Saturday, the Thirtieth of January Two Thousand Twenty-One Honoring the Graduating Classes of Spring Two Thousand Twenty and Winter Two Thousand Twenty-One President's Message Dear Graduates, On this momentous occasion, we gather as one community to celebrate your achievement as graduates of the University of La Verne. Though faced with unprecedented challenges, your hard work and dedication to succeed showcase the best of the institutional values that have been the core of our university for 130 years. As you reflect on your experiences as students, it is my hope that you recognize you have developed the skills necessary to become future leaders of the world. Go forward as distinguished alumni of the University of La Verne dedicated to solving problems, living with purpose, supporting others, and advocating for social justice. Congratulations, graduates! You now join the ranks of more than 85,000 alumni worldwide who hold meaningful careers in nearly every field and sector, in each state of the union, and in 66 countries. We look forward to staying in touch and seeing you bring forth a better tomorrow for us all. Sincerely, Devorah Lieberman, PhD President 2 3 The University of La Verne was founded in 1891 as Lordsburg College complex, which is home to our baseball and softball teams. In 2018, the Historyby members of the Church of the Brethren. Both the college and the central campus opened a new residence hall named Citrus Hall and a agricultural community were renamed La Verne in 1917, and the 1920s dining hall known as The Spot, which, together with Vista, The Oaks, and and 1930s found three-quarters of the student body in teacher education. the Abraham Campus Center, form a burgeoning student village on the south side of campus. Last academic year, the university celebrated the Over the next three decades, campus facilities multiplied fourfold and opening of both the Randall Lewis Center for Well-Being and Research the Board of Trustees became independent of church control. Ultimately, as well as the Ludwick Center for Spirituality, Cultural Understanding, and enrollment surged during this time. In the 1960s, the college awarded its Community Engagement. The centers offer unique spaces for students, first master’s degree, and it conferred its first doctorate in 1979. In 1969, faculty, staff, and the community to collaborate, engage in dialogue, and La Verne began offering degree programs off campus, and the following discover their well-being both mentally and physically. year it opened its College of Law. With its 130th academic year under way, the university continues to In 1977, the college was renamed the University of La Verne. The grow regionally and nationally, while honoring its profound history with university founded its first regional campus in Orange County in 1981, each new class. More than 85,000 proud alumni share a deep-rooted and its San Fernando Valley campus opened in 1983. A decade later, connection to the University of La Verne, and to its mission and values. campuses in Ventura, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties followed, and a separate campus for the College of Law was established in Ontario The university is looking toward the future with a Master Plan for 2030. in 2000. Continuing the trend of improving services to students, La Verne The Master Plan will focus on the future facility and technology needs developed the Central Coast, Bakersfield, and Victorville campuses. of the university, both of which are integral components in continuing to foster the highest-rated, holistic learning experience for our students. The University of La Verne has renovated or newly constructed more than Their academic achievements, social responsibility, commitment to half of its buildings in the past 10 years, creating a dramatic change to improving our local, regional, and global communities, and respect the look of its central campus. Some of the larger scale projects include a for humanity and the planet help to sustain and promote the growing remodeled Sports Science & Athletics Pavilion, the Johnson Family Plaza, academic reputation of the University of La Verne. the Sara and Michael Abraham Campus Center, Vista La Verne Residence Hall, a five-level parking structure, and the Campus West athletics 4 5 It is the mission of the University of La Verne to provide opportunities The University of La Verne shares four core values that promote a positive for students to achieve their educational goals and become contributing and rewarding life for its students through fostering a genuine appreciation Missioncitizens to the global community. Valuesand respect for: The university accomplishes these goals by offering high-quality degree ETHICAL REASONING programs to both traditional-aged and adult learners; by providing liberal The university affirms a value system