APRIL 2020 COMMENCEMENT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT M. ROY WILSON Dear graduate, Congratulations! Graduating from Wayne State University is a major achievement, so take time to recognize all the hard work and perseverance it took to get here. This year’s graduation celebration looks different than it has in other years, but your accomplishments are in no way diminished because of it. As you reach this milestone, I’m confident your time at Wayne State has prepared you to reach many more. You’ve shown, through your flexibility and grace during difficult and unanticipated challenges, that you are well equipped to succeed in an ever-changing and diverse world. You’ll certainly benefit from your many hours of study, and from the opportunities you’ve had to engage with the world outside the classroom, from our campus in Detroit. This gives you a distinct advantage. Yet, the richest reward of your time here at Wayne State may be the wisdom you’ve gained that has made you a productive, compassionate and thoughtful citizen committed to making a difference in your community. Wayne State has asked a lot from you, not the least of which was to be the best student you could be. Today, we ask for one more thing: Keep in touch. Stay engaged with the university, and help a new generation access the transformative opportunities you have had here. We trust that your experience at Wayne State University has kindled a lifelong passion for learning. So instead of goodbye, I’ll say, “Until we meet again.” Best wishes to you and to the entire class of 2020. M. Roy Wilson President Wayne State University 2020 Commencement 2 APRIL 2020 COMMENCEMENT RECOGNITION for ACADEMIC “HYMN to WAYNE” ACHIEVEMENT To thee, our Alma Mater, Homage we bring. Students who attain high scholastic achievement Brave hearts raise grateful voices are denoted by an asterisk after their name. The Thy praise to sing. official list of graduates cited for cum laude (*), Young art thou, young and strong; magna cum laude (**) or summa cum laude (***) Renowned shalt thou live, and long; will be compiled subsequently and their diplomas Honors to thee will throng- will carry the appropriate notation. This practice is And Fame to thee cling. observed at the undergraduate level only. We laud thee, Alma Mater, Students who have achieved distinction by Guardian of Right. completing the requirements for department Thou art our guide, our mentor- and/or university honors are designated in the Thy name shines bright. program book by (DH) for department honors Keep Learning’s light aflame, and/or (UH) for university honors. Their diplomas And hold Truth a sacred name, acknowledge these scholastic achievements. Honor, thy steadfast aim. Students graduating with honors conferred by All hail to thy might. departments, schools and colleges, and by the Nicholas Stanley Oates, 1929 Irvin D. Reid Honors College are eligible to wear a gold collar in recognition of their achievements. John Corvino, Ph.D., is dean of the Irvin D. Reid Honors College. GRADUATE NAMES Names submitted for the program book were compiled by lists submitted by graduate applications. Names and honor designations of students who completed the online degree application after March 6, 2020, are not included. The appearance of a name, recognition for academic achievement, and department and/ or university honors on the following lists is presumptive, but not conclusive of graduation. Participation in the commencement ceremony does not constitute graduation. Academic records will show the graduation date and recognition for academic achievement when degrees have been certified. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this program’s content. Any omissions or errors are unintentional. The commencement office plans to print an inclusive program book for the December commencement celebration. This will include all winter and spring/summer 2020 graduates. 3 Wayne State University 2020 Commencement The WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD of GOVERNORS The Governors of Wayne State University and their conduct of its business and for the governance of successors in office constitute a body corporate the university. It sets tuition and policy for other known as the Board of Governors of Wayne State fees and charges; determines the compensation University, in accordance with the Constitution of to be paid for services; confers degrees; sets the the State of Michigan. The board consists of eight policy for management of gifts, grants, bequests, members elected by the people of Michigan for agreements and contracts; and leases or disposes eight-year terms. Each governor holds office until of property. completion of the term and a successor has been nominated and elected in statewide elections. All Michigan’s constitutional system of independent, vacancies that occur within the eight-year terms elected boards to govern its universities is different are filled through appointment by the governor from systems of most other states. It has helped of the state. Members of the board serve without Michigan to develop and