Founded in 1926 to expand access to higher education in South Jersey, Rutgers University–Camden has grown from a small evening college into a nationally recognized public research university. For 100 years, the campus has advanced academic excellence, opportunity, and civic engagement— educating generations of students and strengthening the City of Camden, the Delaware Valley, and the world through scholarship, service, and partnership.
One hundred years in the making. Graduating Class of 2026, your moment is now.
Scan the QR code below for commencement information and join the generations of Rutgers–Camden graduates who carry this legacy forward.
Livestream
CHANCELLOR'S WELCOME
To the Rutgers University–Camden Class of 2026,
Congratulations!
Today is a moment of well earned celebration—a day that honors the commitment, curiosity, and determination you have brought to your education at Rutgers–Camden, both in the classroom and beyond. As you cross the Commencement stage, you join a distinguished community of more than 62,500 Rutgers–Camden alumni whose Rutgers degrees have opened doors, shaped lives, and made a lasting impact across the region and around the world.
You graduate at a time of promise and possibility—both for yourselves and for this institution. Rutgers–Camden continues to advance with purpose, expanding opportunity, strengthening academic excellence, and deepening its impact on the city and region we are proud to call home. You have been part of that forward momentum, contributing your ideas, your leadership, and your voice to a campus that believes deeply in the power of education to transform lives and communities.
As you look ahead—to graduate study, professional pursuits, service, creativity, leadership, or exploration—know that you take with you not only a degree, but the enduring support of the Rutgers–Camden community. Stay connected. Share your achievements. Return often. Your relationship with this university does not end today; it evolves. We look forward to welcoming you back as alumni, mentors, collaborators, and leaders for the next generation of Scarlet Raptors.
Commencement is not an ending, but a beginning. Our work at Rutgers–Camden has been to prepare you for a world in motion—to equip you with the skills, knowledge, and ethical grounding to contribute meaningfully to today’s workforce and in the industries yet to be imagined. How you build upon that foundation will be uniquely your own, and I have every confidence that your contributions will be both significant and far reaching.
Members of the Class of 2026, this moment belongs to you. May you move forward with confidence, curiosity, and purpose.
Onward, Scarlet Raptors!
Sincerely,
Antonio D. Tillis, Ph.D. Chancellor Rutgers University–Camden
RUTGERS–CAMDEN GRADUATE SCHOOL
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
ORDER OF EXERCISES
Antonio D. Tillis, Ph.D., Chancellor, Presiding
THE PROCESSIONAL
Amy Miller, Ed.D., Associate Dean of Students, Rutgers Law
Benedetto Piccoli, Ph.D., University Professor and Chair, Joseph and Loretta Lopez Chair, Professor of Mathematics, Department of Mathematical Sciences and Center for Computational and Integrative Biology
Nathan Link, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice
David Salas-de la Cruz, Ph.D., E.I.T., Associate Professor of Chemistry, Director of Chemistry Graduate Program
Samuel Rabinowitz, Ph.D., Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor, School of Business
Angela Kelly, DNP, RNC-OB, WHNP-BC, APN, Clinical Associate Professor, School of Nursing
Gonfaloniers
SYMPHONY IN C BRASS ENSEMBLE
Joseph Hart, Director
NATIONAL ANTHEM
“THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER”
Nallely Pineda Turcios, CCAS ’27
WELCOME
Antonio D. Tillis, Ph.D., Chancellor
INTRODUCTION OF KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Connor S. Pitman, Ph.D., GSC ‘26
THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Antonio D. Tillis, Ph.D., Chancellor
PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES
Sandra B. Richtermeyer, Ph.D., Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Provost
THE CONFERRING OF DEGREES
Antonio D. Tillis, Ph.D., Chancellor
THE READER
Matthew W. Martucci Announcer
HOODING Faculty Advisors
RECOGNITION OF MASTER’S CANDIDATES
John Griffin, Ph.D., Dean, Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences–Camden
ALUMNI WELCOME
Carla Davenport, CCAS’87, GSBC’16 Vice Chair, Rutgers University Alumni Association
RECESSIONAL Symphony in C Brass Quintet
Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis, Ph.D. Chancellor, Rutgers University–Camden
Dr. Antonio D. Tillis has served as chancellor of Rutgers University in Camden, a Carnegie R2 Classified research institution, since July 2021. Chancellor Tillis is an internationally known scholar who has presented his work at universities and academic conferences around the world. A visionary leader, Chancellor Tillis has decades of higher-education experience that guide his commitment to elevating research output, student success, civic engagement, and internationalism across Rutgers University in Camden.
In Tillis’ first year, Rutgers–Camden achieved status as a Minority Serving Institution. The Department of Education designation—given to institutions where 50 percent of undergraduates are minority students—ensures increased access to higher education for low-income and minority students. In 2023 Rutgers–Camden was recognized as an Asian American (AA) and Native American Pacific Islander (NAPI)-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), with approximately 12.9 percent of its students identifying as AA or NAPI.