that actively supports peace with arts and professional programs from undergraduate to doctoral levels; justice, respect of individuals and humanity, and the health of the planet and by delivering programs to students at the La Verne campus as well and its people. Students are reflective about personal, professional, and as regional campuses and satellite class locations throughout California. societal values that support professional and social responsibility. The university provides a student-centered, values-based, and diverse DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY learning environment. It takes pride in offering small class sizes in a highly The university supports a diverse and inclusive environment where personalized setting. The university encourages effective teaching, research, students recognize and benefit from the life experiences and viewpoints scholarly contributions, and service to the greater community by sharing its of other students, faculty, and staff. academic, professional, and individual resources. LIFELONG LEARNING The university promotes intellectual curiosity and the importance of lifelong learning. It teaches students how to learn, to think critically, to be capable of original research, and to access and integrate information to prepare them for continued personal and professional growth. CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT The university asserts a commitment to improving and enhancing local, regional, and global communities. 6 7 COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER College of Law CEREMONY ONE - NINE IN THE MORNING, JANUARY THIRTIETH ORDER OF THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY President Devorah Lieberman, Presiding David M.ATTORNEY Goldstein, Esq. Invitation to Commencement Kevin Marshall The university welcomes David Goldstein as the keynote speaker for the Virtual Invocation Zandra Wagoner Ceremony for the College of Law. Trustee Introduction Jonathan Reed Goldstein has been an attorney for 36 years. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Trustee Welcome Frank Lizarraga University of California, Santa Barbara in 1982 and the juris doctor degree from the University Introduction of University President Jonathan Reed of San Diego College of Law in 1984. He also received a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice President’s Address Devorah Lieberman degree from Claremont Graduate School in 1989. Introduction of Commencement Speaker Kevin Marshall Goldstein began his career as a Deputy District Attorney with the County of San Bernardino and continued his career as a Deputy Public Defender, Commencement Address David Goldstein also in San Bernardino County. He was a founding member of the county’s Public Defender’s Death Penalty Defense Unit. Goldstein later opened Conferral of Degrees Devorah Lieberman a private law practice in Rancho Cucamonga and has tried hundreds of and Jonathan Reed criminal, civil, and administrative cases. Goldstein currently administers the County of San Bernardino conflict panel which represents indigent Introduction of Student Speaker Kevin Marshall individuals who are charged with a criminal offense when the Public Defender has a conflict. Student Speaker Jessica McCauley He is a regular participant in local legal clinics seeking to bridge the gap Announcement of Dean's Award Kevin Marshall in legal services for those who are economically or otherwise challenged. Goldstein has been an adjunct professor of law at the University of La Verne Charge to Graduates Devorah Lieberman since 1989, helping aspiring lawyers to learn legal analysis, criminal law, California criminal practice, trial advocacy, and criminal procedure. Closing Jonathan Reed Alma Mater and Spirit Bell 8 9 DEGREE CANDIDATES College of Law SPRING 2020 JURIS DOCTOR RITE Vasu Goyal Constance Nyers Afsaneh Afzalnia Daniel Gramling Tyler Oldham-Monroe SUMMA CUM LAUDE Jiovanna Aguirre Geneva Gregory Jose Pacheco Kelcey Hoffman Uchechukwu Alozie Natalie-Nojoud Haddad Priscilla Parada Jessica McCauley John Baldwin Jacob Haghnazadeh Samuel Perez Irene Pinon Johanna Boktor Grace Harding Jocelyn Portales BreAnna Bolanos Julie Harris Andy Ruiz MAGNA CUM LAUDE Evelyn Bonilla Joshua Hopps Mary Rynaski Kathryn Cartmel Michael Bruckner Sandra Hwang Marina Saad Heather Razook Vania Caro Victoria Jackson Juanmanuel Sanchez Viktoriya Shalunova Micah Carter Shontel Johnson Priscilla Soules Tiffany Coronel Bijal Joshi Heather Syracuse CUM LAUDE Lauren Cosgrove Zunaira Kerr Mohammad Tabel Emerson Bryant-Tabone Paige DeRogatis Justyne Lewallen Peggy Tapia Danielle Finney Michael Diaz Helen Lole Gina Thomson Willie Radford Edgar Diaz-Niesta Jorge Luzuriaga Mikeo Tretola Irma Rodriguez Evan Dotta Ta'Nekeo Marcus Mario Valladares Maryam Shafizadeh Brian Escalona Andrea Marquez Brian Walker David Weber