College of Graduate Studies 2021 Commencement

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Midwestern University Tomorrow’s Healthcare Team

College of Graduate Studies 2021 Commencement

Midwestern University • Downers Grove Campus Friday, the Twenty-Eighth of May, Two Thousand and Twenty-One

1 Officers and Administrators of Midwestern University

Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D. President and Chief Executive Officer

Gregory J. Gaus Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Joshua C. Baker, O.D., M.S. Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Optometry, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Education

Mary W.L. Lee, Pharm.D., BCPS, FCCP Vice President, Special Assistant to the President

Dean P. Malone, M.B.A. Vice President, Finance

Angela L. Marty, M.A., PHR Vice President, Human Resources and Administration

Barbara L. McCloud, J.D., M.B.A. Vice President and General Counsel

Kathleen N. Player, Ed.D., M.S.N., M.B.A., M.S.C. Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Medical and Health Sciences Education, and Vice President, Clinic Operations

Kyle H. Ramsey, Ph.D. Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Dental and Graduate Studies Education

2 Officers and Administrators of Midwestern University

Thomas A. Boyle, D.O., M.B.A., FACOEP, FACEP Dean, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Mitchell R. Emerson, Ph.D. Dean, College of Pharmacy Downers Grove and Glendale Campuses

Alicia E. Feis, O.D. Dean, Arizona College of Optometry

Thomas K. Graves, D.V.M., Ph.D., DACVIM Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine

Harold J. Haering, Jr., D.M.D. Dean, College of Dental Medicine–Illinois

Jeffrey L. Jensen, D.P.M., FACFAS Dean, Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine

Lori A. Kemper, D.O., M.S., FACOFP Dean, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

Ross J. Kosinski, Ph.D. Dean of Students and Director of Community Outreach Downers Grove and Glendale Campuses

Fred D. Romano, Ph.D., FASAHP Dean, College of Health Sciences, Downers Grove Campus

Jacquelyn M. Smith, Ph.D. Dean, College of Health Sciences, Glendale Campus

P. Bradford Smith, D.D.S. Dean, College of Dental Medicine–Arizona

Melissa A. Suckow, O.D., FAAO Dean, Chicago College of Optometry

Yir Gloria Yueh, Ph.D. Dean, College of Graduate Studies Downers Grove and Glendale Campuses

3 4 Order of Ceremony

Opening Music Pomp and Circumstance by E. Elgar

Welcome Address Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D. President and Chief Executive Officer

Presentation of Graduates Yir Gloria Yueh, Ph.D. Dean, College of Graduate Studies, Downers Grove and Glendale Campuses

Conferral of Degrees Dr. Goeppinger

Announcement of Graduates Kolla Kristjansdottir, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences Program

Honoring Our Military Graduates

Student Remarks Stephanie Lourdes Echeverria Master of Biomedical Sciences Program

Closing Remarks Dr. Goeppinger

Benediction Dr. Goeppinger

Please share your family hooding photos, and well wishes to your class at the following Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CGSILCommencement2021/ #CGSILGrad2021 #MWUGrad2021

5 College of Graduate Studies Class of 2021

Master of Biomedical Sciences

Fayez Ahmed Frank Valerian Kirk Jeddah, SA Orland Park, IL

Jenan Heba Al-Hadidi Laura A. Linares Proaño West Bloomfield, MI Wheeling, IL

Ala M. Alia Mariangel Morales Homer Glen, IL San Cristóbal, Venezuela

Luis Fred Badang Phuong Nhi D. Nguyen Columbus, OH Milwaukee, WI

Kathy Barnas Hussan Ali Omar Norridge, IL Bridgeview, IL

Kelly Margaret Blucher Miloni Nitin Patel Addison, IL Melrose Park, IL

Fady Emad Botros Meghan Pelehac Mequon, WI Oak Lawn, IL

Stephanie Lourdes Echeverria Zachary Charles Peterson Miami, FL Sioux City, IA

Mostafa Elibiary Shabnam Rashidi Downers Grove, IL Munster, IN

Peter Frank Gallos Greer Elizabeth Russell Lake Villa, IL Burr Ridge, IL

Giancarlo Sergio Garcia Anand Himanshu Sheth Aurora, IL Schaumburg, IL

Nicole Kay Tori Leigh Shock Downers Grove, IL Moline, IL

Jasmeen Sana Khan Oveyaa Vignesh Chicago, IL Skokie, IL

Master of Biomedical Sciences Awards

Tori Leigh Shock Stephanie Lourdes Echeverria Jenan Heba Al-Hadidi Nicole Kay Dean’s Achievement Award Research Award Leadership Award Service Award

