2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
As graduates gather with family and friends for today’s
commencement ceremonies, we reflect on the creation of The
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the first public university
in Texas in the 21st century.
On May 22, 2013, the Texas Legislature cast a unanimous,
historic vote to create a new university, built on the solid
foundations of The University of Texas at Brownsville and The
University of Texas-Pan American. Drawing on the legacy
institutions’ resources, the new university also would benefit
from The UT System’s significant assets.
In another unanimous vote, The UT System Board of Regents
determined the university would be called The University of
Texas Rio Grande Valley, a symbolic naming that would reflect
the fertile delta along the U.S.–Mexico border and its unique
intersection of two cultures.
Today, UTRGV is a bicultural, bilingual and biliterate institution,
with a School of Medicine that opens in fall 2016.
Across disciplines, UTRGV offers educational opportunities
never before available south of San Antonio. And those
opportunities continue to grow. Faculty and staff are committed
to supporting students on their journey. The highest priority at
UTRGV is simple: student success.
Today, one journey ends. Another begins.
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
Congratulations to the Class of 2015!
You hold the distinction of being the inaugural class to graduate from
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and you are part of a
historic moment in higher education and the state of Texas.
You have made your family and friends extremely proud, and
we thank them for providing you love and support throughout
this journey.
A university is measured by the success of its students. We know
that earning a college degree can be challenging, but our students
routinely respond with passion, dedication and commitment. Every
day our faculty and staff strive to empower our students to reach
their potential.
Guy Bailey
Founding President
The future is bright for UTRGV, and you should take pride that
your historic graduation as the first class helped lay an important
foundation for our university. The students who follow in your
footsteps will benefit from expanded educational opportunities that
previously were not available in the Rio Grande Valley. Our medical
school will transform lives by producing doctors and conducting
research on relevant health issues impacting this region.
I invite you to stay connected to your university and join our alumni
association. As alumni, you can mentor and inspire current and future
generations of students and serve as an advocate for your university
as it continues to evolve.
On behalf of our faculty and staff, we are so proud of you.
Congratulations and all the best as you begin the next chapter of
your lives.
We know you will transform lives.
We know you will inspire the world.
Guy Bailey
Founding President
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
PLATFORM GUESTS
Dr. Guy Bailey .......................................................................................................
Dr. Havidán Rodríguez .........................................................................................
Dr. Cynthia Brown..................................................................................................
Dr. Kristin Croyle ....................................................................................................
Dr. Ala Qubbaj.........................................................................................................
Dr. Theresa Maldonado ......................................................................................
Founding President
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Deputy Provost
Vice President for Student Success
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs & Diversity
Senior Vice President for Research, Innovation &
Economic Development
Dr. Janna Arney ..................................................................................................... Chief of Staff and Vice President for Operations
Dr. Francisco Fernandez...................................................................................... Vice President for Medical Affairs and
Dean of the School of Medicine
Dr. Mark Kroll...........................................................................................................
Dr. Patricia Alvarez McHatton.............................................................................
Dr. Miguel Gonzalez .............................................................................................
Dr. Dahlia Guerra...................................................................................................
Dr. Michael Lehker ................................................................................................
Dr. Parwinder Grewal ...........................................................................................
Dr. Walter Diaz........................................................................................................
Dr. Dave Jackson...................................................................................................
Dr. Mark Andersen.................................................................................................
Dr. Dora E. Saavedra ............................................................................................
Mrs. Rebecca Gadson ..........................................................................................
Dean, Business & Entrepreneurship
Dean, Education & P-16 Integration
Interim Dean, Engineering & Computer Science
Interim Dean, Fine Arts
Dean, Health Affairs
Dean, Sciences
Dean, Liberal Arts
Interim Dean, Graduate College
Dean, Honors College
President, Faculty Senate
Interim Associate Vice President for Student Life and
Dean of Students
Dr. Bobbette Morgan ............................................................................................ Grand Marshal Faculty Senate Representative
Dr. Dora E. Saavedra ............................................................................................ Grand Marshal Faculty Senate Representative
Mrs. Wilma Mealer ................................................................................................ Grand Marshal Faculty Senate Representative
HONOREES
Representative Rene Oliveira............................................................................. Texas State Representative, District 37
Senator Eddie Lucio Jr.......................................................................................... Texas State Senator, District 27
(Represented by Eddie Lucio III, Texas State Representative, District 38)
Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa ......................................................................... Texas State Senator, District 20
Dr. Francisco Cigarroa ......................................................................................... Former Chancellor of The University of Texas System
ANNOUNCING THE CANDIDATES
Ms. Marcy Martinez ................................................................................................. 9 a.m.
CBS4 News Anchor
Mr. Oscar Margain ................................................................................................... 2 & 6 p.m.
Univision 48/Fox 2 Reporter/News Anchor
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
ORDER OF EXERCISES
PRE-PROCESSIONAL
UTRGV Mariachi Aztlán
Mr. Francisco Loera, Director
PROCESSIONAL
UTRGV Wind Ensemble
Mr. Albert Lo, Director
POSTING OF THE COLORS
UTRGV ROTC
NATIONAL ANTHEM
UTRGV School of Music Students
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
OF GUESTS
Dr. Havidán Rodríguez,
Provost and Executive Vice President
for Academic Affairs
RECOGNITION OF HONOREES
Dr. Guy Bailey,
Founding President
INTRODUCTION OF ACADEMIC DEANS
Dr. Havidán Rodríguez,
Provost and Executive Vice President
for Academic Affairs
PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR DOCTORAL, MASTER’S
AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREES
Dr. Mark Kroll,
Dean, Business & Entrepreneurship
Dr. Patricia Alvarez McHatton,
Dean, Education & P-16 Integration
Dr. Miguel Gonzalez,
Interim Dean, Engineering & Computer Science
Dr. Dahlia Guerra,
Interim Dean, Fine Arts
Dr. Michael Lehker,
Dean, Health Affairs
Dr. Parwinder Grewal,
Dean, Sciences
Dr. Walter Diaz,
Dean, Liberal Arts
CERTIFICATION OF CANDIDATES FOR DOCTORAL, MASTER’S
AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREES
Dr. Havidán Rodríguez,
Provost and Executive Vice President
for Academic Affairs
CONFERRAL OF DOCTORAL, MASTER’S AND
BACCALAUREATE DEGREES
Dr. Guy Bailey,
Founding President
PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS
Dr. Guy Bailey,
Founding President
RECESSIONAL
UTRGV Wind Ensemble and
UTRGV Mariachi Aztlán
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The College of Business and Entrepreneurship is composed of the Dean’s Office, School of Accountancy,
Department of Economics and Finance, Department of Information Systems, Department of Management
Department, Department of Marketing, Department of International Business and Entrepreneurship, and
Master’s of Business Administration Program.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Rosemond Ann Moore
Robert Dean Morrison
MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY
Adam Tracy Lord
Anay Martinez
Abimbola Ogunnaike
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Graciela Guadalupe Abrego
Jessica Ann Adame
Juan C. Aguilar
Chantal Alaniz
Vangie Alaniz
David M. Arce
Sirisha Avancha
Homero Botello
Fei Cao
Johnathon R. Carrejo
Vicky De La Garza
David Lee Elizondo
Nicole Englitsch
Giovanna Escalante
Moise Essounga
Alejandra Flores
Adrian Franco
Armando Galvan
Jorge A. Garcia
Nallely Garcia
Albert R. Garza
Maleysia Henry
Jose D. Jardon
Thayumanavan Kumaran
Hector Leal
Yuanqing Li
Gloria Angelica Lozano
Daniel Lucio
Carlos Rogelio Mattus
Olesia Milova
Sofia Montero
Fernando P. Morales
Parth V. Naik
Refugio Nathaniel Obregon
Jazmin Esmeralda Ochoa
Alicia O’Gilbert
Ana I. Oliveira
Nagarjuna Prasad Peddabhoini
Gabriel Pena
Krystal Perez
Maria del Rosario Ramirez
Salazar
Kayla Denisse Reyes
Raul Rivera
Bianca Monique Robles
Felipe Saldivar
Brianda Anabel Salinas
Antonio Julian Sanchez
Antony Joe Sebastian
Graciela Sepulveda
Brenda G. Silva
Arturo Solano
Gabriel E. Torres
Jonathan Trevino
Debra Villarreal
Sara Diane Walker
Andrew William Wetegrove
Corissa A. Wiest
Ruizhu Xiong
Alberto David Yarritu
Vianca Ariadna Garcia
Antonio Garcia Izaguirre
Victor Luiz Garcia Parreiras
Aldo Garza
Arely Garza
Christian N. Garza
Daniel E. Garza
Julia A. Garza
Monica Marie Garza MCL
Yoselin Adriana Garza
Mariana Garza Estrada
Vilma Godoy
Brisa Gonzalez
Debbie D. Gonzalez
Marco A. Gonzalez
Mary Ann Gonzalez
Sergio Felipe Gonzalez
Gabriela Gonzalez Perez
Denisse Alejandra Gracia
Cristina Leticia Guerra
Jesus A. Guerra MCL
Lizette Guerrero
Eduardo Gutierrez
Jessie Joseph Gutierrez
Manuel David Guzman
Rodriguez
Oscar Isai Hernandez
Ana I. Herrera
Victoria Alyssa Herrera
Hanz Higareda
Irene Hinojosa
Rey Hinojosa
Ignacio Ibarra CL
Vanja Joksic
Enna Kuri
Ruby Landaverde
MASTER OF SCIENCE ACCOUNTING
Rashidul Haque
Jessica Lopez
Kevin Isaac Valdez
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Fabiola Estefania Urgel SCL
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Tamara Aceves De Leon
Andres David Acosta
Grecia Aguilar
Roberto C. Alanis
Jon Andrew Alvarez
Samantha Balboa
Marco Antonio Baltazar
Joel Barrientos
Abril M. Becerra
Tamara Eunice Benavides
Mendoza CL
Saul Bernabe
Jovanni Bernal
Giezi E. Cabello
Mauro Alberto Cabrales
Ayssa Lamar Cabrera
Adrian Cadena CL
Obed O. Calderon CL
Joseph Thomas Campos
Karla L. Cantu
Kristina B. Carrizales
Daniel Casanova
Christopher J. Castillo CL
Patricia Irelly Castillo MCL
Brittany Cavazos
Victor H. Cavazos
Rita Jassel Chapa
Roberto David Chavez
Christian Cortez
Miriam Astrid Cortez
Elizabeth Cortina
Troy Arthur Cuellar MCL
Jesus F. Davila
Jim Davila
Aaron Daniel De La Cruz MCL
Juan De La Garza
Yaritza De Leon
Edgar Alejandro Diaz SCL
Rolando Diaz
Karen L. Elizarraras
Daniel D. Elizondo
Miguel Angel Elizondo
Karla J. Enriquez
Aram Flores
Hector Flores
Maria C. Flores
Sandra D. Flores CL
Maria T. Foncerrada CL
Valerie L. Franco CL
Valerie D. Galvan
Gabriel Nathaniel Garcia
Jesus Garcia
Karina K. Garcia
Omar Antonio Garcia
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
Maria Cristina Lara
Daniela Leal CL
Monica A. Lerma
Christian Liendo
Alejandra Lopez
Alixzandra E. Lopez
Andres Francisco Lopez
Andres Lopez
Giovanni Missael Lopez
Jessica Lopez
Margarita Cano Lopez
Kimberly Lorraine Loredo CL
Ricardo Israel Lozano
Silvia Lozano
Alejandra Macias
Celina I. Maluf CL
Adam Manzano
Martha Patricia Marquez
Edgar Martinez
Emmanuel Martinez MCL
Giselle Leann Martinez
Lory Martinez
Marlon Martinez CL
Karla Gabriela Mata
Elisa M. Medrano
Betty Melendez-Concha
Marisol Melgoza
Sandra E. Mendez SCL
Jimmy Mendiola
Fabiola Berenice Mendoza
Angeles Deyanira Mendoza
Franco CL
Orlando Mercado
Carolina Lizzouly Mireles-Soto
Jesus Enrique Moncayo
Ivonne Roxana Montes
De Oca CL
Damaris Morales
Eric Gene Morales
Eduardo Munoz CL
Erik Azael Munoz
Irma Estefenni Munoz
Mariel S. Munoz CL
Ilce Dennis Nieto
Jared Aaron Ortega
Marina M. Ortiz
Maria M. Oviedo
Audrey R. Pelkey
Brenda Melissa Pena
Jaime Eduardo Perez
Juan Alvaro Perez
Karen Arlen Perez CL
Susana Patricia Perez
Linda Karina Pitones
Cesar Alberto Pliego
Edna Andrea Pulido
Justino Roberto Quintero
Juanita Quiroz
Cored Ramirez
Paola Eugenia Ramirez CL
Astrid Saganni Ramirez Aridjis
Ana Gabriela Ramos CL
Julio Cesar Ramos
Nayeli Ramos
Alma Areli Rangel
Carlos Amin Resendez CL
Erica Reyes
Stephanie C. Reyes MCL
Jeannette Rivera
Yarely Rocha
Carlos A. Rodriguez
Jasmin Marisol Rodriguez
Jesus G. Rodriguez
Miguel Angel Rodriguez
Ramon Edmundo Rodriguez
Steven L. Rodriguez
Joshua Rojas
Andre Ulysses Romero
Uriel Alonso Rosales
Jose Manuel Saenz
Miguel Noel Saenz
Alfredo Salinas
Ezequiel Salinas
Karen Salinas
Noah Salinas
Vianey E. Salinas CL
Claudia San Miguel
Ariana Sanchez
Brenda N. Sanchez
Pedro Sanchez
Tomas Sanchez
Lauren Kelly Sandoval
Julie-Ann Segura
Gabriel Serrano
Nora Elizabeth Shah CL
Amy Lynn Siefer MCL
Nathaniel Silva MCL
Juvenal JJ Soto
Francisco Javier Tamez
Cavazos CL
Conrad Taylor SCL
Tanya Nicole Thirlwall
Adaia B. Torres
Jennilee Tovar
Gerardo Trevino
Jose D. Trevino
Justin Brian Tutor MCL
Ivette Ugalde
Maria D. Uribe
Kevin Isaac Valdez
Efrain Valle
Itsayana I. Vallejo
Karina Marisol Varela
Linda Dominique Vasquez MCL
Jose Vazquez MCL
Ninfa Guadalupe Vera
Samantha Lourdes Vidales
Garcia
Maria V. Vigil
Stephanie Patricia Villalon
Griselda L. Villarreal
Karla D. Villarreal CL
Marie A. Villarreal
Roberto Villarreal
Myranda L. Wammack
Yihan Zhang
Jose Ramon Zuniga
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Lesly A. Lezama CL
Isaiah Jeramy Ramos
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND P-16 INTEGRATION
The College of Education and P-16 Integration is composed of the Dean’s Office, Educator Preparation
and Accountability, Counseling Training Clinic, Department of Bilingual and Literacy Studies, Department
of Counseling and Guidance, Department of Human Development and School Services, Department of
Organization and School Leadership, Department of Teaching and Learning, and Educational Technology
Resource Center.
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
Diana Hilda Cortez-Castro
Esmeralda Villarreal Munoz
Jesus Rene Reyna
Claudia Marlene De La Garza
Stephanie Nicole De Leon
Margaret Amy Denney
Reyna C. Diaz
Stephanie Duenas
Laura Margarita Esquivel
Criselda Farias
Roberto Carlos Fuentes
Alejandra Nathalie Garcia
Alejandra Garcia
Brenda Garcia
Cassandra Lynn Garcia
Mirtha M. Garcia
Stephanie Y. Garcia
Vannessa Jean Garcia
Brenda Garza
Janelly Lizeth Garza
Jose L. Garza
Nidia M. Garza
Ruth Garza
Denise R. Garza-Cano
Erika Elizabeth Gomez
Amy Gonzales
Sara Gonzalez
Rebekah Guardiola
Sara Laura Guel
Madelin Gutierrez
Melinda Hardy
Amanda Hawkins
Alan W. Hendrick
Natalie Kay Herfindahl
Blanca Jacqueline Hernandez
Imelda Hernandez
Marie Isabel Hernandez
Christopher George Hilgeman
Betty Hughes
Bianca Ibarra
Gena L. Jean
Delma Jimenez
Dijan B. Johnson
Juliana Lara
Marie Denise Lara
Drucilla D. Lopez
Ryan Edward Lopez
Marcella Lozano
Pamela M. Luna
Vianna Sue Madrid
Sharon Louise Mahabir
Victoria Marin
Mabron Don Martin
Abigail Martinez
Arely Karina Martinez
Gaudy B. Martinez
Yvette Martinez
Carolina Torres Medrano
Angelica Yuliana Mejia
Cora Mendez
Ariel Merrell
Norma Lisa Morales
Crystal D. Munoz
Felix Murad
Blanca Amadee Novelo
MASTER OF EDUCATION
Norma Jean Abundez
Brittany R. Adams
Victor A. Aguilar
Carlos Humberto Aguirre
Crisanta Ivonne Aguirre
Angelica Maria Alvarez
Esmeralda Andrade
Analia Arguelles
Miriam Arizmendi
Efrain Barron
Carlos Daniel Beltran
Bertha I. Bernal
Phyllis Claire Blakemore
Carrie Elizabeth Bowden
Trey Donald Brasher
Nellie Burke
Cynthia Caballero
Adrienne Marie Campos
Elvira Cantu
