WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT december 21, 2019 A Alma Mater by Louis Corson Alma, our Alma Mater, The home of Mountaineers. Sing we of thy honor, Everlasting through the years. Alma, our Alma Mater, We pledge in song to you. Hail, all hail, our Alma Mater, West Virginia “U.” A Congratulations from President Gee December 2019 Congratulations on reaching a life-changing milestone. Hard work and perseverance have taken you far. But as the word “commencement” implies, your real journey is only now beginning. Life is about finding your purpose and making sure your choices serve that purpose. Is your goal healing the sick? Inspiring others with your artistic vision? Shattering the status quo with the next high-tech innovation? Whatever path you choose, Mountaineer determination will guide you to ever-higher summits. The unique skills and strengths you honed here will drive you onward. The hopes and goodwill of 200,000 other West Virginia University graduates will sustain you. And your own inner calling will lead you to the perfect destination. Your purpose is calling. Our world is waiting. Let’s go! Sincerely, E. Gordon Gee President, West Virginia University 2 | COMMENCEMENT 2019 Table of Contents 4 Information for Graduates and Guests 5 Commencement Traditions MORNING CEREMONY 6 Commencement Speaker 7 Order of Exercises 8 Eberly College of Arts and Sciences 17 John Chambers College of Business and Economics 22 Reed College of Media AFTERNOON CEREMONY 26 Presidential Honorary Degree Recipient 27 Order of Exercises 28 Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources 37 College of Creative Arts 40 College of Education and Human Services 44 College of Law 45 College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences 47 Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design 52 School of Dentistry 53 School of Medicine 56 School of Nursing 58 School of Pharmacy 59 School of Public Health 61 Congratulations from the Alumni Association 62 West Virginia University Governance COMMENCEMENT 2019 | 3 Information for Graduates and Guests AMBASSADORS AND VOLUNTEERS of degrees awarded. Participation in private and secure and will be sent Student Ambassadors and University Commencement does not constitute to the email address indicated by the volunteers are available to assist you. graduation from West Virginia graduate. Visit gradimages.com for Look for individuals wearing West University. Students who have met complete information. Virginia University name tags. the academic criteria required for their program of study will have their SURVEY ACCOMMODATIONS degree conferred by the University Following the ceremony, please take If you made arrangements with and will receive their diploma in the a moment to share your opinion the Office of Accessibility Services, mail. Please contact the Office of the of WVU Commencement. Your please follow the instructions that University Registrar at 304-293-5355 responses will be used to strengthen were provided to you. If you did or [email protected] and shape future events: not make arrangements prior to with questions. graduation.wvu.edu. Commencement, a staff member from the Office of Accessibility EMERGENCY INFORMATION West Virginia University is a tobacco- Services will be happy to assist you. In an emergency, event staff will free campus. Accessible seating is available on a guide guests and graduates to the first-come, first-served basis. nearest exit. If medical attention is needed, EMS is available to COURTESY assist. Please seek out a Student West Virginia University asks Ambassador or other volunteer to that guests remain in their seats. assist you. For the safety and security of the participants, guests are not FLORAL SALES permitted to approach the stage to Proceeds benefit West Virginia take personal photos of, present gifts University’s Horticulture Club and to, or congratulate the graduates. Plant and Soil Sciences Club. Air horns or other noise-making devices should not be used. Please LOST AND FOUND turn your cell phone to “silent” Please call 304-293-7132 to make and remember that graduates will inquiries about any lost and found remain with their class for the items. Unclaimed items will be duration of the ceremony. Your retained for 90 days. cooperation is appreciated. PHOTOGRAPHY DIPLOMAS West Virginia University contracts Names listed in this program are with GradImages to capture the taken from applications for graduation special memories of Commencement. made to the West Virginia University A photograph of each student will be Office of the University Registrar. taken as he or she crosses the stage. Registration for graduation does Graduates will be sent electronic not ensure that graduate names copies of their photo proofs within appear in this program, and this 48 hours of their ceremony. All document is not an official record electronic communication will be 4 | COMMENCEMENT 2019 Commencement Traditions west virginia university seal garb. The head covering of modern for the school’s relics, including The West Virginia University Board academic costume was developed the mace and batons. Marshals are of Regents adopted the seal on June from the skullcap worn by the clergy typically members of the faculty. 