2020-Commencement.Pdf
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SPRING COMMENCEMENT 2020 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS In April 2019, the UTRGV chess team defeated Harvard and other universities to claim its second-straight Final Four of College Chess in New York City. Dear UTRGV Alumni, FIRST-CLASS UNIVERSITY UTRGV recently was ranked the fourth-best college On behalf of everyone at the university, congratulations on your recent graduation! in Texas behind UT Austin, Rice, and Texas A&M by BestColleges.com. You have truly accomplished something remarkable: You have gotten through the most disruptive semester ever in the history of American higher education. Along the way, you STUDENT SUCCESS learned about resiliency and perseverance — important life lessons that will only help you as you embark on your professional career. UTRGV is first among all Texas universities for awarding the most undergraduate and graduate degrees to Hispanics. Chances are, you can probably name a few people who helped shape you into the person you’ve become. Your graduation milestone is also for them. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT In January 2020, UTRGV received the coveted Carnegie UTRGV stands alongside your family and friends with a great sense of pride in your Community Engagement Classification for 2020, which achievement. All the hard work and sacrifices you made have paid off. Though the honors an institution’s commitment to community homework and late-night study sessions are over, the lasting relationships and connections engagement and its collaborations with local, regional, will always remain. state, national and global partners. You are now a UTRGV graduate, and you join a family of over 100,000 prideful and successful alumni across the world. Like those who came before you, you have paved the way for students who will follow in your footsteps. As you begin the next chapter of your life, remember that the stature of UTRGV and the success of future students will be TRANSFORMING significantly enhanced by your success. HEALTHCARE The Office of Alumni Relations invites you to stay connected and share your UTRGV’s School of Medicine currently has 197 medical accomplishments with UTRGV. Follow them on Facebook at UTRGV Alumni and Legacy or students; 200 residents it sponsors in 13 GME programs; email them at [email protected]. 53 Ph.D. scientists; 104 primary and specialty faculty; and 307 community faculty throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Again, congratulations on your graduation. It has truly been an honor to see you reach this goal, and we wish you continued success. Your friends, family, and everyone at UTRGV PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT salute you - V’s Up! UTRGV has received more than $128 million in private fundraising, including: Sincerely, - $38 million from the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation to establish the THRIVE medical hub project. - $15 million from Robert C. Vackar to support the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Guy Bailey, President Entrepreneurship The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - $15 million from the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation to establish the UTRGV Institute for Neuroscience NEW CONSTRUCTION Five new facilities opened since Fall 2018, including the STARGATE Technology Center at Boca Chica Beach. SPRING COMMENCEMENT 2020 ORDER OF EXERCISES THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY ACADEMIC DEANS Welcome and Presidential Remarks .................................................................................................... Dr. Guy Bailey, UTRGV President Mark C. Andersen, Ph.D. ................................................................................................................................................. Dean, Honors College National Anthem ................................................................................................... Amy Whitehouse, UTRGV School for Music Student Steven D. Block, Ph.D. ........................................................................................................................................... Dean, College of Fine Arts Remarks by ............................. Dr. Patricia A. McHatton, Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and P-16 Integration Walter Diaz, Ph.D. .............................................................................................................................................. Dean, College of Liberal Arts Remarks by ............................... Dr. John Krouse, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean, School of Medicine John M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................... Interim Dean, School of Social Work Remarks by ..................................................... Dr. Parwinder Grewal, Executive Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies, Parwinder S. Grewal, Ph.D. ........................................................................................................................................ Dean, Graduate College and New Program Development Lawrence B. Harkless, D.P.M. .................................................................................................................. Interim Dean, School of Podiatry President’s Conferral of Doctoral, Master’s, Baccalaureate and High School Degrees Vivian Incera, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................................................. Dean, College of Sciences Concluding Remarks and Introduction of the Bell Ringer ........................................................... Patricia Alvarez McHatton, Ph.D., John H. Krouse, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A. ..................................................................................................................... Dean, School of Medicine Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and P-16 Integration Ringing of the Bell .................................................................. Briana Renee Cortez, College of Health Professions, Class of 2020 Michael Lehker, Ph.D. .......................................................................................................................... Dean, College of Health Professions UTRGV Alma Mater .......................................................................................................................................................................... UTRGV Choir Lance Nail, Ph.D. ....................................................................... Dean, Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship Ala Qubbaj, Ph.D. ............................................................................................... Dean, College of Engineering and Computer Science RINGING OF THE BELL HONOREES Sharon Radzyminski, Ph.D., J.D., C.N.S., R.N. ..................................................................................................... Dean, School of Nursing Andrea P. Almaguer ......................................................................................................................................... College of Health Professions Alma D. Rodriguez, Ed.D. .......................................................................................... Dean, College of Education and P-16 Integration Madison Kamalani Burkott .......................................................................................................................................... College of Liberal Arts Hieu T. Tran, Pharm.D . ........................................................................................................................................... Dean, School of Pharmacy Briana Renee Cortez ........................................................................................................................................ College of Health Professions Lynn Crismon, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................................... UT Austin, College of Pharmacy Clarissa A. Fausto ................................................................................. Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship Jimena Gamboa ....................................................................................................................... College of Education and P-16 Integration THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM BOARD OF REGENTS Samantha M. Garcia ......................................................................................................................................... College of Health Professions Kevin Paul Eltife ......................................................................................................................................................................................... Chairman Monika Garza .................................................................................................................................................................... College of Liberal Arts Janiece M. Longoria, J.D. ............................................................................................................................................................. Vice Chairman Alda M. Jimenez ....................................................................................................................... College of Education and P-16 Integration James C. “Rad” Weaver ................................................................................................................................................................ Vice Chairman Nahari Yared Leija ...................................................................................................................