Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass VCU Commencement Programs VCU University Archives 2019 Virginia Commonwealth University Fall Commencement Program Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/vcucommence © Virginia Commonwealth University Downloaded from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/vcucommence/69 This Program is brought to you for free and open access by the VCU University Archives at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in VCU Commencement Programs by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Congratulations to all! December 14, 2019 Stuart C. Siegel Center CommencementRichmond, Virginia A VCU University Relations publication VCU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. 005620-08 RecipientsText of Degrees Due to time constraints, this program is printed before the final list of degree candidates and final honor status for undergraduate students is determined. This program is based on information available at the time of printing. Therefore, the inclusion or exclusion of the name of a student is not to be taken as an official graduation status of the student. The May Commencement program will include the names of students with an active May graduation application at the time of printing. The December Commencement program will include the names of students with an active August or December graduation application at the time of printing. Only undergraduate students are eligible for honors designations. The honor status of an undergraduate student noted in the program is based on the student’s honors designation at the time of printing. Honor designations do not apply to the degrees received by graduate students. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, political affiliation or disability. Virginia Commonwealth University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Baccalaureate, Master’s, doctoral and first professional degrees. VCU Commencement 2019 1 Dear Class of 2019: Virginia Commonwealth University takes pride in our work to educate, research, create, heal and serve. Our students’ experience here is relevant not only to what is happening today, but also to whatever may be in the future. Today we celebrate as you, the Class of 2019, become the newest graduates of VCU. Your success at one of America’s nationally prominent public research universities signifies that you have done more than complete your courses and receive grades. Your degree means years of hard work and dedication to refining your skills and acquiring new ones. Your dedication to academic excellence will translate well to whatever you choose to do in the future. For 181 years, your alma mater has focused on preparing students for a future as creators, educators, healers, innovators and entrepreneurs. As a graduate of VCU, your opportunities are boundless because your potential is limitless. On behalf of the faculty, staff, students and proud alumni of Virginia Commonwealth University, I congratulate you on the remarkable achievement of your Commencement. We are incredibly proud of you and wish you the brightest future possible. Best wishes, Michael Rao, Ph.D. President VCU and VCU Health System 2 VCU Commencement 2019 Board of Visitors 2019-20 Rector Pamela El Keith T. Parker Carolina Espinal Todd P. Haymore Robert D. Holsworth, Ph.D. Vice Rector Gopinath Jadhav, M.D. H. Benson Dendy III John A. Luke Jr. Edward L. McCoy Tyrone E. Nelson Coleen Santa Ana Stuart C. Siegel Alexis Swann Shantaram Talegaonkar, M.D. G. Richard Wagoner Jr. University Vice Presidents Jay Davenport Ed McLaughlin Vice President for Development Vice President and Director of Athletics and Alumni Relations Aashir Nasim Karol Kain Gray Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer P. Srirama Rao Vice President for Research and Innovation Gail Hackett Provost and Senior Vice President Marsha D. Rappley for Academic Affairs Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO, VCU Health System Pamela D. Lepley Vice President for University Relations Meredith Weiss Vice President for Administration Grand Marshals Bridget E. Byrne Catherine E. Ingrassia VCU Commencement 2019 3 Processional VCU Commencement Brass Ross A. Walter, Director National Anthem* VCU Police Honor Guard VCU Commencement Brass Welcome and Introductions Gail Hackett, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Remarks Michael Rao, President Commencement Address David Baldacci Recognition of Award Recipients Michael Rao, President Edward A. Wayne Medal Conferring of Degrees and Honors Recognition Doctor of Philosophy Candidates F. Douglas Boudinot, Dean Graduate and First Professional Degrees Graduate School F. Douglas Boudinot, Dean College of Health Professions Susan Parish, Dean Latin Honors and University Honors Barry L. Falk, Dean Undergraduate Degrees College of Engineering Barbara D. Boyan, Dean College of Health Professions Susan Parish, Dean College of Humanities and Sciences Donald Young, Interim Dean School of the Arts Nancy Scott, Interim Dean School of Business Ed A. Grier, Dean L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Susan T. Gooden, Interim Dean School of Nursing Jean Giddens, Dean School of Social Work Beth Angell, Dean University College Constance Relihan, Dean VCU Life Sciences Robert M. Tombes, Vice Provost VCU Alumni Remarks Dale C. Kalkofen, President VCU Alumni Recessional** VCU Commencement Brass To share photos or memories from Commencement, use #VCU2019. *The audience will be asked to stand for the national anthem. **Graduates will remain in place until the platform party exits. 