Jonathan Russell Caplan
Juanita Carrasco
Diana Carrillo
Mayra A. Carrillo
Gilberto Alejandro Castillo
Maria Castillo
Dulce Margarita Castillo-Cruz
Natalie Cepeda
Gloria Janett Chavez
Jennifer M. Condes
Amanda Kay Cruz
Maria Gabriela Cruz
Angel Olguin
Rose Olguin
Monique Rene Olivarez
Selina J. Olivarez
Edna Griselda Palma
Maria Del Coral Enriqueta
Palmer
Hillary A. Parrish
Mark Daniel Parvin
Norma Elia Perez
Jennifer Marie Pesina
Otila Pruneda
Marycarmen Quintanilla
Dalia Quintanilla-Guerra
Laura Quiroz
Asenette Castro Ramirez
Leopoldo Ramirez
Maricela Ramirez
Wendy Lizette Ramirez
Desi M. Ramos
Venessa Ramos
Lizeth Reyes
Marissa Reyes
Enrique Javier Ramon Rivera
Patricia Robles
Alfonso Rodriguez
Eliud Magdiel Rodriguez
Esperanza Marie Rodriguez
Gilbert Rodriguez
Ilene Rodriguez
Jeanette Marie Rodriguez
Marissa J. Rodriguez
Jorge Rostro
Rita M. Saenz
Cristina Saldana
Eliud Salinas
Karina Lissette Salinas
Abella Jane Salvaleon
Stanley Shane Snelson
Angelica Maria Solorio-Pereira
Ana Abigail Sosa
Abril Teran
Alvin Thomas
Claudia Tijerina
Silvia Margarita Tirado
Elizabeth Ann Trevino
Ever Ivan Trevino
Laura Trevino
Martha Jean Trevino
Morgan Morrison Tucker
Maria Valdez
Virgilio Bautista Valencia
Alicia Vasquez
Jana Veit
Betsabe Zacarias Vela
Felix O. Vela
Maria Cristina Vela
Anahi Villagomez
Christa Renee Villarreal
Maria R. Wiles
Ana Karen Zapata
Emily Olivia Zuniga
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Jessica Anais Hernandez CL
Carol Medina
Roxanne Quintero
Ivan Vela
Isabel Martinez
Israel Martinez
Megan Martinez
Rosa Melgoza
Laura Morales
Maria L. Nieto
Edith E. Ovalle SCL
Viridiana Pena
Ariana Monique Prado
Olivia M. Quintos
Gisela Ramos
Melanie Ramos CL
BACHELOR OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Priscilla Aparicio
Priscilla S. Avalos
Luciano Bocanegra
Crystal Canales
Jacqueline Cantu CL
Clarissa Diaz CL
Elizabeth M. Dominguez CL
Kerry Garza
Alyssa B. Gonzales CL
Francisco A. Gonzalez
Stephanie Elise Gonzalez
Mayra Ivonne Hernandez
Judith Jazmin Salinas
Juanita Sanchez
Eva Torres
Gracie Trevino
Ryo C. Zarate CL
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Rosalinda Ramirez
Alma Z. Rosa SCL
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
The College of Engineering & Computer Science is composed of the Dean’s Office, Center for Manufacturing/
TMAC, Department of Civil Engineering, Department of Computer Science, Department of Electrical
Engineering, Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, Department of Mechanical
Engineering, and Railway Safety Center.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Pitchie Reddy Alavala
Goutham Reddy Bakaram
Anusha Boothpur
Srinivas Cheekati
Ivonne Galvan
Anusha Garimella
David Alonzo Gaspar
Lizeth Grajeda
Jose Juan Jaramillo
Manas Katari
Olubukola Laolu Laditan
Rodolfo Leal
Juan Lorenzo Monrreal
Marcos Luis Ochoa
Subba Lakshmi Swetha
Patchamatla
Erika Leticia Salazar
Maniramgopal Tatineni
Vamshi Priya Vulavala
Sang Yeol Yoon
Veera Venkata Satya Sai
Chowdary Korupu
David L. Leal
Thania Alejandra Martinez
Adrian Joel Perez
Nestor Isaac Salinas
Koushicaa Sundar
Maheshwari Tudimilla
Avinash Vulchi
Varaha Venkata Jayaram
Yellapu
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING
Bharath Atkuri
Jean Orlando Calzada
Dilip Reddy Chittadi
Leela Kumari Goli
Siva Surya Gunturi
Ridwan Hossain
Saikrishna Kalewar
Jaipal Kondreddy
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Scott Mitchell
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Antonio A. Andrade
Venkatesh Bandaru
Gilberto De Leon
Justin A. Elias
Fidencio Tamez
Daniel Uribe
Homar Venecia
Benjamin L. Worsham
BACHELOR OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY
Joseph Ruben Aguilar
Brenda Garza
Jesse R. Maldonado
Cesar Agusto Cortinas
Nataly Delafuente
William Michael Dewald SCL
Ruben Galvez
Arturo Garcia
Miguel Angel Garza
Quintin Garza
Jesus Jasso
Gaspar Jimenez
Erik A. Lopez
Hulices Lopez
Adrian Eduardo Luna
Julio A. Macias
Andrea Karina Martinez
Melissa Marisol Martinez CL
Diana Mendoza
Vanessa Molina
Alberto Moreno
Jesus Alejandro Perales
Santiago Perez
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Ruben Jesus Alfaro
David Atkinson
Kimberly Barba
Gerardo Benavides
Alberto Cantu
Cesar Alan Cantu
Jose L. Cardenas CL
Raul Castillo
David M. Chacon CL
Horacio Andres Cortes
Jorge Abraham Pinon Ortiz CL
Roberto Ramirez
Solduar Aaron Recio
Arturo Rodriguez
Eduardo Rodriguez
Eleazar Rodriguez
Gerardo Emmanuel Rodriguez
Felipe de Jesus Saavedra
Elizabeth Sanchez
Vidal Sanchez
Sergio Humberto Sosa
Joe Alan Soto
Muhammad Junaid Tahir
Alfonso Vallejo SCL
Alvaro Vasquez
Manuel Velasquez
Jose Luis Villarreal
Roberto Rolando Yanez
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Victor Javier Cavada
Isaias Ismael Cervantes
Carlos Omar Cortes
Rogelio Adrian Garcia
Ricardo C. Garza
David Asael Hernandez
Manuel Alberto Hernandez
Naya
Michael Marmolejo
Darryl Gabriel Martinez
David Abdiel Parra
Humberto Pedraza
Raul A. Ramos
Arturo Reyna
Randy Leo Torres
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
Stella Bazaldua CL
Pedro Alejandro Cantu
Yaritza Esperanza Cantu CL
Everett J. Castellano
Corey Tyler Muniz MCL
Roberto Rey Ordonez
Ricardo C. Ramos MCL
Alejandro Rios
Jose Roberto Rios
Gulmaro Salinas
Karla L Santana MCL
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Eli Eric Enriquez
Alan Garcia
Eliud Gonzalez
Ruben Guerra MCL
Alberto Hernandez
James E. Lloyd
Jonathan Magallan
Leonard I. Reyes
Christian O. Sarmiento
Juan D. Solis
Jose Francisco Patino
Erik German Ramirez
Juan Ramirez
Christopher Ivan Reyes CL
Eduardo Rodriguez
Oscar O. Rodriguez CL
Abraham Romero
Francisco Ruiz
Noe N. Sepulveda
Mario E. Serrano
Alejandro Valdes
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Jesus Alfredo Aguirre CL
David Barajas
Advento G. Barrera
Lidia Lizbeth Bustillos
Ingrid Cepeda
Jose Luis Chavez
Alan Moises Contreras
Quintanilla
David E. Flores CL
Victor M. Garza
David Abimael Gonzalez CL
Jose G. Gonzalez
Zyndee Gonzalez
Juan Carlos Lago MCL
Adderly Lopez
Andrew Martinez
Arthur A. Mealer CL
Cesar O. Mendoza CL
Roxana Molina
Nicolas Montemayor
Ricardo Montemayor
Alejandro Navarro
Carlos Alberto Nunez
Valeria Orozco
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING
Juan Jesus Elizondo
Mario Alberto Garcia
Miguel A. Guevara
Jose Luis Montero
Lucia Robles
Ashlee C. Smith
Alberto Jhon Soberanis
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
The College of Fine Arts is composed of the Dean’s Office, Creative Writing Program, Dance Program,
Department of Theatre, School of Art, and School of Music.
MASTER OF ARTS
Dennis Tomas Rivas
MASTER OF FINE ARTS
Julieta Vielma Corpus
Gwyn Frances Della Croce
Sergio Javier Garcia
Daniel Manuel Mendoza
David Rice
Rose Saenz
Monica Skrzypinski
Rosa Elia Trevino
Sylvia H. Vera
Daniel Cardenas
Victoria Elias Calles Quintanilla
Eduardo Gamba
Abigail Gonzalez
Lorena Gonzalez
Virginia L. Jimenez
Deyla Lerma SCL
Juan R. Pecina
Rachel Ramirez
Armando Rangel
Vicente Reyes
Maria Ruiz
Melissa Nicole Ruiz
Ariadna Estrella Salazar
Aleida Gutierrez Sanchez
Charles A. Steen
Laura Mabel Garcia
Marlyn Garcia MCL
Jesica E. Gonzalez MCL
Carlos Hernandez
Rita Estela Loredo MCL
Celia J. Marquez
Jeremiah David Nava
Mildred Olavarria MCL
Jose Guadalupe Quintanilla CL
Francisco Ramirez CL
Consuelo Rodriguez CL
Eduardo Salazar
Jorge Ignacio Serna
Elizardo Torres
David Abimelec Valle CL
Laura Paola Vargas
Maria Elena Vidal MCL
Elizabeth B. Wills
Meagan Lee Contreras
Jose Antonio Delgadillo
Diana Yzamar Garcia
Iris Lamar Gracia
Troy Laznovsky CL
Jhonatan N. Padron Rosas
Isai A. Reyes
Abigail Annette Tellez
Manuel T. Trevino
Ruth Esther Trevino
Velma Salas Valles
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Sara Leah Barriera
Keila Edith Benavidez
Roxanne M. Borrego
Bianca Monique Camarillo
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS
Adrian Castillo Lara
Monica Maria Cuevas CL
Luis Angel De La Garza
Ana E. Duncan-Guzman CL
Carolina Garcia
BACHELOR OF MUSIC
Alexis Armand Alba
Estefania Guadalupe Arriazola
Nora M. Briones
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
COLLEGE OF HEALTH AFFAIRS
The College of Health Affairs is composed of the Dean’s Office, Cooperative Pharmacy Program,
Department of Communication Disorders, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Department of
Health and Human Performance, Department of Occupational Therapy, Department of Physician Assistant,
Department of Social Work, School of Nursing, School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling, and Border
Health Office.
