ONE HUNDRED AND FORTIETH Brigham Young University Marriott Center Thursday, April 23, 2015 Scan this code to download the April 2015 Commencement Program. Use #BYUGrad in your graduation-related posts and photos. Contents Order of the Academic Procession 4 Significance of the Academic Costume 4 Program 5 Commencement Speaker 7 Honorary Doctorates 8 Doctoral Degrees 11 Doctor of Philosophy 11 Doctor of Education 14 Juris Doctor 14 Master’s Degrees 19 Master of Arts 19 Master of Science 22 Educational Specialist 30 Master of Accountancy 30 Master of Business Administration 35 Master of Education 38 Master of Fine Arts 38 Master of Information Systems Management 39 Master of Law 40 Master of Music 40 Master of Public Administration 40 Master of Public Health 41 Master of Social Work 42 Museum Practices Certificate 42 Baccalaureate Degrees 43 David O. McKay School of Education 43 Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology 44 College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences 48 College of Fine Arts and Communications 53 College of Humanities 56 David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies 60 College of Life Sciences 60 Marriott School of Management 66 College of Nursing 71 College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences 72 Scholastic Recognition 75 Graduates with University Honors 75 Summa Cum Laude 76 Magna Cum Laude 76 Cum Laude 78 Phi Kappa Phi 79 Air Force and Army ROTC Graduates 81 College Convocation Schedule 82 Commencement Committee and Line Marshals 83 Academic Procession ORDER OF THE ACADEMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROCESSION ACADEMIC COSTUME President, Board of Trustees, and The significance of the academic Administrative Officers costume is determined especially by the Official Guests sleeves and hoods. Faculty Doctors wear the round bell sleeve; Candidates for Advanced Degrees the gown is faced down the front and Class of 2015 barred on the sleeves with black velvet or color indicating the degree; the doctor’s hood is large. The doctor may choose to wear the gold tassel on the cap. Masters wear the long, closed sleeve, with a slit near the upper part of the arm; the master’s hood is of more moderate size. Bachelors wear the long or pointed sleeve. The color of the tassel indicates whether the degree is in the field of arts (white), fine arts (brown), music (pink), or science (golden yellow). 4 Program Presiding Elder Steven E. Snow, Member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Conducting Kevin J Worthen, President, Brigham Young University Prelude Don Cook, Carillon Brian Mathias, Organ Academic Procession Color Guard, President, Board of Trustees, Administrative Officers, Official Guests, Faculty, and Graduates—from the Smoot Administration Building to the Marriott Center Presentation of Colors Air Force and Army ROTC Welcome President Kevin J Worthen Invocation Rachel Densley, BYUSA Vice President President’s Greeting President Kevin J Worthen Conferring of Degrees President Kevin J Worthen and Brent W. Webb, Academic Vice President Induction into the Alumni Association Terry Seamons, President, BYU Alumni Association Expression from Graduate Ryan Timothy Barrett Conferring of Honorary Degrees President Kevin J Worthen Remarks Robert P. George Remarks Cecil O. Samuelson BYU Women’s Chorus “Psalm 100” Jean Applonie, Conductor by René Clausen Jane Raty and Kiersten Favero, Piano Commencement Address Elder Steven E. Snow Benediction Zachariah W. Pinter, BYUSA Communications Vice President Recessional Brian Mathias, Organ Postlude Ariel Peterson, Carillon 5 Commencement Speaker STEVEN E. SNOW Elder Steven E. Snow was called in March 2001 as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served from 2007 to 2012 as a mem- ber of the Presidency of the Seventy. Currently he is Church Historian and Recorder as well as executive director of the Church History Department. “I love learning the stories of the history of our people,” says Elder Snow. He enjoys exploring recently uncovered records and journals of Church history and also capturing the Church’s international story. “Members outside the U.S. love the history of the Church in North America,” he says, Having always had an active inter- “but they also resonate with the stories est in education, he has an accounting of the pioneers in their own lands.” degree from Utah State University A native of St. George, Utah, Elder and a juris doctorate from Brigham Snow married Phyllis Squire. Sister Young University. “I have felt there Snow says her husband is an excep- was no better cause than furthering tional leader because he loves all opportunities for education among our people. He is interested in hearing children and young adults,” says Elder from all sides and then is able to guide Snow, who has served as president the discussion to a conclusion in which of a school board, chair of