ONE HUNDRED FIRST ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY Saturday, the ninth of May Two Thousand Twenty ONE HUNDRED FIRST ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY Saturday, the ninth of May Two Thousand Twenty United States · Switzerland · Austria · the Netherlands China · Thailand · Ghana · Greece · Uzbekistan For additional information on this Virtual Commencement Ceremony, and to view the ceremony on May 9, 2020, please visit webster.edu/commencement Greetings from the Chancellor ELIZABETH (BETH) J. STROBLE, PHD Graduates, colleagues, friends, family and honored guests: This moment celebrates the culmination of years of diligent work and dedicated study by the exceptional students who select Webster University on their path to global academic excellence. We take pride in Webster’s students who make their homes in places as far apart as Athens and Charleston, Tashkent and Saint Louis, among the many communities Webster calls home. As Webster alumni, these graduates join an elite global community of accomplished and connected citizens. From the first two graduates in the Class of 1919 to the more than 4,700 graduates in the Class of 2020, they embody 1 the promise of Webster’s enduring commitment to inclusive education. Graduates, we know the significance of this day in your life and career, and like you, we are saddened that a global health crisis prevents us from being together in person. But it is important that we take this moment to celebrate with you today, and we hope you can join us in person in the fall. Wherever in the world your journey takes you next, and wherever you call home in the future, Webster University goes with you as your proud alma mater. Congratulations! Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble, PhD Chancellor Greetings from the President JULIAN Z. SCHUSTER, PHD Graduates, today you participate in one of the proudest and longest-running traditions in all of higher education. Your commencement ceremony is a significant milestone which a pandemic can change, but not erase. Webster’s 101st annual commencement ceremony is a symbol, and a celebration, of the highest reward you can achieve in academia. The achievements of our graduates deserve our formal recognition, our deepest respect and a heartfelt congratulations from all of our family, friends and colleagues. Though the coronavirus has altered commencement plans at Webster campus locations throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa, we as a global community will make sure that your success 3 is recognized, honored and celebrated. We hope you can join us during Homecoming & Alumni Weekend in the fall so that we can continue this celebration in person. That weekend, each Webster school and college will hold ceremonial events where 2020 graduates can congregate and walk with their fellow alumni and celebrate their accomplishments. Until then we offer our heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2020! Julian Z. Schuster, PhD President Transforming Students for Individual Excellence and Global Citizenship With its home campus in Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.A., Webster University comprises an action-oriented global network of faculty, staff, students and alumni who forge powerful bonds with each other and with their communities around the globe. Founded in 1915, Webster is a private non-profit university with students studying at campus locations in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa and in a robust learning environment online. The university is committed to ensuring high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence. As a strong, truly global university, Graduates earn Webster University Webster provides uniquely global degrees through programs offered 5 experiences, which prepare our in five Colleges and Schools: students to lead as global citizens. Webster’s business/academic • College of Arts & Sciences model integrates global assets • George Herbert Walker School in innovative ways to achieve of Business & Technology excellence in academic and • Leigh Gerdine College administrative programs, services of Fine Arts and graduates. • School of Communications • School of Education Webster University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Order of Ceremony Prelude and Processional Conferral of Degrees Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble, PhD Pomp and Circumstance Traditional Commencement Music Welcome to the Alumni Association Vanessa Davis, MA ’04, DMGT ’15 Archival footage of the late Peter Sargent, Dean Emeritus, Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts and the John Ford Highland Band Remarks and Introduction of the Deans Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble, PhD Traditional Bagpipe Selections Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts Students carrying flags representing their countries Paul Steger, MFA Color Guard School of Communications Eric W. Rothenbuhler, PhD National Anthem Webster University Jazz Singers School of Education Directed by Debby Lennon Thomas Cornell, EdD Alma Mater: “Webster U. You Are Our Home” College of Arts & Sciences Webster University Jazz Singers Anthony (Tony) Wallner, PhD Directed