MASTER OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES
Jessica Aguilar
Arlene Alegria
Ana Delia Alonso
Samuel Allen Bailey
Shyala Brooke Bensen
Clint Jed Blaine
Kimberly Brown
Juan Jose Carrales
Edgar Ricardo Carrillo
Natalie Conde Cole
Omar Doria
Miguel Alejandro Escobar
Wentia Ford
Desiree Francis
Daniela E. Garcia
Crystal M. Garza
Daniela Garza
Lucia Alejandra Garza
Marc Bennett Geller
Esiquiel Francisco Gonzalez
Troy Edward Green
Lauren Renee Hernandez
Elsa Cortez Isenberg
Mark Jackson
Jolly Elizabeth John
Tamseela Khan
Woonsik Lee
Arturo Alejandro Lira
Desiree Martinez
Hector Javier Martinez
Perla Martinez
Diego Mascorro
Caryn Mosier Mcanarney
Taylor A. Melian
Karina L. Mercado
Bayyinah Michel-Quintanilla
Cynthia Elena Mireles-Orr
Diego Mugica
Anna Cecilia Munoz
Mariela Ontiveros
Pricilla L. Orta
Susan Heusel Ortiz
Marissa R. Passons
Nina Rajendra Patel
Karina Pena
Priscilla Pena
Jennifer Brooke Reid
Michelle Denise Nicole Reid
Rebecca Rivera
Jacqueline Rodriguez
Martha Patricia Rodriguez
Angela Maria Rosenberg
Cassandra Irais Salinas
Diego De Jesus Santa-Ana
Michael R. Schrock
Jaime Arturo Sierra
Javier Suarez Jaramillo
Danielle E. Tharp
Maria Melissa Vargas
Cardenas
Ashley J. Vega
Angelina Liz Villarreal
Gavino Mario Villescas
Ken Carlson Walls
Yongtao Wang
Lei Zhu
Karina K. Garcia
Venessa A. Garcia
Iris M. Garza
Lavenia Kauimikimikiokalani
Gillespie
Loraine Delores Glass
Alexandria Gonzales
Noemi Gonzalez
Marlene Gutierrez
Mayra Alejandra Gutierrez
Jennifer M. Guzman
Katy E. Hammerstrom
Joy L’Dell Hardwicke
Caroline Kay Heard
Aurora Hernandez
Alaina M. Hinojosa
Jhobana A. Hinojosa
Laura Ashley Hinojosa
Jose G. Izaguirre
Margaret Lee Leal
Philip N. Leal
Amanda K. Limas
Shaidy Lopez
Allyson Morrow Malone
Erica Martinez
Lisa Joyce Martinez
Luis Fernando Martinez
Renee Marie Martinez
Kelly L. Mata
Lauren Valerie MatthewsMendez
Tyler James Mears
Ericka Jenai Mena
Jesus J. Mireles
Matthew James Ouradnik
Priscilla Renae Peralez
Olivia Perez
Estefania Perusquia
Sarah Rebecca Ray
Linda Guadalupe Robles
Diego Rodriguez
Faviola Sanchez
Johnna Elise Schwartz
Clemie Lee Segura
Roxana Solis
Beatrice B. Stallings
Joann Priscilla Trevino
Jose Angel Valdez
Jasmin Abraham Varughese
Edgar Jose Vela
Veronica Villalon
Edith Villanueva
Lavida M. Williams
Rosario Zuniga
Georgina Margarita Gonzalez
Alfredo Alejandro Martinez
Aida Martinez-Gonzalez
Nadia Theys
Gabriel Vallejo
Luis Jesus Hernandez
Pablo Jimenez
Emma Johnson
Jose Alfredo Monroy
Julia Anne Neeley
Erica Ocana
Adriana R. Ortiz
Elsa M. Suarez Vela
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Irma Angelica Aguirre
Ruth M. Araujo
Erica Barrera
Diana Lizbeth Betancourt
Amber M. Bryan
Javier C. Cantu
Brittany Ash Castillo
Nancy Guadalupe Chapa
Melanie Lea Ann Coffey
Brandi Nichole Cruz
Melinda Elaine Cruz
Lawrence Edward Davis
Betzabe Flores
Rudy J. Flores
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
Michelle Denise Alvarez
Jeanne Maricor Bandayan
Claudia Garza
Krystal Garza
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK
Sylvia Camacho
Alice M. Cobos
Maria G. Couoh
Laura I. Esquivel Martinez
Miriam Garcia
David Hernandez
BACHELOR OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY
Celenia Adriana Caquias
Karla Yvette De Leon
Alfredo Montemayor
Rogelio Pena
Orlando Rivera CL
Jeanette Rodriguez MCL
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Jesus F. Acosta MCL
Ana Cristina Aguayo SCL
Sandra S. Aguilar
Lizeth Alanis
Julio Enrique Alaniz
Dayanne Almazan
Jessica Ashley Alvarado
Noe Alvarado
Marlon F. Amador
Bruno Amaral
Emilio Anaya
Jesus A. Anaya
Adriana Atemis
Biridiana Ballesteros CL
Arianna Banda
Brittany Diane Barrera
Catalina E. Bautista
Carlos A. Beltran
Kenya Judith Benavidez
Ayssa Denise Bernal
Ruth S. Bernal
Gregorio Blanco
Robert E. Buentello CL
Cynthia Ann Caceres
Jesus A. Cantu
Andriana Gomez Cardenas
Jorge Adrian Cardenas CL
Antonio Cardona
Olivia L. Carranza CL
Simon Casas
Amber Katherine Castillo
Enrique Fabian Castillo
Melissa L. Castillo
Ketzia Cavazos
Lucia Cavazos
Melissa D. Cavazos
Emma E. Cerda
Luis A. Charles SCL
David C. Chavez MCL
Eleazar J. Chavez
Michelle Yvonne Chavez
Azeneth Chevaili
Valentine Chinchilla
Rodrigo Coronado De La Lama CL
Kezia Correa
Krystal Cortez CL
Martin Guadalupe Cortez
Meagan T. Cortez
Chelsea Cruz
Maria V. Cuellar SCL
Raul De La Rosa
Andrea Dee De Leon
Erica De Leon
Eunice De Leon
Haley A. Durham
Marisol Alejandra Enriquez
Erika C. Espinosa
Viviana Espinoza
Angela C. Fausey
Talina Sophia Fernandez
Alejandra Fernandez De Lara
Adriana Guadalupe Flores
Denisse Flores
Israel A. Flores
Mayra Deyanira Flores
Monica Diane Flores
Nubia M. Flores
Priscilla Nadine Flores
Yanet Alejandra Flores
Jackie Louise Franco
Mark A. Franco
Mara Galindo
Jose Luis Gamez
Daniel R. Garcia
Daniel Garcia
Jacqueline Rae Garcia
Matthew Garcia
Tania Larisa Garcia
Vanessa Garcia
Ysael Garcia
Cecilia Garza
Joe Andrew Garza
Jose M. Garza SCL
Maricela Garza
Nicholas Ralph Garza
Roxanne Garza
Shelby L. Garza MCL
Victoria Garza
Rafael Gloria MCL
Adriana Gonzales
Alondra Gonzalez
Alyssa L. Gonzalez
Brandon Gonzalez
Jocelyn Gonzalez
Kassandra A. Gonzalez
Laurie Lee Gonzalez
Louis E. Gonzalez CL
Michael Gonzalez
Ian Gozdalski
Lynette Guerra CL
Maritzza Y. Guerra
Jorge I. Gutierrez
Juan A. Gutierrez
Mario Alberto Guzman
Annalisa L. Hernandez
Edward Hernandez
Karla E. Hernandez
Anna Marie Herrera
Amanda Magally Hinojosa MCL
Betsy Hinojosa
Alva Nidia Huerta
Allan Joseph Hurtado
Jose M. Ibanez
Cecilia M. Jauregui
Melissa Abigail Jimenez
Desiree Lashay Jones
Carlilyn B. Kagle
Raylene N. Lackey
Ana Julia Lara
Nancy A. Leal
Raquel Leal
Fred Spencer Lerma
Stephen Michael Levings
Aidil Belinda Llanas CL
Ivania V. Longoria CL
Angelica Lopez
Linda Marie Lopez
Lisa Lopez SCL
Maria A. Lopez
Raul Lopez
Stephanie Lopez
Nylza C. Lopez Garcia
Patricia Lozano MCL
Erica Rene Lucio
April Marie Luna
Diana M. Manzo
Alexis Martinez
Basiliza Martinez MCL
Yoseli K. Martinez
Aldo Erick Mayorga CL
Erica D. Mendez
Ana C. Miramontes
Oscar Eduardo Molina
Yvette Montalvo
Jose N. Montelongo MCL
Gilberto Montes
Edgar Ramiro Morales
Monica Munoz MCL
Roland Najera CL
Mariana Nordhausen
Nancy Noyola
Miriam Ontiveros
Alisandra P. Palacios
Bianca Partida
Carla F. Pena SCL
Sasha Michelle Pena-Ramirez
Paloma Perez
Brenda L. Pina MCL
Rigel M. Pinon
Rebecca Denise Ramirez
Sara A. Ramos
Karina Lizbeth Reyes
Minerva Reyes
Gabriela Alejandra Rios
Mario Alberto Rios
Eva Isabel Rivera
Aileen Rodriguez
Alma Lou Rodriguez
Brittney M. Rodriguez
Jessica Elizabeth Rodriguez MCL
Jesus Rodriguez
Jocelyn Z. Rodriguez
Jose M. Rodriguez CL
Amanda Ashley Sanchez
Zuleima Sanchez
Samantha Elena Sandoval
Thalia Segovia
Daisy Silva
Anakaren Solano
Melissa Solis Vasquez CL
Clarissa L. Sosa
Gladys Sosa
Emily S. Strickland CL
Ana L. Tamez CL
Ziomara I. Tirado
Margarito Trevino
Alfredo Uribe
Leticia Vasquez CL
Cindy Sigrid Vela
Jennifer J. Vela CL
Verenice R. Villanueva
Vanessa Villegas
Kaleb C. Villescas
Elisa Wilson
Roy S. Wilson MCL
Nicholas Roel Yanez
Clarissa Crystal Yarrito
Kimberly Rose Ysaguirre CL
Alexandra Zamora
Judith Zuniga
Ester Guerrero SCL
Zulema Martinez Moncada
Melissa Munoz
Rebecca E. Mata CL
Abril Mercado
Jennifer Montano
Anahi Montemayor MCL
Kassandra Ovalle
Alma A. Paredes
Eslibeth Perez
Tanya I. Prado
Aurora I. Ramos
Veronica Rivas CL
Mariel Sanchez
Michelle Aileen Sandoval
Crystal Segovia-Quiroz
Priscilla K. Serna
Karen C. Silva
Cynthia Torres
Rosa E. Trevino CL
Lucero Vasquez
Leocajuan Chablis Williams
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
Richard Cortez Camarillo
Alicia Gonzalez
BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK
Marisela G. Alvarez
Stephania Becerra MCL
Jacquelyn Bianca Camacho MCL
Andrea A. Cordova
Jessica Davila CL
Samantha M. Davila
Melissa Flores
Milena Lysel Garza
Rosalinda Gonzalez CL
Maria Mercedes Lopez MCL
Kristin M. Luna SCL
Stephanie Luna
Amy Martinez
Joanna Jasmin Martinez CL
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
The College of Liberal Arts is composed of the Dean’s Office, Department of Communication, Department
of Criminal Justice, Department of History, Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies, Department of
Philosophy, Department of Political Science, Department of Psychological Science, Department of Public
Affairs and Security Studies, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and the Department of Writing and
Language Studies, School of Interdisciplinary Programs and Community Engagement.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Nancy Dalia Chapa