6 Midwestern University Downers Grove, Illinois

Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences

Frank Valerian Kirk Lateefat Enitan Adebayo Michaela Kathren Burandt Orland Park, IL Chicago, IL Mount Vernon, IL

Laura A. Linares Proaño Samiha Syeda Ahmed Emma Natalya Camacho Wheeling, IL Orland Park, IL Lockport, IL

Mariangel Morales Salmaan Akhtar Isabela Caulkins San Cristóbal, Venezuela Downers Grove, IL Greenbelt, MD

Phuong Nhi D. Nguyen Haya Alalfi Zeba Chaus Milwaukee, WI Orland Park, IL Skokie, IL

Hussan Ali Omar Alinaa Alsaud Marbella Chavez Bridgeview, IL Aurora, IL Elkhart, IN

Miloni Nitin Patel Juana Amelia Alvarado Zachary Curtis Melrose Park, IL Joliet, IL Bloomington, IL

Meghan Pelehac Noor Abdalla Alyousef John Norman DeFranco, II Oak Lawn, IL Clarendon Hills, IL Palos Park, IL

Zachary Charles Peterson Jared Andrew Ambrose Tylar Louise Dickson Sioux City, IA St. Clair, MI Canton, MI

Shabnam Rashidi Phillip James Andrade Christian John Faber Munster, IN Zion, IL Holland, MI

Greer Elizabeth Russell Rosario Arias Garza Matthew Thomas Feeley Burr Ridge, IL Torreon, Mexico Iowa City, IA

Anand Himanshu Sheth Subhan Ahmed Azmi Audrey Filson Schaumburg, IL Glendale Heights, IL Littleton, CO

Tori Leigh Shock Madelyn Marie Betar Yelena Gritsaeva Moline, IL Hollidaysburg, PA Glen Ellyn, IL

Oveyaa Vignesh Tiffany Nicole Blacklidge Jessica Lauren Halyko Skokie, IL Oak Lawn, IL Mokena, IL

Brooke Thomas Blan Ahmad Hamed Bloomington, IL Roselle, IL

Daidania I. Borges Mohamed Hamka Miami, FL Dearborn, MI

7 College of Graduate Studies Class of 2021

Moe-Myint Han Chaeyeon Kim Tinley Park, IL Mokpo, South Korea

Rachel Han Michael Alexander Kulisz Gurnee, IL St. Charles, IL

Weronika Agnieszka Hanusiak Benjamin Quoc Ly Hoffman Estates, IL Grand Rapids, MI

Sabrina Stagg Heline Daniel James Mackessy Elk Grove Village, IL Columbus, OH

Morgan Nicole Hubbard Pardis Madjidi Saugatuck, MI Marietta, GA

Saad B. Huq Haroon Makhdoom Canton, MI Carbondale, IL

Katie Thao Huynh Wassan Diana Massri Elmhurst, IL Des Plaines, IL

Alex Michael James Andria Nicole Meyer Naperville, IL Wheaton, IL

Elena Jones-Navarro Alexandrea Jaqueline Miller Loxahatchee, FL DeKalb, IL

Muhammad Rubin Judeh Samiha S. Mohammed Burbank, IL Gurnee, IL

Syed Hamza Kashif Fathima I. Z. Mohideen Carol Stream, IL Lincolnwood, IL

Dayton Wesley Kerns Teresa Moreno Harrisburg, PA Romeoville, IL

Reesha B. Kesho Alexander James Morse Portage, MI Mapleton, IL

Muhammad Affan Khalid Arjun Shastid Nandy Orland Park, IL Chicago, IL

Kenneth Ryan Kilver Justyna Natkaniec Peoria, IL Schaumburg, IL

8 9 Midwestern University Downers Grove, Illinois

Chaeyeon Kim Nicole Orzechowski Brooke Victoria Ridlen Mokpo, South Korea DeKalb, IL Western Springs, IL