by Debby Lennon George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology Welcome from the Chair of the Board of Trustees Simone Cummings, PhD Robert (Rob) Reeg Closing Remarks 6 Chancellor’s Remarks Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble, PhD 7 Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble, PhD For additional information on this Virtual Commencement President’s Remarks Ceremony, and to view the ceremony on May 9, 2020, Julian Z. Schuster, PhD please visit webster.edu/commencement Honorary Doctorate Conferral Honorary Doctorate Recipients Vladimir Ivkovic, PhD, BA ’99 Will D. Carpenter, PhD Commencement Address Vladimir Ivkovic, PhD, BA ’99 Conferring of Degrees Presentation of Candidates Julian Z. Schuster, PhD College of Arts & Sciences George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts School of Communications School of Education Alma Mater Commencement Speaker VLADIMIR IVKOVIC, PHD, BA ’99, DOCTOR OF SCIENCE In recognition of the Webster University Centennial, the University held a contest in early 2015 to create a new alma mater that represents the University’s mission in its second century. “Webster U. You Are Our Home,” by Christopher Poetz (Class of 2016), was performance. On the other, his studies selected based upon Websterthe overall appropriateness U. You Are of the Our lyrics andHome music, with particular with the Boston Fire Department help attention to how the lyrics reflect Webster’s mission, vision and values. reduce the risks of occupational stress Christopher Poetz on firefighters’ health and performance. Class of 2016 By applying the translational research approach, Ivkovic aspires to help pave Adagio (Hymnlike) the way for human exploration missions P U to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, while bb 4 œ protecting the health and safety of the & b 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ first responders, and the general public Weœ hold you dear and closeœ toœ ourœ heart,œ withœ on Earth. 3 Ivkoviv is currently the director of U f the Laboratory for Neuroimaging & b j œ œ œ >œ & b b œ. œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Integrative Physiology within Neural strength and pride andJ wis- dom to imœ - part. œWe are fond and bound by our di - Systems Group at the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General 6 P Hospital and Harvard Medical School. U bb œ œ œ ‰ j Œ He also teaches at Harvard University & b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ and Boston College in the areas of verse com--- mu ni ty. Web - ster U. you are our home. neuroscience and psychophysiology, as well as at Webster University in ladimir Ivkovic is an expert on the St. Louis, where he taught neuroscience ALMA MATER LYRICS V neurological effects of spaceflight and to Webster students this spring as an 8 We hold you dear and close to our heart, extreme environments on human health adjunct faculty member. 9 With strength and pride and wisdom to impart. and performance. He graduated from We are fond and bound by our diverse community. Webster’s campus in Vienna, Austria, with Webster U., you are our home. a bachelor’s in psychology in 1999. After Webster, he earned master’s degrees in May laughter always be found within these halls. biology from the University of Zagreb, May success and achievement be forged within these walls. Croatia, and space studies from the May you make every dream a new reality. International Space University, France, Webster U., you are our home. in 2005 and 2006, respectively. He then completed his PhD in neuroscience from Acceptance, love, and friendships we’ve made, the University of Houston in 2012. With memories had, which shall not fade. Ivkovic’s areas of expertise include The banner of blue and gold does fly, human neurophysiology and behavior heralding our great history on high. in extreme environments. His research focuses on applying wearable brain And so, our dear Alma Mater we plea: imaging and physiology monitoring Be our home, keep us safe in loving unity. for assessment of disorders elicited For to us you will be always something more. by exposure to such environments Webster U., you are our home. or activities—including spaceflight and firefighting—and development of countermeasures for their mitigation. Ivkovic translates new knowledge from these studies into preventive strategies and clinical treatments—for elite performers and the general patient population alike. On the one hand, these studies help NASA understand the effects of prolonged missions aboard the International Space Station on astronauts’ health and Honorary Doctorate Recipient Academic Honors and Student Awards WILL D. CARPENTER, PHD, HONORS AWARDED 2019–2020 STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS DOCTOR OF HUMANITARIAN SERVICE Undergraduate University Honors Campus Life University-wide academic honors (cum Megan Schramm (she/her) Carpenter is a longtime supporter laude, magna cum laude, summa cum of Webster as a donor and an advisor laude) are awarded to the bachelor’s Global Citizen whose expertise has informed major degree recipients who have achieved a Honoka Takato (she/her) initiatives. He is a former member of high GPA across the curriculum.