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Ismael Manuel Aleman
Brittany Danielle Carpenter
Roel Gil
Deborah Herrera
Victor Gabriel Palacios
Marisol Rosas
MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY & MANAGEMENT
Sandra D. Barba
David Joseph Cavazos
Jose Antonio Gavino
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Fernando Almaguer
Laura Arjona
Sharonda Cato
Raul Alfonso Cisneros
William W. Cox
Andrea Marie Dabrushman
Seyed-Amir Housian Emamian
Moises Espinoza
Zachary Allen Flores
Epifanio Reyes Garcia
Linda C. Garza
Juan Manuel Gonzalez
Maria M. Gonzalez
Ariana Julissa Guel
Melissa Marie Ipina
Matthew Jones
Daisy Lopez
Richard L. Lopez
Amanda May Macdonald
Jill Montemayor
Melissa A. Pena
Eloy Daniel Pulido
Adeliza Ramirez
Dora E. Rangel
Juan T. Riley
Cherri Dawn Rowe
April Brittany Simmons
Christopher Lee Stewart
Zachary Z. Suarez
Miguel A. Valdez
Maria De La Vasquez
Marco Antonio Villegas
Diego A. Galvan
Lenny Lee Garcia
Anna Karen Garcia Gallardo
Nilda Andrea Garza
Adrian Gomez
Jose Francisco Gomez
Elim Hernandez
Jorge Abraham Hernandez
Blanca Jaimes-Luna
Arlette Fabiola Jaramillo
Raul Leal
Raul David Lopez
Dorene Elizabeth Lucio
Nora Mariela Maldonado
Marissa Marmolejo
Beatriz Adriana Martinez
Gloriella Anneth Martinez
Carlos Cristian Molina
Joseph Daniel Navarrete
Colin Jarrod Newton
Mahelet Orozco-Hernandez
Juan Ortega
Maria Luisa Pacheco
Jesus Ramos
Benjamin Rios
Adriana Sarith Trevino
Victoriano Ramon Trevino
Guadalupe Graciela Venegas
Ana Laura Villarreal
Priscilla A. Villarreal
James Brian Welton
Aimee Young
MASTER OF ARTS
Nancy Yvette Alvarez
Maria Laura Candanosa
Martha Salazar Cantu
Lila Rocio Casillas
Crystal Castellano
Laura Anne Cedillo
Florence Ruth Fehlner
Patricia Flores
Sophia A. Flores
MASTER OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Carla Maria Bautista
Armando Lee Garza
Juan A. Garza
Serafin Hernandez
John-Michael Partin
Norma Perez
John Harold Riggs
Rolando Silva
Paulette Marie Trevino
Sonia A. Alvarado
Maria Isabel Arellano
Greyssy Berenice Arevalo
Daniel Esteban Arguello
Mark O. Arteaga
Daisy Artiaga
Arturo Avalos
Jerry Alexander Avila CL
Amanda Ayala
Perla Margarita Barajas
Amanda Barrera
Victoria Barrera
Lucy Marie Barrientes
Michael Basaldua
Edna Mabel Benavides
Avery Dalton Benitez MCL
Jennifer Marie Betancourt
Karen Elizabeth Betancourt
Danielle Marie Birnell MCL
Breanne Elizabeth Blain MCL
Chelsea Bocanegra CL
Essence S. Brown
Frida Fernanda Calvo CL
Janie Camero
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Josette L. Adame CL
Martin Aguayo
Ariel Aguilar
Ricardo Aguirre
Ruth E. Aguirre
Andres Altamirano SCL
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
Brenda C. Cantu
Sarah Elizabeth Cantu CL
Domenica Alejandra Cardoza
Kristina Mae Carpio
Ana G. Castaneda
Larissa Castillo
Reynaldo Handy Cavazos
Tanya B. Cavazos
Cassandra Claire Cerda
Brenda Nataly Chapa
Laura Chavez
Vanna Lyn Clarke
Emily C. Contreras CL
Laura M. Corcoran
Edlin Costilla
Daniel Curtis Cox CL
Leiza Davila
Genesis Miroslava De La Cruz
Shelley Nicole De Leon
Jesus J. De Los Reyes
Brenda Lynn De los Santos
Sandoval
Jamie Diaz SCL
Kassandra Vanessa Elejarza
Adrian Elizondo
Maria Pilar Esparza
Stephanie M. Estrada CL
Alexandra Marie Faz
Cynthia Flores
Josephine Flores
Katelyn Alexandra Flores CL
Monica N. Flores
Roel J. Flores
Samantha J. Flores
Perla Flores Gonzalez
Andrea Flores Velasco MCL
Javier Gallardo
Chelsea Rae Garcia
Diamaris Grisel Garcia
Eliberto Garcia
Grecia Garcia CL
Juan A. Garcia
Laura Emma Garcia
Maria V. Garcia
Meghan E. Garcia
Michelle Nicolle Garcia
Miranda D. Garcia
Hugo Obed Garcia Alvarez
Lauren Ashley Gardner
Conrado Garza
Natalie Glenda Garza
Ricardo Garza
Valerie F. Garza CL
Amy Kaitlin Glover MCL
Dannae Jannette Gomez
Deborah A. Gomez
Hector E. Gomez
Pedro Gomez
Adriana Gonzales
Crystal Marie Gonzalez
James P. Gonzalez
Magda Villarreal Gonzalez MCL
Maria Del Carmen Gonzalez
Natalia Gonzalez
Pedro C. Gonzalez
Robert Andres Gonzalez
Veronica Gonzalez
Noe Fernando Gonzalez-Rojo CL
Yaresi Elizabeth Gracia CL
Rico R. Griffin
Veronica Guajardo
Felicia A. Guerra
Veronica Guerra
Kattie Annette Guerrero CL
Aracely Guevara CL
Preston A. Guilbeau
Gloria Marie Gutierrez
Miriam A. Gutierrez
Cristal Haidee Guzman
Olga Handy
Carmen Elizabeth Hernandez
Carolina Hernandez
Jessica Hernandez
Juana Rosa Hernandez
Krystal D. Hernandez CL
Tracy Valeria Hernandez
Vanessa Hernandez
Yahaira Ann Hernandez
Clarissa Janette Herrera
Blanca Hinojosa-Castillo CL
Jacqueline Joy Ho-Shing
Rebecca Alexandra Hull
Erika Diaz Ibarra
Andrea Elisse Iglesias
Antonia Islas
Yessica Lizeth Islas De Garza
Samantha G. Jasso
Raquel A. Jimenez
Maria Teresa Jimenez Frias SCL
Joann Grace Juarez
Ronita X. Kuruppasseril
Amanda Marie Lafond
Marcus Alexander Leach
Karla C. Leal
Annette Lopez
Gloria D. Lopez
Jesus Lopez CL
Marlene Lopez
Yadira Lopez CL
Carla Daniela Lozano
Ysidro Luis Lucio
Matthew J. Machner
Maritza Madrigal
Norberto Manzano
Lesley Andrea Marin
Claudia Edith Marquez
Itzel Marquez
Angelica M. Martinez MCL
Gloria Y. Martinez
Hector Eduardo Martinez
Isamar Martinez
Melissa Martinez
Mercedie Marie Martinez
Yara N. Martinez
Yasmin Martinez
Yvonne Martinez
Gladis Selene Mata
Jose R. Mata CL
Teresa J. Mata
Ashley K. Medina
Jacqueline M. Medina
Aida Perez Meeks
Daira Mendoza Vidales
Irene A. Molina
Martha Gabriela Monsivais
Christina M. Montalvo
Carmen Anahi Montanaro
Maria J. Moreno
Yuriana Yudith Moreno
Beatriz Munoz
Lilia Nava
Mary Jo Nava
Nina Marie Navarro
Estella Nunez
Julio Cesar Ojeda
Marlee Olivarez
Esteban Olvera
Andres Orduna
Anabel Amy Palacios
Rene Palacios CL
Ruben Patlan
Estefania Payns
Rebecca M. Pedraza
Sarah V. Pena
Laura L. Perales
Nelda Cecilia Pereira
Alana Perez
Ernesto Perez
Linda Crystal Perez
Tomas G. Perez
Michelle Perez-Yanez CL
Javier Adonai Pina MCL
Claudia Pineda
Jeiri Anilu Pintor
Gabriela Pizana
Adrian Ponce
Ednita Nayeli Ponce
Alejandra Pulido MCL
Aide Ramirez CL
Ana Cristina Ramirez
Angelica M. Ramirez
Isamar Ramirez
Leonila P. Ramos
Ivan E. Rangel
Milka Rangel CL
Elizabeth Resendez MCL
Alyssa M. Reyes
Gerardo Reyes
Mariza R. Reyes
Rebecca R. Reyes MCL
Abigail Aida Rios
Ramiro Rios CL
Briza M. Rodriguez SCL
Clairissa Rodriguez CL
Flor Alma Rodriguez
Jasmine Lyzette Rodriguez
Jesus Andres Rodriguez
Julio Cesar Rodriguez
Miriam Ivette Rodriguez
Nazli A. Rodriguez MCL
Rogelio Rodriguez
Silvia Margarita Rodriguez CL
Veronica Esmeralda Rodriguez
Lizeth Rojas
Marielena Elizabeth Romero CL
Kassandra Romo
Paola Rosales
Raul Emmanuel Rosales
Sylvia Rubalcava
Erika Liza Ruiz
Magaly Saenz
David Salas MCL
Divanna Salazar
Andrew Eric Saldivar
Krystal Kristine Salinas
Adaiah Bernice Sanchez MCL
Franchesca Angela Sanchez
Karmen P. Sanchez
Sergio Sanchez SCL
Rebekah L. Sandlin MCL
Karyna K. Saucedo MCL
Elizabeth Maria Scurlock
Karina Segovia
Megan Rachelle Shaw
Cynthia Solis CL
Melissa Ann Solis
Michelle Sosa
Abigail Natali Soto
Craig Steven Stone
Kimberly Y. Tellez
Alicia G. Torres
Ismael Trevino
Vannessa Trevino
Mario Estban Urbina
Martin Vasquez MCL
Sabrina Renee Vasquez
Olga Vazquez
Amanda L. Vega
Rosanna Vega
Janice Aranelly Vela
Monica Venegas
Lorena Villalon
Aimee Lynn Villanueva
Darlene Villarreal
Samantha Renee Villegas
Jamie Michelle Wisdom
Zachary A. Wise MCL
Oscar Yerena
Antonia Allizmah Zamora
Alfredo Zepeda
Sandra Elena Zermeno Rivera
Karla Stacey Gonzalez
Sandra Gonzalez
Kayla Denee McFarland
Aquilina Molina
Maria Del Carmen Munoz
Alberto Passamen
Maria Guadalupe Pena
Francisco Javier Rodriguez
Iris Dolores Trevino
Sylvia Stephanie Rendon
Penelope Marie Rivas
Alexandria M. Rodriguez
Michelle Lee Rodriguez
Alicia Jocelyn Salinas
Alexandra J. Seymour
Beatriz De La Garza
Cinthia P. De Los Santos
Maleny Delgado
Thalia Delgado
Paulina Diaz
Spencer L. Douglas
Brenda Lee Gamboa CL
Sahira Lizbeth Garza
Alexandra Granado CL
Enrique Herrera CL
Maria Elisa Herrera
Veronica C. Leal
BACHELOR OF APPLIED ARTS & SCIENCES
Perla Paola Alvarado CL
Andres E. Alvarez CL
Mary Carmen Arellano
Perla Edith De la Cruz
Blanca Estela Escobedo
Elizabeth Claudelia Fisher
David Garcia
Cynthia Marie Gonzalez
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION
Karina Capistran
Juan Carlos Esteve
Luis Alberto Lopez Rivera
Carolina Mendez
Ashley N. Perez
Oscar Perez
BACHELOR OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Olivia Judith Arriaga
Enrique Ayala
Yeraldin Ayala
Irene Cardenas
Dulce Carolina Castano
Garcia MCL
Martha A. Ceballos
Karel Cisneros
Deyanira Lizeth Cortez