preserve one of the compensation but are entitled to necessary nation’s finest systems of colleges and universities. expenses incurred in connection with the duties of Each governing board devotes itself to one their office. university and is able to work carefully to develop and nurture the excellence of that institution. The Board of Governors elects the president The constitutional independence of the boards of the university and has general supervision protects the universities from political interference; of Wayne State University and the control and the election of boards by the voters assures that direction of all expenditures from university universities remain responsible to the public funds. It enacts bylaws and regulations for the at large. Marilyn Kelly, Bryan C. Barnhill II Michael Busuito chair Mark Gaffney Anil Kumar Sandra Hughes O’Brien Shirley Stancato Dana Thompson M. Roy Wilson, ex officio Wayne State University 2020 Commencement 4 STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS Farhana Aktar Vyshnavi Chivukula School of Social Work Mike Ilitch School of Business Farhana Aktar is graduating with a Vyshnavi Chivukula is master of social work graduating with honors with a concentration in from the Mike Ilitch innovation in community, School of Business with policy and leadership a bachelor of science in from the School of Social finance and information Work. She also received systems management. her bachelor of science in social work from Wayne Through hard work and determination, she State University. successfully made the dean’s list consecutively, earned the Mike Ilitch School of Business’ 25 Aktar decided to pursue a master of social under 25 Award and won General Motors’ Finance work because social work focuses on helping Intern Case Competition. vulnerable, oppressed and marginalized people. As someone who has experienced tremendous While on campus, Chivukula served as the difficulties in life that have impacted her fundraising secretary for Doctors Without Borders, education and opportunities for success, she where she used her education in finance for feels that social work is a noble and important medical aid. She was also able to employ her profession. It is a way to further her passion for financial knowledge in establishing her own event advocating and creating change. planning startup. Throughout her social work education, Aktar has Entering the corporate world, Chivukula attained been involved in community social work practice. experience as a finance intern at both Flagstar She interned with two nonprofit organizations Bank and General Motors. These experiences while completing her degree, and her work instilled in her the importance of conducting has included community organizing and effective financial analysis and positively legislative advocacy. contributing to a company’s culture. Aktar was elected director of government Chivukula also served as head tutor and business affairs for the Student Senate and the student development lead at Teja Learning Center, where representative for the School of Social Work. She she gained irreplaceable entrepreneurial experience also served as the student representative on the and developed valuable interpersonal relationships Board of Governors Academic Affairs Committee with students of all ages and backgrounds. and the General Education Oversight Committee. She used these roles to speak on behalf of her Though all her positions are so distinct, Vyshnavi peers and advocate for greater opportunities for believes they have all taught her one thing — the student success. product of your degree may extend far beyond its title. She will continue to use the education she As an undergraduate, Aktar was awarded the earned at Wayne State to thrive in each industry prestigious Brehler scholarship for an essay about that she enters in. overcoming prejudice outside and inside her own culture, and how this empowered her to help Following graduation, Chivukula will work as others as a social worker. She also received the a financial analyst for General Motors in her National Association of Social Workers’ M.S.W. hometown of Detroit. She looks forward to Student of the Year Award. embarking on this journey and giving back to the city that has taught her so much. She cannot Aktar’s commitment to the community runs deep, imagine completing her degree in any other city and she plans to continue using her passion for than Detroit, due to the plethora of opportunities advocating and creating change. and diversity available. 5 Wayne State University 2020 Commencement STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS Sara Elhasan Brenna Noyes College of Liberal Arts College of Fine, Performing and Sciences and Communication Arts Sara Elhasan is graduating Brenna Noyes is with a bachelor of graduating with a science in public health bachelor of arts in film and a bachelor of arts and communication in sociology from the studies and design. She College of Liberal Arts has been on the dean’s and Sciences. An alumna list every semester and of Fordson High School and the Dearborn Center has a 3.9 GPA.