2 & 6 p.m. Univision 48/Fox 2 Reporter/News Anchor 2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT ORDER OF EXERCISES PRE-PROCESSIONAL UTRGV Mariachi Aztlán Mr. Francisco Loera, Director PROCESSIONAL UTRGV Wind Ensemble Mr. Albert Lo, Director POSTING OF THE COLORS UTRGV ROTC NATIONAL ANTHEM UTRGV School of Music Students WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, OF GUESTS Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs RECOGNITION OF HONOREES Dr. Guy Bailey, Founding President INTRODUCTION OF ACADEMIC DEANS Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR DOCTORAL, MASTER’S Dr. Mark Kroll, AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREES Dean, Business & Entrepreneurship Dr. Patricia Alvarez McHatton, Dean, Education & P-16 Integration Dr. Miguel Gonzalez, Interim Dean, Engineering & Computer Science Dr. Dahlia Guerra, Interim Dean, Fine Arts Dr. Michael Lehker, Dean, Health Affairs Dr. Parwinder Grewal, Dean, Sciences Dr. Walter Diaz, Dean, Liberal Arts CERTIFICATION OF CANDIDATES FOR DOCTORAL, MASTER’S Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREES Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs CONFERRAL OF DOCTORAL, MASTER’S AND Dr. Guy Bailey, BACCALAUREATE DEGREES Founding President PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS Dr. Guy Bailey, Founding President RECESSIONAL UTRGV Wind Ensemble and UTRGV Mariachi Aztlán COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP The College of Business and Entrepreneurship is composed of the Dean’s Office, School of Accountancy, Department of Economics and Finance, Department of Information Systems, Department of Management Department, Department of Marketing, Department of International Business and Entrepreneurship, and Master’s of Business Administration Program. DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Rosemond Ann Moore Robert Dean Morrison MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY Adam Tracy Lord Anay Martinez Abimbola Ogunnaike MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Graciela Guadalupe Abrego Nicole Englitsch Hector Leal Ana I. Oliveira Antony Joe Sebastian Jessica Ann Adame Giovanna Escalante Yuanqing Li Nagarjuna Prasad Peddabhoini Graciela Sepulveda Juan C. Aguilar Moise Essounga Gloria Angelica Lozano Gabriel Pena Brenda G. Silva Chantal Alaniz Alejandra Flores Daniel Lucio Krystal Perez Arturo Solano Vangie Alaniz Adrian Franco Carlos Rogelio

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