Eunice Viridiana Cortinas
Pearl Covarrubias
Michelle Antonia Cruz
Nailea Manjarrez
Adriana Guadalupe Martinez
Maria Mata
Mayra Alejandra Melendez CL
Stacey Anne Mendoza
Kenia Lizbeth Mendoza Garza
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
BACHELOR OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Cecilia Guadalupe Munoz
Jasmin Olmos MCL
Evelyn Padilla
Hector Henry Padron
Maria Tanya Patlan
Ana Teresa Reyna
Vanessa Rivas
Hannah Elizabeth Roberts SCL
Valeria Robledo SCL
Alicia Elizabeth Salazar
Fatima Esmeralda Salazar
Erika Sanmiguel CL
Aleyda Evelyn Santoyo
Stephani Sifuentes CL
Oralia Isamara Silva CL
Jocelyn Solis
Fabiola Torres
Linda Trevino
Estefania Uribe
Imelda Araceli Vargas
Olga Villarreal CL
Juliana I. Villegas
Grecia Zavala
Roberta Yvonne Hernandez
Isela Huerta
Hansel Obedh Ibarra
Alma Gabriela Mantle
Jessica Marroquin
George William Mehis
Jessie J. Moody
David Matthew Morin
Arnulfo Perez CL
David Gamaliel Ramirez
Luis Alberto Rivera
Maryel Rodriguez
Rebekah R. Rodriguez
Estefania Sanchez
Beatriz A. Vela
Norma Delia Espinoza
Florencia Gaona
Adriana Garza
Dorys Govea
Keshia Guerrero
Myra Jaramillo
Keith Clay Kelso
Aurora Larrazolo
Heriberto Manriquez MCL
Jose Angel Muniz MCL
Oscar David Rivera
Steven Segovia
Brandon Lee Signs MCL
Andrea Tellez Silva
Carol Lynn Vasquez
Megan Vera
David Roel Figueroa
Bianca A. Fuentes
Crystal Del Carmen Garcia
Erick Santiago Garcia
Jesus Garcia
Monica Jean Garcia
Destiny M. Gomez
Ivan Guerra
Perla Jazmin Guerra
Guadalupe Yadira Hall
Jessica S. Hernandez
Wendy S. Hernandez
Alejandro Herrera
Jose M. Herrera
Brittany Lee Keener
Jeremiah Rico Leal
Rudy V. Limas
Alyssa N. Lopez
Eliever I. Lopez
Lucila Soraya Lopez MCL
Argenis Martinez
Jose Medina CL
Zelenia Montalvo
Christian Ivette Morin
Fellippe A. Munoz
Bianca Yanira Nava
Joshua Duane Neece
Magdalena Olivares
Alejandra Osuna
Martin Gerardo Palacios
Alejandro Pena
Orlando Pena
Anthony B. Quintanilla
Roy Resendiz
Julian R. Rivera
Homero Rodriguez
Samantha Monique Ruiz CL
Jay U. Salazar
Francisco Jesus Sierra CL
Crystal Sifuentes
Cecilia E. Sosa
Ana V. Soto
Jessica Stahl
Brittany N. Stewart
Angelita Tirado
Anna G. Toledo
Amanda N. Torres
Elisa Torres
Jose Guadalupe Torres
Robert Touchet
Alberto Tovar
Amanda Trevino
Claudia A. Valle
Elizabeth Vasquez MCL
Cristina Arianna Vela CL
Ricardo Vento
Alexa Villafranca
Eduardo Villarreal
Pedro Alfonso Villarreal CL
Crystal Lee Villegas
Jessica A. Hernandez
Luis E. Hernandez
Monica Desiree Hernandez
Tomas Hernandez
Armando Herrera
Lucio January
Noemi Ruth Lamas
Gisselle Lerma
Hector Magana
Victoria Maldonado
Juan Jorge Marquez
Jaime R. Martinez
Joanna Martinez
Mauro A. Martinez
Sergio Martinez
Raul M. Medina
Roxanna Meza CL
Karina Molina
Rosyvon Montemayor
Melissa Morales
Oscar Munoz CL
Bryan Oyervides
Abraham Pena-Hinojosa
Elizabeth Perez
Esequiel Martinez Pompa MCL
Carlos J. Quintero
Ianelli Ramirez
Pedro Ramirez
Abram I. Ramos
Priscilla A. Reyes
David Rios
Cynthia A. Rivas
Cyanna Lee Rivera
Javier Rivera
Fernando Rocha
Edith Janet Rodriguez
Raul Antonio Rodriguez
Rene Roberto Rodriguez
Zulema Rodriguez
Jesse Saldana
Edgar U. Salinas
Abraham Sanchez
Jaimond Sauceda
Emmanuel Timothy Shepard
Celina Andrea Silva
Manuel Silva
Samantha J. Soria
Carla Alejandra Teran
Ivan Trevino
Oziel Trigo
Jesus A. Turrubiates
Abner Vega
Matthew Eric Vela
Jorge L. Villarreal MCL
David A. Wright
Rebecca Zurita
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIAL STUDIES COMPOSITE
Nestor Alexis Sanchez
BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES
Jesus M. Aguilar
Handrel Avila
Mark A. Case
Danielle Dominguez
Jose Adonahi Enriquez
Esmeralda M. Garcia
Glenda M. Garcia CL
Maria Del Rosario Gonzalez
Nancy Michele Guerra
Brenda Gutierrez MCL
BACHELOR OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Blanca E. Aguirre
Lucy Elisabeth Arreola
Crystal Castillo
Briana Yareli Encalada
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Eduardo Aguirre
Humberto Aguirre
Miguel Alaniz
Mario L. Arredondo SCL
Josue Aviles
Eduardo Badillo
Pedro Gerardo Calderon
Anissa B. Calzada
Michelle Nicole Cantu
Trish J. Cantu
Amanda Castillo CL
Edna Carol Castillo
Marissa G. Cerda
Perla K. Davila
Joanna Dealba
Mariam Talal El-Haj
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Luis Alberto Aguirre
Eric Aleman
Ashly A. Alonzo
Brandy Ayala
Sandy K. Balboa
Maria D. Balli
Corina Benavides
Jessica Berrones
Adrian Camarillo CL
Elizabeth Camberos
Imelda Cano
Sabrina Cantu
Eric E. Carrizales
Victoria Jo Casas
Daniel Castaneda
Marcos Castillo
Veronica Eunice
Castro Ramirez
Carlos Rosalio Cobos
Jocelyn Contreras
Lee R. Contreras
Rachel D. Cordova
Laura Y. Cortez
Juan Jose Cruz
Anita Joy Cruz Vallomparambil
Edna Judith Fuentes
Jorge Guillermo Galindo
Karen V. Gamez
Juan Garcia
Noe Garcia
Robert L. Garcia
Armando Garza
Jeannette Garza
Rene H. Garza
Alva Gomez
Cecilia Gonzalez
Artemio Victor Guzman
Alina Hernandez CL
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
COLLEGE OF SCIENCES
The College of Sciences is composed of the Dean’s Office, Department of Biology, Department of Chemistry,
Department of Physics, School of Mathematical and Statistical Science, School of Multidisciplinary Sciences,
Coastal Studies, Office of Health Professions Careers, Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, Center for
Advanced Radio Astronomy, Math and Science Academy, and UTeach.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Guillermo Aguilar
Ricky Jay Alexander
Alejandra Alvarez
Shane Marie Askar
Liza Berrout
Michael Andrew Bollinger
Kiley Vincent Briggs
Claudia Cristina Cantu
Lopamudra A. Chakraborty
Maria Theressa Cooksey
Monica Delgado
Joseph P. Diaz
Alfredo Flores
Xiomara Galvan
Karen Denisse Gonzalez
Roel Rojas Gonzalez
Kamisha Latrelle Hammond
Emma Youmans Handzo
Susan Wittman Holloway
Padmini Kukkapalli
Christopher Stanley
Lukaszewski
Stephanie O. Palmer
Manuel A. Rivera
Jaime E. Romo
Jacob Stephen Sollner
Everardo Villarreal
Parker Alex Watson
Megan N. Nelson CL
Jessica P. Nunez
Fatimat Idowu Olaoye
Kehinde Muslimot Olaoye
Taiwo Mariam Olaoye
Carolina J. Olivares
Guadalupe Daniela Orozco
Juan M. Palencia
Jason P. Palker MCL
Sara E. Palos
Andrea G. Paredes
Jonathan Simon Parra
Ujval S. Pathak SCL
Andres Pecero
Albesa Anay Pedraza
Homero Pena
Jamie J. Pena MCL
Kassandra Perez
Aliza V. Ponce
Cherrell Nicole Price
Brenda I. Ramirez MCL
Ramiro Ramirez
Tracey Ramirez
Larissa Monnett Rangel
Roberto E. Reyes
Ryan E. Reyes
Carmen Reynoso
Arnulfo Rodriguez
Cristina J. Rodriguez CL
David Michael Rodriguez
David Rodriguez
Isaac Abraham Rodriguez
Ivelitz R. Rodriguez
Juan D. Rodriguez
Mario Rodriguez
Bianca Esmeralda Saenz SCL
Josiah Saenz SCL
Jocelyn Clarisa Salazar CL
Albert Salinas
Kevin R. Salinas SCL
Arturo Alejandro Sanchez
Erica Sanchez
Lucas E. Serna
Nancy Silva
Tyler Francisco Smith CL
Isabella Soto
Angel Tamez
Niko Ross Alvarez Tapangan
Omar Torres
Jorge Guadalupe Torres
Vasquez
Alexis Thuy Tran MCL
Hector Trejo
Felix Eric Trevino
Melissa Trevino
Corina Tristan
Rachel Tsai MCL
Amanda L. Valdez
Martin Vega
Carolina L. Vela
Daniella Michelle Vela MCL
Alex Velasco
Andrea A. Vera
Shelby Nichole Villarreal
Karen Marie Zamora
Amanda Roxanne Zartuche
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Mayanin Casarez
Rolando Soto
Noah Samuel Valdez
BACHELOR OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Gennifer Castillo
Bianca Duran
Elizabeth Garza
Diego Ituarte MCL
Martin Jimenez
Erica Villagomez
Iissa Nicole Galvan
Danny Garcia
Daphne Joy Garcia MCL
Elizabeth Syerra Garcia
Juan J. Garcia
Lili Garcia
Melisa Garcia SCL
Sarah Michelle Garcia MCL
Veronica Vanessa Garcia
Victor D. Garcia
Alyssa N. Garza CL
Gustavo Garza
Leticia Garza
Prescellia Itzel Garza
Ricardo Garza
Ricardo Gomez
Tyler Anthony Gomez
Cassandra M. Gonzalez
David Ryan Gonzalez
Efrain Gonzalez
Eli Eden Gonzalez
Krystal Eileen Gonzalez
Larissa Gonzalez
Mariel Jannell Gonzalez
Amy M. Guerra
Rogelio Antonio Guerra
Diego A. Gutierrez
Brian Keith Hackel
Andrew N. Hernandez
Cesar H. Hernandez CL
Dulce Maria Hernandez
Miriam Jeannette Hernandez
Patricio De Jesus Hernandez
Thanya J. Hernandez
Aldo Herrera
Cynthia Herrera
Iliana Herrera
Saraly Herrera
Gladis Hinojosa
Maria L. Ibarra Rodriguez
Juan Izaguirre
Evelyn Jimenez
Omar Jimenez
Katharine Leigh Jones
Alfredo Lerma
Gina Ruby Lima
Rodolfo Longoria
Annalisa Lopez
Linda Lopez
Lisa Marie Lopez
Sibongile Lubasi
Marco D. Lumbreras
Alba R. Luque
Brenda Geovana Mariscal
Marisa Itze Marquez Leo CL
Madeline Marshall
Rocio Martinez