Michael Alexander Kulisz Tariq Yousef Ouri Rania Atiyeh Salem St. Charles, IL Orland Park, IL Homer Glen, IL

Benjamin Quoc Ly Keshav Parthasarathy Ashley Michelle Samuelsohn Grand Rapids, MI Palatine, IL Northbrook, IL

Daniel James Mackessy Vishal Patel Alyssandra Segoviano Columbus, OH Mount Prospect, IL Berwyn, IL

Pardis Madjidi Julia Nicole Petroff Bhakti Jitendra Sevak Marietta, GA Northville, MI Canton, MI

Haroon Makhdoom Vamsikrishna Pisipati Aneri Nitish Shah Carbondale, IL Downers Grove, IL Buffalo Grove, IL

Wassan Diana Massri Roman S. Poon Anuj P. Shah Des Plaines, IL East Moline, IL Palatine, IL

Andria Nicole Meyer Isabelle Samone Pruitt Hilmy Shahbain Wheaton, IL Byron, IL Willowbrook, IL

Alexandrea Jaqueline Miller Amit Puranik Sophia Jiyoon Sim DeKalb, IL Aurora, IL Chesterton, IN

Samiha S. Mohammed Jumana Ameen Quafisheh Laura Swenson Gurnee, IL Plainfield, IL Winnetka, IL

Fathima I. Z. Mohideen Isam Quraishi Eric Xue Lincolnwood, IL Naperville, IL Chicago, IL

Teresa Moreno Joshua Lafon Reese Allen Jong-Wei Yu Romeoville, IL Paducah, KY Naperville, IL

Alexander James Morse Mapleton, IL

Arjun Shastid Nandy Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences Awards Chicago, IL Michael Alexander Kulisz Vishal Patel Alinaa Alsaud Weronika Agnieszka Hanusiak Justyna Natkaniec Dean’s Achievement Award Research Award Moe-Myint Han Ashley Michelle Samuelsohn Schaumburg, IL Leadership Award Service Award

9 10 Academic Regalia and Processional Gown The gown is the cornerstone of the academic costume that has its origins in 12th and 13th century Europe, a period when universities were being formed. Today, Midwestern University follows guidelines established by the American Council on Education. All graduates wear black gowns, with the front panels of the doctoral gown trimmed in black velvet. Each sleeve of the doctoral gown is adorned with three bars of black velvet with bell-shaped wrist ends. The master’s gown is unadorned, with the wrist ends of the sleeve open oblongs that extend beyond the hand.

Chicago College of College of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine–Illinois Osteopathic Medicine Occupational Therapy Program Discipline Color: Lilac Discipline Color: Kelly Green Discipline Color: Sage Green Liner Color: Navy Liner Color: Black Liner Color: Navy Chevron Color: Gold Chevron Color: Gold Chevron Color: Gold Chicago College of Optometry Chicago College of Pharmacy College of Health Sciences Discipline Color: Seafoam Discipline Color: Olive Clinical Psychology Program Liner Color: Navy Liner Color: Light Purple Discipline Color: Gold Chevron Color: Gold Chevron Color: White Liner Color: Navy Chevron Color: Gold College of Graduate Studies College of Health Sciences Biomedical Sciences Program Physician Assistant Program College of Health Sciences Discipline Color: Gold Discipline Color: Gold Speech-Language Pathology Program Liner Color: Navy Liner Color: Navy Discipline Color: Crimson Chevron Color: Gold Chevron Color: Gold Liner Color: Navy Chevron Color: Gold College of Health Sciences Physical Therapy Program Discipline Color: Teal Blue Liner Color: Navy Chevron Color: Gold