the Utah everyone feels they were listened to State Board of Regents, and chair of and their needs were met. This quality the Western Interstate Commission for served him well in his law practice as Higher Education. he often helped clients work through In 2012 President Obama appointed their problems without always having Elder Snow to the advisory council to resort to the courts. on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Elder Snow relishes reading a Partnerships. He is the first Latter-day physical newspaper. He loves the feel Saint to have a seat on this council. and the smell of the news. He also People often tell Sister Snow how enjoys the outdoors, though he has much they enjoy working with Elder found himself hiking miles on a broken Snow because he “gets it.” His love, foot, being caught in a flash flood, or leadership, and friendly nature leave rolling down a sandstone hill. Still, he people feeling valued. Sister Snow says looks forward to each new adventure Elder Snow loves meeting new people with his sons, friends, or grand children. and learning from their experiences. When he is around, his grandchildren We thank Elder Steven E. Snow invariably hear adventurous bedtime for his extraordinary service and stories that feature grandchildren sav- are honored to have him as our ing the day at the last minute. commencement speaker today. 7 Honorary Doctoral Degree George earned a master’s degree in theology from Harvard and a doctor- ate in philosophy of law from Oxford University. He has received numerous honorary doctorate degrees. George often voices his conserva- tive political views through writing, and his byline has landed in many scholarly and journalistic outlets, such as the Harvard Law Review, the Yale Law Journal, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. He has authored and coauthored several books, including Making Men Moral: Civil Liberties and Public Morality (1993) and What Is Marriage? (2012). Through First Things, a political ROBERT P. GEORGE journal and blog, George shows that religious faith has a place in shaping The New York Times calls Princeton public conversation and public policy. professor Robert P. George “the George tackles tough topics and Conservative-Christian Big Thinker.” makes them accessible to political Others have called him “one of the laymen. biggest brains in America.” Through Promoting cooperation among his pervasive and persuasive writings people of faith is a high priority for he has ensured religion and morality George. “I regard it as part of my voca- remain an important consideration in tion as a scholar and as a Christian,” the public conversation. he says. This year he received awards George is the McCormick Professor for his work from Muslim, LDS, and of Jurisprudence and founder and evangelical Protestant organizations. director of the James Madison Program George said these honors mean more in American Ideals and Institutions at to him than others because promoting Princeton University. He is a visiting understanding and cooperation among professor at Harvard Law School believers is such an important part of and has served as chair of the U.S. what he does. Commission on International Religious As a professor, George mentors Freedom. students searching for something George is the eldest of five brothers more in their lives than their own self- from the West Virginia hills. “We were interest. “He leads people to under- quite a rambunctious group,” he says. stand that permanent truths about the He enjoyed a Huck Finn–type boyhood world and the human condition exist that included hunting, fishing, and and that real freedom can’t be had plucking bluegrass music on the guitar unless it is grounded in those truths,” and the banjo—instruments he now says Archbishop Chaput. plays in New Jersey venues such as the For his sharp thinking and abun- Arts Council of Princeton. “He plays a dant influence and for being an edu- mean banjo,” says Catholic Archbishop cator, leader, devout Catholic, truth Charles Chaput, who knows George seeker, and supporter of family values, well. “He is as good on the banjo as he Brigham Young University is pleased is at the podium.” to confer upon Robert P. George the After graduating from Swarthmore degree of doctor of law and moral College and Harvard Law School, values, honoris causa. 8 Honorary Doctoral Degree thirty-nine years of happy marriage,” President Samuelson replied, “and I hope you understand the dynamics. My favorite kind of Jell-O is the kind she puts before me.” Dr. Samuelson graduated from the University of Utah with a medical degree and a master’s degree in educa- tional psychology. After a fellowship at Duke, he returned to the University of Utah to work as the assistant dean of admissions and as a faculty member at the medical school. “He’s darn smart,” said colleague and former University of Utah presi- dent Chase Peterson.