Sharai Martinez
Rachelle Matias CL
Lori Michelle Mejia
Linda V. Mercado MCL
Giovana Monaco
Daniel Japheth Montalvo
Erik Isai Montelongo
Juan Montemayor
Emma Montes
Julio Cesar Montes
Jose Miguel Morales
Orlando Lee Moreno
Ezekiel Carlos Navarro
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Jazmin Almanza
Ivonne Marie Alvarado MCL
Ridge A. Alvarez
Nina Camille Alvarez Lopez
Ana G. Andrade
Jennifer D. Aranda
Susana Arguelles
Kimberly L. Arrambide MCL
Jose A. Arriaga
Daniel Ayala
Cesar Ayala Zavala
Isaac Bailon-Martinez MCL
Maximiliano Barbosa CL
Nathaniel Barbosa
Keeisi Analy Caballero MCL
Alexander T. Cantu SCL
Dulce Maria Cantu
Cyndi Casarez
Valerie M. Castillo
Jaime I. Cerda
Victoria E. Cerna CL
Clarisa Beth Chapa
Iliana Meagan Chapa MCL
Jonathan Cisneros
Martin A. Corona SCL
Lorraine Cuellar
Marissa Lynn Davila
Laura Beth De Leon
Mitzi Dianette De Los Santos CL
Denise Delgado
Christopher Javier Flores
Guadalupe Flores
Lisa Flores
Cinthya Fuentes-Tapia CL
Nora Linda Galan
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) – 3.9-4.0 grade point average • Magna Cum Laude (MCL) – 3.7-3.89 grade point average • Cum Laude (CL) – 3.5-3.69 grade point average
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS
Diana H. Cortez-Castro
College of Education and P-16 Integration
Exploring Hispanic Teacher Candidates’ Beliefs About the Value
of Play in Children’s Learning and Development
Committee Chair: Dr. Laura Jewett
Esmeralda Villarreal Muñoz
College of Education and P-16 Integration
The Effect of a Writing Course on the English Language Arts State
Assessment Examination in a South Texas High School
Committee Chair: Dr. Shirley Mills
Rosemond A. Moore
College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Identifying Elements of a Climate for Sustainability
Committee Chair: Dr. Linda Matthews
Robert D. Morrison
College of Business and Entrepreneurship
The Competitive Environment of Community Banking and the
Potential Impact on Microenterprise Entrepreneurs’ Access to
Bank Financing
Committee Chairs: Dr. Joo Jung and Dr. Dave Jackson
GRADUATE THESES
Ricky J. Alexander
Department of Biology
Comparing Reproductive Capacity of
Nearshore and Offshore Red Snapper,
Lutjanus Campechanus, on Artificial Reefs
in the Western Gulf of Mexico
Shane Askar
Department of Chemistry
Molecular Modeling and Mutational
Mapping of the GPR119 Binding Site
Michael A. Bollinger
Department of Biology
Validating Side Scan Sonar as a Fish
Survey Tool
Jean O. Calzada
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Pressure Field Estimation using Particle
Image Velocimetry
Martha S. Cantu
Department of History
Liberty, Equality, Indebtedness: Thomas
Jefferson, John Adams and the Problem of
Debt in a Revolutionary Age
Monica Delgado
Department of Biology
Decomposition and Nitrogen Dynamics of
Turtle Grass (Thalassia Testudinum) in a
Subtropical Estuarine System
Joseph P. Diaz
School of Mathematical and
Statistical Sciences
Computational Analysis of the SIR
Mathematical Model for the Dengue Fever
Xiomara Galvan
Department of Biology
Activation of Microglia in the Rotenone
Lymnaea Stagnalis Model of Parkinson’s
Disease
Ridwan Hossain
Department of Electrical Engineering
A Handcrafted Multi-Branch Nerve Scaffold
for In Vivo Peripheral Nerve Regeneration
Padmini Kukkapalli
Department of Chemistry
Facile Sol-Gel Molten Salt Synthesis
of Double Perovskite La2NiMnO6 as
Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution
Reaction
Rodolfo Leal
Department of Manufacturing and
Industrial Engineering
Total Productive Maintenance a Profit
Optimization Framework: Case Study
Raul Lopez
Department of History
Racial Intolerance During the California
Gold Rush
Christopher S. Lukaszewski
Department of Biology
The Potential Use for Antioxidants in the
Isolation and Culture of Jatropha curcas
Protoplasts
Crystal Martinez
Department of Biology
Balanus Eburneus (Crustacea: Cirripedia)
as Indicator of Estuarine System Recovery
in South Texas: A Study of Recruitment,
Growth and Stable Isotopes
Thania A. Martinez
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Modeling the Residual Useful Life of
Railroad Bearing Grease
Daniel M. Mendoza
Creative Writing Program
The Other America: Personal Essays,
Observances, and Interviews
Juan L. Monrreal
Department of Computer Science
3D Reconstruction of Close Range Objects
Using Free and Open Source Software and
Raspberry Pi Technologies
Colin J. Newton
Department of History
Landslide: The 1984 Presidential Election
Benjamin Rios
Department of History
The Economic Effects of Falcon Dam and
the 1944 Water Treaty on South Texas
Jorge Rostro
Department of Counseling and Guidance
An Exploratory Investigation of Levels
of Therapeutic Alliance and Satisfaction
Between Tele-Counseling and Face to
Face Counseling
Monica Skrzypinski
Creative Writing Program
De Vida, Regalos e Historias
Jacob S. Sollner
Department of Chemistry
Hydrodesulfurization of Dibenzothiophene
Using CoMoS2
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
GRADUATE THESES
Rosa E. Treviño
Creative Writing Program
I Never Left the Borderland
Sylvia H. Vera
Creative Writing Program
Historias de Psicopatas Desidiosos y
Solitarios en la Frontera
Jose R. Vera
School of Mathematical and
Statistical Sciences
Bourbaki-Jacobson Correspondence
James B. Welton
Department of Writing and
Language Studies
Mack Thomas: The Total Beat
Parker A. Watson
Department of Biology
Effects of Shrub Encroachment and
Removal on South Texas Coastal
Prairie Flora
HONORS COLLEGE
Andrea Flores Velasco
HONOR SOCIETIES
ALPHA PSI OMEGA NATIONAL HONORARY THEATRE SOCIETY
Daniel Cardenas III
Virginia L. Jimenez
Charles A. Steen
BETA BETA BETA NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL HONOR SOCIETY
Erik Isai Montelongo
ETA OMICRON NU HONORS
Andrea Flores Velasco
KAPPA DELTA PI INTERNATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY IN EDUCATION
Martin Aguayo Jr.
Amanda Kay Cruz
Meghan E. Garcia
Janelly Lizeth Garza
Marco D. Lumbreras
Jacqueline M. Medina
Erik Isai Montelongo
Brenda I. Ramirez
PHI ALPHA THETA, THE HISTORY HONORS SOCIETY
Martin Aguayo Jr.
PI ALPHA ALPHA, THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND ADMINISTRATION
Maria M. Gonzalez
Zachary Z. Suarez
PSI CHI INTERNATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Kattie Annette Guerrero
Marlene Lopez
Ana Cristina Ramirez
Nazli A. Rodriguez
Samantha Monique Ruiz
Hector Trejo
TAU BETA PI HONOR SOCIETY IN ENGINEERING
Jesus Alfredo Aguirre
David E. Flores
David Abimael Gonzalez
Juan Carlos Lago
Arthur A. Mealer
Christopher Ivan Reyes
Melanie Ramos
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
COSTUMES AND CUSTOMS OF COMMENCEMENT
The colorful costumes and traditional customs of college commencements trace their beginnings back to the origins of the
modern university in medieval Europe. Modern American colleges and universities carry on many traditions that began
at Oxford and Cambridge to demonstrate the continuity of learning over the centuries and to emphasize the importance
attached to commencement exercises. Academic regalia refer to the distinctive attire worn by students, faculty and other
university officials at commencement. The origins of academic dress date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when
universities were taking form. The ordinary dress of the scholar, whether student or teacher, was the dress of a cleric.
Though the custom of wearing academic dress was brought to America in colonial times, it was not until 1895 that a
standardized code of academic dress was established and followed by most colleges and universities. The gown, hood,
cap and additional ornaments are the main categories of academic regalia and are distinctive for each degree.
CAPS
HOODS
Headwear is an important
component of the cap and gown,
and the academic costume is not
complete without it. The standard
commencement headwear is the
Oxford cap, a skullcap topped
by a square cloth-covered board,
the reason for its “mortarboard”
nickname. Some faculty members
wear a softer Cambridge version
of the cap that is a velvet tam with
four, six or eight corners. Usually,
the color of the cap matches the
color of the gown. Caps are worn
throughout the ceremony except
for men during the singing of the
national anthem.
The hood is derived from the cowls
worn by clerics in the Middle Ages
for warmth. Today they are worn
symbolically, hanging down the
back. Master’s hoods are
3 1/2 feet in length and
have a velvet trim along the edge.
