COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES FALL 2020 “Go forth with Spartan pride and confdence, and never lose the love for learning and the drive to make a diference that brought you to MSU.” Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. President Michigan State University Photo above: an MSU entrance marker of brick and limestone, displaying our proud history as the nation’s pioneer land-grant university. On this—and other markers—is a band of alternating samara and acorns derived from maple and oak trees commonly found on campus. This pattern is repeated on the University Mace (see page 10). Inside Cover: Pattern of alternating samara and acorns. Michigan State University photos provided by University Communications. ENVIRONMENTAL TABLE OF CONTENTS STEWARDSHIP Mock Diplomas and the COMMENCEMENT Commencement Program Booklet 3 Virtual Commencement Ceremonies Commencement mock diplomas, 4 The Michigan State University Board of Trustees which are presented to degree 5 Michigan State University Mission Statement candidates at their commencement 6–8 Congratulatory Letters from the President, Provost, and Executive Vice President ceremonies, are 30% post-consumer 9 Michigan State University recycled content. The Commencement 10 Ceremony Lyrics program booklet is 100% post- 11 University Mace consumer recycled content. 12 Academic Attire 13 Keynote Speakers Caps and Gowns 14–16 Keynote Speaker Profles Graduating seniors’ caps and gowns and master’s degrees’ caps and BACCALAUREATE DEGREES gowns are made of post-consumer 18 Honors recycled content; each cap and 19 Order of Ceremonies gown is made of a minimum of 20–21 College of Agriculture and Natural Resources 23 plastic bottles. 22 Residential College in the Arts and Humanities 23–24 College of Arts and Letters Recycle Your Cap and Gown 25–26 The Eli Broad College of Business Once all of your favorite photos are 27–29 College of Communication Arts and Sciences taken on campus, please recycle 30 College of Education your gown at the MSU Union 31–32 College of Engineering Spartan Spirit Shop. 33 James Madison College 34 Lyman Briggs College For additional information about 35 College of Music environmental stewardship at MSU, 36–38 College of Natural Science please visit Be Spartan Green at 39 College of Nursing bespartangreen.msu.edu 40–43 College of Social Science 44 College of Veterinary Medicine GRADUATING CLASS RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) DEGREES MSU Alumni Association 45 Reserve Ofcers Training Corps For information, please visit GRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEGREES alumni.msu.edu ADVANCED DEGREES Senior Class Campaign 47 Order of Ceremonies Doctoral Degrees Information is available at 48–52 Doctoral Degrees givingto.msu.edu/senior-gift.cfm 53 Order of Ceremonies Master’s Degrees 54–67 Master’s Degrees MEDICAL DEGREES 68 Doctor of Medicine 68 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine 68 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine LAW DEGREES 69 The Michigan State University College of Law Board of Trustees and Trustees Emeriti 70 Juris Doctor 70 Master of Jurisprudence 70 Master of Laws COMMENCEMENT 71 Commencement Committee VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES ADVANCED DEGREES Friday, December 18, 2020 Masters Degree Ceremony 10:00 a.m. Doctoral Degree Ceremony 2:00 p.m. BACCALAUREATE DEGREES Saturday, December 19, 2020 10:00 a.m. 3 Diplomas will be mailed to degree recipients approximately one month after the end of the semester. Photo above: One of many lanterns seen on campus—the original design dates back to the late 1920s. 2020 FALL COMMENCEMENT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Honorable Dianne Byrum, Chairperson Onondaga Township The Honorable Dan Kelly, Vice Chairperson Clarkston The Honorable Joel I. Ferguson Lansing The Honorable Melanie Foster East Lansing The Honorable Renee Knake Jeferson East Lansing The Honorable Brian Mosallam Dearborn The Honorable Brianna T. Scott Muskegon The Honorable Kelly Tebay Pittsfeld Township Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. Ex Ofcio, President East Lansing Teresa K. Woodruf Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Afairs East Lansing Nakia White Barr Secretary of the Board of Trustees East Lansing ■4 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT FALL 2020 2020 FALL COMMENCEMENT MISSION STATEMENT Michigan State University, a member of the Association of American Universities and one of the top 100 research universities in the world, was founded in 1855. We are an inclusive, academic community known for our traditionally strong academic disciplines and professional programs, and our liberal arts foundation. Our cross- and interdisciplinary enterprises connect the sciences, humanities, and professions in practical, sustainable, and innovative ways to address society’s rapidly changing needs. As a public, research-intensive, land-grant university funded in part by the state of Michigan, our mission is to advance knowledge and transform lives by: • providing outstanding undergraduate, graduate, and professional education to promising, qualifed students in order to prepare them to contribute fully to society as globally engaged citizen leaders • conducting research of the highest caliber that seeks to answer questions and create solutions to expand human understanding and make a positive diference, both locally and globally • advancing outreach, engagement, and economic development activities that are innovative, research-driven, and lead to a better quality of life for individuals and communities, at home and around the world. ■5 The Mission Statement was approved by the Board of Trustees on April 18, 2008. 