COMMENCEMENT 2020 COMMENCEMENT 2020 Celebrating the Class of 2020 Tuesday, December 15 Wayne State University 2020 Commencement 2 WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT M. ROY WILSON Dear graduate, Congratulations! Graduating from Wayne State University is a remarkable achievement, so take time to celebrate all the hard work and sacrifice it took to get here. This year’s graduation looks different than it has in other years, but your accomplishments are in no way diminished because of it. As you arrive at 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 from your time 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 demanded your best because we wanted you to reach your full potential as a student. 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.” Now, more than ever, it’s important for us to remain Warrior Strong. Best wishes to you and to the entire Class of 2020. Sincerely, M. Roy Wilson President Wayne State University 2020 Commencement 3 DECEMBER 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 from lists submitted by graduate applications. Names and honor designations of students who completed the online degree application after Oct. 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. Wayne State University 2020 Commencement 4 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 directions 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 5 GOVERNORS EMERITI UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION Tina Abbott M. Roy Wilson President Vernice D. Anthony Laurie Lauzon Clabo Richard Bernstein Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Debbie Dingell Susan E. Burns Eugene Driker Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs and Diane Dunaskiss President, Wayne State University Foundation Michael Einheuser Marquita T. Chamblee Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Elizabeth Hardy Diversity Officer Paul Hillegonds William R. Decatur Vice President for Finance and Business Operations, Danialle Karmanos Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer Denise J. Lewis Ahmad M. Ezzeddine Associate Vice President for Educational Outreach Paul Massaron and International Programs Annetta Miller Carolyn Hafner Robert H. Naftaly Interim Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer David A. Nicholson Stephen M. Lanier Gary S. Pollard Vice President for Research Michael T. Timmis Louis Lessem Vice President and General Counsel Kim Trent Patrick O. Lindsey Vice President for Government and Community Affairs Julie H. Miller Vice President and Secretary to the Board of Governors Mark E. Schweitzer, M.D. Vice President, Health Affairs Dean, Wayne State University School of Medicine Ned Staebler Vice President for Economic Development and President and CEO of TechTown Michael Wright Vice President for Marketing and Communications and Chief of Staff Wayne State University 2020 Commencement 6 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE/SCHOOL DEANS Richard Bierschbach Dean, Law School Ramona Benkert Interim Dean, College of Nursing Amanda Bryant-Friedrich Dean, Graduate School Jon E. Cawthorne Dean, School of Information Sciences John Corvino Dean, Irvin D. Reid Honors College Robert Forsythe Dean, Mike Ilitch School of Business Farshad Fotouhi Dean, College of Engineering Ingrid Guerra-Lopez Interim Dean, College of Education Stephanie Hartwell Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Sheryl Kubiak Dean, School of Social Work Catherine Lysack Interim Dean, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Mark Schweitzer Dean, School of Medicine Matthew Seeger Dean, College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts Wayne State University 2020 Commencement 7 APRIL 2020 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’ work because social work focuses on helping Finance 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 also employed her financial profession. It is a way to further her passion