4 VCU Commencement 2019 Commencement Speaker David Baldacci is a global No. 1 best-selling author and one of the world’s favorite storytellers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 130 million copies sold worldwide. His works have been adapted for both feature film and television. He has also published seven novels for young readers. Baldacci is also the co-founder, along with his wife, Michelle, of the Wish You Well Foundation®, which is dedicated to supporting literacy programs across the United States. Born and raised in Richmond, Baldacci is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law. He also holds an honorary doctorate in humane letters from VCU, which was awarded in May 2001. He lives in Virginia. David Baldacci VCU Commencement 2019 5 Edward A. Wayne Medal James P. Neifeld, M.D., joined the faculty of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine as an assistant professor in surgi- cal oncology in 1978 and became professor of surgery in 1986. In 2003, he was appointed the Stuart McGuire Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery, a position he held for more than 10 years. Jim attended Lafayette The Edward A. Wayne College and received a Doctor of Medicine Medal was established in from VCU’s School of Medicine in 1972. 1971 to honor individuals He completed his internship and residency who have made at VCU, and spent two years in the surgery outstanding contributions branch of the National Cancer Institute. or provided exemplary Jim is a member of the VCU Athletics and services to Virginia Golf advisory boards. He has served on the 2019 Recipients Commonwealth University. VCU Health System Authority Board, the Ramona S. Neifeld and The medal is named council of the American College of Surgeons James P. Neifeld, M.D. in honor of Edward A. Virginia chapter, and as president of the Wayne, who was chair Virginia Surgical Society and the Humera of the commission that Surgical Society. led to the establishment Ramona S. Neifeld attended the State University of New York at Geneseo and gradu- of VCU in 1968 by ated from St. Joseph’s in nursing. As an RN, she worked in oncology and volunteered the Virginia General at St. James the Less Free Clinic. Ramona is involved in lay leadership, teaching and Assembly. Mr. Wayne outreach at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. She and Jim serve on the Make It Real served as the university’s Campaign for VCU Senior Advisory Council. first vice rector. Jim and Ramona are longtime donors to the Massey Cancer Center and School of Medicine. In 2011, they established the Herbert S. and Elinor C. Neifeld Scholarship in Medicine in honor of Jim’s parents. Passionate supporters of VCU Athletics, they created the Neifeld Family Scholarship for Golf and supported construction of VCU Athletics’ Basketball Development Center and the VCU golf practice facility at First Tee. For years, Jim hosted the annual Janney Invitational College-Am golf tournament benefitting the VCU golf program. The Neifelds reside in Montpelier, Va., and have two children, Emily and Jillian. Jillian holds a master’s degree in forensic science from VCU. 6 VCU Commencement 2019 Academic Costume The academic costume worn at American college distinguished by the simplicity or intricacy of their exercises derives from the Middle Ages. The gowns. The doctor’s gown was often furred, which oldest universities of northern Europe, such as survives today in the ornamentation found on Paris and Oxford, grew out of church schools, the doctoral gown. Usually the gown is black, but and both faculty and students were regarded in some colleges have gowns of different colors. the Middle Ages as a part of the clergy. They wore The wide velvet borders extending down the clerical habits, largely borrowed from the monas- front of the doctoral gown, the velvet bars on the tic dress of that day, not just on special occasions sleeves, and the borders of most hoods are colored but as their regular attire. according to the scholarly field of the wearer. The head covering of the academic costume developed from the skull cap worn by the clergy Arts, Letters and Humanities White in cold weather to protect the tonsured head.