2020 FALL COMMENCEMENT December 2020 President CONGRATULATORY LETTER DEAR SPARTAN GRADUATES: As one important chapter closes, another Please accept my warmest congratulations on opens and will continue to ofer opportunities your attainment of a Michigan State University for the investment of your attention and degree. It will provide you a lifetime of action. Engage in the joys and challenges benefts, afliations and pride. of life by creatively applying your growing experience and wisdom to each new day Your achievement is even more impressive and, in true Spartan spirit, work to make your given the additional burdens imposed by the community and the world a better place. novel coronavirus this year. Please know all of us at MSU are proud of your accomplishment, I hope you always feel welcome here on the efort and resilience as you’ve worked so hard banks of the Red Cedar and that you will to arrive at this special day. return often. You now join the ranks of more than 500,000 Spartan alumni worldwide, and I Always among my fondest memories are those encourage you to continue participating in the of the interactions I’ve had with students, life of your university through MSU Alumni and even in virtual settings. You and your fellow other activities. students have responded to the challenges in front of you both with individual determination Please accept my very best wishes as you go and a shared sense of purpose to make a forth, go confdently and Go Green! positive diference on this campus and in this world. Sincerely, The future might feel uncertain, but I urge you to have faith in yourself and lean on the many lessons you learned as a student. Your Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. MSU experience has equipped you with a solid President foundation of knowledge, skills and experience Michigan State University from which to proceed in the months and years ahead. 6 COMMENCEMENT FALL 2020 2020 FALL COMMENCEMENT December 2020 Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Afairs CONGRATULATORY LETTER DEAR GRADUATES: continue on the path toward whatever exciting Congratulations to you and your families on future follows this auspicious day. We also the successful completion of your studies and hope that the resilience you have built, the the conferral of your degrees. ways you have navigated decisions that were not your own – but under which you still had As Michigan State University students, you to labor – become strengths of character you have been part of our vibrant community of carry with you long into the future. I know the scholars, united by the values and goals we world is going to need you, and I look forward share to make a positive diference in the to learning of your extraordinary achievements world. While you are now preparing to embark and world-changing accomplishments. on your next adventure, it is my hope that you remain active members of our community, As you and your families celebrate your that you engage with our worldwide alumni success at Michigan State University, I wish you network, and that you come back often to the very best in your personal and professional visit campus in the years to come. In much the pursuits. As our newest graduates, you are same way that you are all lifelong learners, you abundantly equipped to tackle the seemingly are also lifelong Spartans. intractable problems of our day. We are all counting on you to become the thought This past academic year has been like no other, leaders and doers of the 21st century who will requiring us to adjust to a new reality at each lead our world to a better place. turn, and to fnd deeper resilience with each new challenge we have faced. I do not think With my very best wishes, the pandemic that has disrupted our lives so severely this year is the last challenge your generation will witness in your lifetime. I also think that your generation will be called upon Teresa K. Woodruf, Ph.D. to address many future hardships we cannot Provost and Executive Vice President for yet see, or even fathom. Academic Afairs At this time, and at this great university, where Michigan State University your physical health and intellectual health have formed the basis for every decision MSU has made this academic year, we hope our deliberate actions to enable your ability to graduate this year have allowed you to ■7 COMMENCEMENT FALL 2020 2020 FALL COMMENCEMENT December 2020 Executive Vice President for Health Sciences CONGRATULATORY LETTER DEAR FRIENDS: Graduates, you have transformed your hopes Congratulation health college graduates! and dreams into an extraordinary achievement.