15, 1869. The Regents’ original, in cold weather to protect their Student marshals may be selected to handwritten resolution is located tonsured heads. At universities, this help facilitate individual ceremonies. in the University Archives at the skullcap acquired a point on top, Wise Library. The Greek motto which gradually evolved into a tassel. inscribed in the inner circle translates The bonnet with tassel is still worn to: “Add to your faith virtue and by some, but the mortarboard is grand marshal to virtue knowledge.” The Latin more common. Chad N. Proudfoot verse inscribed on the outer circle The gown worn today evolved translates to: “Seal of the West from the habit worn by Benedictine university marshals Virginia University. Established 7 monks. No trimming is found on Kashy Aminian February, 1867.” The hills depicted bachelor’s or master’s gowns, but Ilkin Bilgesu behind Woodburn Circle reflect the for those holding doctoral degrees, Matthew Blommel institution’s stability, and a rising the gown is faced down the front and Clifton Bishop sun indicates its prosperity. trimmed on the sleeves with velvet. Jessica Bishop Today’s hood is colored according Damien Clement A to the scholarly field of the individual Amy Fiske and bears the official colors of the Aaron Gale west virginia university mace institution that conferred the degree. Robert Gerbo The mace is a symbolic tradition Margaret Glenn that originated during the Middle A Lora Graves Ages. The University Marshal brings Joe Hagan this ornamental staff of authority west virginia university General McArthur Hambrick to the platform and taps it three academic processional Mark Jerabek times to signify the beginning of the The sequence of the processional is Hillar Klandorf ceremony. It represents the official as follows: deans, degree candidates, Kevin Larkin authority of the University president faculty, platform party, honored Michael McCawley and precedes him or her during guests, and University president. Marjorie McDiarmid Commencement and inauguration. Susan Morgan A Joy Maramba A Graham Peace west virginia university Jeffrey Petersen west virginia university marshals Susan Pinto academic regalia The tradition of academic marshals Charles Ponte The history of academic regalia worn comes from storied English Jessica Queener today dates to the Middle Ages. universities. The Grand Marshal Andrew Shiemke The oldest universities of northern is the chief protocol officer who Mary Strife Europe evolved from ecclesiastical coordinates the ceremonial traditions Gary Winn institutions where both faculty and of Commencement, including the students were regarded as part of processional and recessional. The the clergy and dressed in clerical Grand Marshal is also responsible COMMENCEMENT 2019 | 5 Commencement Speaker Born and raised in Charleston, and went on to receive an AAS nesha sanghavi WV, Nesha founded UG Apparel degree in Fashion Marketing. shortly after graduating from In 2009, Nesha received her WVU with a degree in finance first university licensing contract Nesha Sanghavi is the owner and and economics. She was inspired and since then has become a force president of women’s collegiate to create her company during her in the women’s sports licensed clothing brands UG Apparel and many trips across the country as a apparel industry, growing her brand chicka-d, which hold licensing WVU varsity cheerleader, where she to include 250 university licensing contracts for 250 universities and noticed a lack of feminine appeal in contracts. In 2019, UG Apparel can be found in more than 500 WVU logoed clothing, and saw an acquired women’s apparel company, retailers across the U.S. She is opportunity to introduce fashion to chicka-d. UG Apparel and chicka-d a 2008 West Virginia University the collegiate apparel market. have offices in West Virginia, graduate of the College of Business After graduating, Nesha worked Chicago and Texas. and Economics, Magna Cum Laude as a financial analyst in Pittsburgh, and was named West Virginia’s while also building UG Apparel. 2016 Young Entrepreneur of the Before long, she pursued her true Year. In 2019, she was inducted passion for collegiate fashion and into the Chambers College Roll left her finance job to attend top of Distinguished Alumni as the design school