Doctoral hoods are 4 feet in length
and have a wider velvet trim. The
satin lining of the hood, worn so that
it can be seen, reflects the colors of
the degree-granting institution. The
color of the velvet trim signifies the
academic discipline of the wearer’s
degree. As codified by the American
Council on Education, some of the
official colors associated with the
various degrees and disciplines are:
TASSEL
White: Arts and Letters
Drab: Business/Accounting
Light Blue: Education
Orange: Engineering
Purple: Law
Lemon: Library Science
Green: Medicine
Pink: Music
Brown: Fine Arts
Apricot: Nursing
Olive Green: Pharmacy
Dark Blue: Philosophy
Sage Green: Physical Education
Salmon Pink: Public Health
Golden Yellow: Science
Citron: Social Work
Peacock Blue: Public
Administration
The tassel is attached to a button on the top of the cap and
hangs down to the right for bachelor’s candidates until their
degree is conferred. Many universities ceremoniously have
graduates move their tassel from the right to the left. Both
master’s and doctoral candidates tassels often begin and
remain on the left.
GOWNS
The gown is the most basic of
academic regalia. The Costume
Code calls for three types of gowns:
doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s.
Most gowns are black, but some
universities have adopted
distinctive colors. The bachelor’s
gown is the simplest of the three,
a plain gown with long, pointed
sleeves. The master’s gown is
distinctive for its ex­tremely long,
closed sleeves (originally used as
a place to carry small books or
other materials), the arms protruding
through a slit at the elbow. The
doctoral gown is the most elaborate,
with front-facing velvet and three velvet bars on each of the
full, billowing sleeves. The velvet can be black, Ph.D. blue, or
the academic color to which the degree corre­sponds.
In the case of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, the dark
blue color represents the mastery of learning and scholarship in
any field, not just the field of philosophy.
ADDITIONAL ORNAMENTS
Some participants in the commencement ceremony will wear
additional ornaments such as colored cords, medallions, stoles,
or sashes. These ornaments signify the wearer’s membership in
an honor society or special group.
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
Chain of Office and Presidential Medallion
The presidential medallion is the official insignia of the university president and is worn at
commencement and other ceremonial occasions. Like many academic traditions, the display of a
heavy “chain of office” comes from medieval regalia and represents the weight of responsibility
for the wearer.
The UTRGV medallion and chain was designed in 2015 and executed by the Jewelry Students,
Jewelry Faculty, and craftsman Lino Guiza in the UTRGV School of Art. The medallion is made up
of two parts–the seal of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley surrounded by an abstract
sunburst created with a bricks and mortar design. The cactus flowers on the outer edges of the
seal are placed at the four cardinal points with the largest flower pointing south. The counter
weight to the medallion is a representation of the native Sabal palm. The Chain of Office is
a circlet of Art Deco-inspired links representing the past, while revealing an infrastructure of
bridges, aqueducts and gears that speak to the importance of our solid foundation, water, and
movement into the future. The chain features many aspects of the Rio Grande Valley that aid our
growth and commitment to higher education.
Arches
Water
Turbine
Neuron Tree
Circuit Board
Abacus
Bone
Binary code
Leaves/Quills
Butterfly
Tortoise
Finger Print
Road Junction
Satellite
Ceremonial Mace
In medieval times, the mace was a symbol of authority and was carried before or set
near a high official when ceremonies or sessions were being conducted. Today, the
mace symbolizes the university’s governing authority and signifies the proceedings have
official sanction. Traditionally, the chair of the Faculty Senate carries the mace to lead the
academic procession at commencement and other special ceremonies.
The UTRGV 47” Ceremonial Mace was designed in 2015 by students in the School
of Art and a committee of faculty from anthropology, archeology, geology, history,
communication and art. The mace is intricately imbued with historical, cultural and
architectural meaning.
The top of the mace is made of inlayed bronze. The delicate design features fronds from
the sabal palm, native to the Rio Grande Valley. The arches, an architectural feature
prominent on the UTRGV campuses, form the head of the mace and are made of petrified
palm—the official stone of Texas—and inlaid with ebony wood, also native to the Rio
Grande Valley.
The university seal is inlaid with a blue selenite stone outline. Selenite is thought to be
associated with mental clarity, truth and honesty.
The handles are Rio Grande Valley ebony engraved with a decorative pattern of the
state’s official turtle, the Ridley, and wind turbines.
The helix, between the handles, represents the coming together of the legacy
institutions—UT Brownsville and UT Pan American. The helix is made of petrified palm.
The base is made of ebony and inlaid with blue selenite outlines in bronze to represent
the Rio Grande.
The tip of the mace is made of Sauz Chert.
Memory Stole
When students graduate from
UTRGV they know they did not
make the journey alone. The
Memory Stole is a symbol of
appreciation and graduates
wear their stole during the
commencement ceremony.
Following the ceremony they
are encouraged to present
the stole to a special family
member, professor, or friend
as a symbol of gratitude and
appreciation for their support,
inspiration or mentorship.
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
GONFALONS
The college gonfalon, or
banner, has its roots in the
Middle Ages and were
symbols of units or family
groups. Today, gonfalons
are used at official
university ceremonies
as heraldic devices and
are frequently carried
during processionals
at commencement.
At UTRGV, each college has
a custom-designed banner
signifying its academic
unit. Each flag is rich in
unique symbolism while
also showing unity through
size, shape and color. The
swoop at the bottom of
each gonfalon represents
the border of Texas, and
the field of blue with gold
stars of Texas represents
the distributed nature of
UTRGV — from Rio Grande
City to South Padre Island.
The gonfalons were
designed by
Daniel Cardenas,
Karla Castillo,
Roberto Castro,
Santa Hernandez, and
Kimberly Selber
from UTRGV Marketing
& Creative Services.
College of Education
and P-16 Integration
Symbol:
The torch represents the
guiding light – the ability
for graduates to serve as
a beacon for others and for
the college to serve as a
light that will lead the
way for others.
The multi-colored
flame symbolizes the
forward-thinking nature
of the college, bringing
power to ideas.
Colors:
Light blue for education
and for wisdom, intelligence
and Integrity.
College of
Engineering and
Computer Science
College of Fine Arts
Symbols:
The dominant image is an
interpretation of Moore’s
Law: Every year, computer
chips and components are
able to compute twice
as much data.
Symbols:
The waves represent the
flow of the mind, freedom,
imagination and knowledge.
The three waves symbolize
creativity, imagination
and motivation.
The eye of providence
symbolizes the grand
architect. In this case, the
engineer takes all things
into consideration.
The interlocking shape
represents unity and
strength between the
arts and sciences.
Colors:
Orange for engineering and
the metals involved in the
processing and development
of technology. Purple for
social ethics.
The hummingbird
stands for joy, beauty,
strength, movement
and independence.
Colors:
Wineberry for writing,
khaki for fine arts,
gold for art, and pink
for music.
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT
College of
Health Affairs
Symbols:
The dominant image is the
Peony Flower, symbolizing
health and medicine in
Greek mythology; Paeon
was turned into the flower by
Zeus because Asclepius was
threatened by his pursuit
of knowledge.
The two snakes are
Asclepius representing
health and Hygeia
representing wellness.
Color:
Blue for the caring
nature of the health
professions and green
for health and medicine.
College of
Liberal Arts
College of Sciences
Symbol:
The Trivium is derived from
the medieval symbol for
the Seven Liberal Arts
and Sciences.
Symbol:
The infinity symbol, for
math and physics, also
represents perfection,
unity and balance.
The symbols of the lion
and the scales of justice
represent the dialogue
between the value
of the emotions, power,
and creativity with
the rational, law, and
historical institutions.
The atom represents
the sciences and the
vertical pillars represent the
foundation of all life and
biology, while the vertical
lines signify energy.
Colors:
Crimson, gold, silver and
blue represent the disciplines
within the college.
Colors:
Golden yellow is the
color of science,
mathematics and physics,
while gold represents
wisdom, understanding
and enlightenment.
College of Business
and Entrepreneurship
Symbols:
The two-headed eagle
represents power and
authority, while also
symbolizing collaboration.
Both heads are facing
north, signifying innovation,
looking forward and success.
Their wings are open, ready
to take flight to discover
new horizons, and being
open to new ideas. Wheat
symbolizes wealth.
Colors:
Rust for economics, brown
for business, and purple for
leadership.
WE WILL
BUILD THE FUTURE
WE WILL
BRING A NEW KIND
OF INNOVATION
The University of Texas System
601 Colorado Street, Austin, Texas 78701
512/499-4200 •www.utsystem.edu
The Board of Regents
Paul L. Foster
Chairman
Wallace L. Hall Jr.
Dallas
Jeffery D. Hildebrand
Vice Chairman
David J. Beck
Houston
R. Steven Hicks
Vice Chairman
Brenda Pejovich
Dallas
Justin A. Drake
Student Regent, Galveston
Sara Martinez Tucker
Dallas
Alex M. Cranberg
Houston
Ernest Aliseda
McAllen
Francie A. Frederick, J.D.
General Counsel to the
Board of Regents
Executive Officers
Bill McRaven
Chancellor
David E. Daniel
Deputy Chancellor
WE WILL
SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES
Steven Leslie, Ph.D.
Executive Vice Chancellor
for Academic Affairs
Scott C. Kelley, Ed.D.
Executive Vice Chancellor
for Business Affairs
Raymond S. Greenberg,
M.D., Ph.D.
Executive Vice Chancellor
for Health Affairs
Patricia D. Hurn, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for
Research and Innovation
WE WILL
TRANSFORM
SOUTH TEXAS
WE WILL
INSPIRE THE WORLD
Amy Shaw Thomas, J.D.
Vice Chancellor and
Counsel for Health Affairs
Daniel H. Sharphorn, J.D.
Vice Chancellor and
General Counsel
Barry R. McBee, J.D.
Vice Chancellor and
Chief Governmental
Relations Officer
Randa S. Safady, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for
External Relations
William H. Shute, J.D.
Vice Chancellor for
Federal Relations
Stephanie Bond Huie, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for
Strategic Initiatives
UTRGV Administration
Dr. Guy Bailey
Founding President
Dr. Kelly Cronin
Vice President for Advancement
Dr. Havidán Rodríguez
Provost and Executive Vice
President for Academic Affairs
Veronica Gonzales
Vice President for Governmental
and Community Relations
Dr. Francisco Fernandez
Vice President for Medical
Affairs and Dean of the
School of Medicine
Dr. Janna Arney
Chief of Staff and
Vice President for Operations
Dr. Theresa Maldonado
Senior Vice President for
Research, Innovation and
Economic Development
Martin Baylor
Executive Vice President for
Finance and Administration
Dr. Kristin Croyle
Vice President for
Student Success
Mirna Gonzalez
Vice President for Finance
and Public Policy
Chris King
Director of Athletics
2015 FALL COMMENCEMENT