Presidential Medallion The official symbol of authority of the office of the President of Midwestern University is the presidential medallion. Worn around the neck of the President at all University commencements, the medallion, imprinted with the University seal, is attached to a chain of office featuring tiles with the names of all nine leaders of MWU and its Founding College. The 24-karat gold-plated medallion and its chain were originally crafted in 1988 for the inauguration of the first President of the newly established Midwestern University. A new medallion was crafted in 1995 for the inauguration of Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D., the ninth University President, featuring the seal of Midwestern University on the obverse. In 2003, a new University seal was created, which still retains elements of the 1995 redesign, namely, the Bell Tower, representing the focal point of the Downers Grove Campus; the Staff of Asclepius, the symbol of the medical profession; Trees, symbols of learning with branches representing the many educational opportunities available at MWU; and the Date of 1900, the year the first college of the University was founded. Engraved on the nine golden tiles that comprise the 36-inch chain are the names of the current President and her eight notable predecessors.

Midwestern University Coins A custom minted coin is a military tradition to recognize achievement, create incentive, improve safety, or show appreciation for duty, dedication, or a job well done. Midwestern University proudly presents graduates who are in the military or entering the military following graduation with a coin to honor their service to our country.

11 History of Midwestern University

Midwestern University has a proud and impressive history. Founded in 1900 as the American College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery by J. Martin Littlejohn, Ph.D., D.O., M.D. (1865–1947), the organization was incorporated in Chicago, Illinois, to train physicians in a not-for-profit environment.

Dr. Littlejohn hired talented faculty that enabled the College to establish a reputation as a leader in medical education, research, and clinical practice. The early faculty mentored their students in the art and science of osteopathic medicine while teaching surgery, the principles and practices of osteopathic medicine, anatomy, and basic science.

The growth of the osteopathic college is intertwined with that of the osteopathic medical profession itself. Ever since 1874 when a country doctor, Andrew Taylor Still, announced his new theory of treating patients and began the first college in 1892, the profession has grown in reputation and acceptance around the country and international settings.

The Downers Grove Campus was purchased in 1986, and the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine moved from its prior home in Hyde Park, Illinois, to this western suburb of Illinois. Following the relocation of the College, the Board of Trustees voted to begin the development of new academic programs within the health sciences including the College of Pharmacy (1991) and the College of Health Sciences (1992). In 1993, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved a single educational mission for the institution, and Midwestern University emerged. The Downers Grove Campus has since expanded to include the College of Dental Medicine– Illinois (2009), the Chicago College of Optometry (2014), and the College of Graduate Studies (2018). The Downers Grove Campus, located on 105 acres, has buildings that include academic classrooms, laboratories, a state-of-the-art library and auditorium building, and student housing. The Midwestern University Multispecialty Clinic was established in 2013 and includes the Dental Institute, a Family Medicine Practice, the Speech-Language Institute, the Physical Therapy Institute, the Eye Institute, and other health services designed to meet a wide range of healthcare needs.

The Glendale Campus was established in 1995 when the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of land and the building of a new campus in Arizona. The Glendale Campus is home to the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (1995), the College of Health Sciences (1996), the College of Pharmacy (1998), the College of Dental Medicine–Arizona (2006), the Arizona College of Optometry (2008), the College of Veterinary Medicine (2012), the College of Graduate Studies (2018), and Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine (2020). The campus has seen rapid growth in the number of buildings, academic programs, faculty, staff, and students. The Glendale Campus, located on 156 acres, has buildings that provide for academic classrooms, state-of-the-art laboratories, and student housing. Five Midwestern University Clinics provide quality care for the community: the Multispecialty Clinic, which opened in 2007; the Dental Institute and the Eye Institute, which opened in 2010; the Animal Health Institute—comprised of the Companion Animal Clinic (opened 2014), Equine and Bovine Center (opened 2015), and Diagnostic Pathology Center (opened 2016); and the Therapy Institute, which opened in 2020.

Midwestern University is still governed by the strong principles of the founding administration and faculty. An independent, not-for-profit corporation organized primarily to provide graduate and postgraduate education in the health sciences, the University is dedicated to the education and development of its students, faculty, and staff in an environment that encourages learning and personal development.

Midwestern University Tomorrow’s Healthcare Team Downers Grove Campus 555 31st Street | Downers Grove, IL 60515 www.midwestern.edu