During his first year, Tillis launched the Chancellor’s Strategic Initiatives: “15 in 5” which represents a commitment to 15 transformative initiatives over a five-year span to propel the institution forward across various domains from academic excellence and research innovation to fostering an inclusive campus environment and community engagement.
Tillis launched a new vision and five-year strategic plan in 2023, titled “A Century and Beyond of Excellence, Commitment, and Excellence.” The plan established the foundation for a strong future of academic and experiential learning.
Under Tillis’ leadership, Rutgers–Camden rose in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges ranking in 2023 to #46 in top public schools and #97 in national universities. It continues to hold this position at the same professional ranking. The university named in 2016 as New Jersey’s first Purple Heart University came in at #62 on the Best Colleges for Veterans list. In addition, Rutgers–Camden ranks 9th in the nation as a Top Performer in Social Mobility.
Tillis’ leadership positions in higher education before Rutgers include interim president of the University of Houston–Downtown, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Houston, Dean of the School of Languages, Culture and World Affairs at the College of Charleston, Chair of African and African American Studies at Dartmouth College and Inaugural Director of Latin American and Latino Studies Program at Purdue University.
Throughout his illustrious career, Tillis has garnered numerous accolades and recognitions, solidifying his reputation as a distinguished leader in both business and education. For four years running, he has been honored among the Power 50 Business Leaders in South Jersey by South Jersey Biz. His influence extends beyond regional borders, as evidenced by his inclusion in the Education Power 50 by NJBIZ in the state of New Jersey in 2021. Furthermore, his exceptional contributions to the fields of business and entrepreneurship were underscored in 2018 when he was named one of the Top 50 African American Professionals and Entrepreneurs in Houston, TX. Additionally, Tillis holds the prestigious distinction of being awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Brazil in 2009-10, where he conducted research and academic endeavors at the Federal University of Minas Gerais.
Tillis, who is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, is a noted scholar in the field of Afro-Hispanic studies. He was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Brazil in 2009, and he has presented his scholarship at lectures and conferences across the United States and around the world. He is author and coeditor of several books, including Manuel Zapata Olivella and the Darkening of Latin American Literature, The Trayvon Martin in ‘US’: An American Tragedy (Peter Lang, 2015), The Afro-Hispanic Reader and Anthology (Randal Publishing, 2018), and Critical Perspectives on Afro-Latin American Literature (Routledge, 2012). He has served as editor of the journal Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association, as coeditor of the Afro-Hispanic Review, and as associate editor of the International Journal of Comparative Literature and Translation Studies.
Tillis is a founding board member of the International Institute of Critical Pedagogy and Transformative Leadership and serves on several professional and community based including the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), Campus Compact, African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP), the Coriell Institute for Medical Research Board, the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce CEO’s Circle, and the Camden Community Partnership (CCP) to name but a few. Most recently, he was appointed to serve as a distinguished scholar at the PJ Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Advocacy, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. He previously served as President and has returned as Vice President of the Critical Languages Association (CLA).
A first-generation college student, Tillis holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree in Spanish literature from Howard University. He earned his Ph.D. in Latin American literature (with an Afro-Hispanic emphasis) from the University of Missouri at Columbia. He was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the National University of Asuncion, Paraguay.
Candidates for Degrees DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE
Taylor Rose Acefe-Agüero
Project: Development and Implementation of an Evidence-based Pediatric Lead Screening and Treatment Protocol: A Quality Improvement Project
Project: Outreach Program for Mammogram Compliance in Low-income Women with Chronic Health Conditions
Chair: Bonnie M. Jerome-D’Emilia, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N.
Kimberly Brennan
Project: Implementing the “STOP and WATCH Tool” and Standardized Communication in an Assisted Living Facility to Reduce Emergency Department Visits: A Quality Improvement Project
Matthew Richard Dering Project: Optimizing Obstructive Sleep Apnea Detection in Atrial Fibrillation Patients: Implementing the STOP-BANG Tool for Enhanced Patient Outcomes. A Quality Improvement Project
Chair: Margaret Avallone, D.N.P., R.N., C.C.R.N., C.N.E.
Brianna L Gentile
Project: Implementing a Human Trafficking Screening Tool at an Obstetric (OB) Triage in an Urban Setting: A Quality Improvement Project
Project: Identifying and Improving the Management of Hyperglycemia in the Adult Oncology Population: A Quality Improvement Project
Chair: Bonnie M. Jerome-D’Emilia, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N.
Stephen Maina
Project: Implementation of an EvidenceBased Lifestyle Counseling Protocol to Optimize GLP-1 Therapy for Weight Management: A Quality Improvement Project
Chair: Brigitte S. Cypress, Ed.D., R.N., C.C.R.N.
Taliah Mason
Project: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Improve Metabolic Parameters in Patients with Psychosis
Chair: Jennifer Sipe, Ph.D., R.N., A.P.N., A.N.P.-B.C.
Kimberly Muset
Project: Implementing a ProviderInitiated Structured Home Blood Pressure Monitoring (HBPM) Program to Improve Hypertension Management
Chair: Kevin Emmons, Dr.N.P, A.P.N., A.G.P.C.N.P.-B.C., C.W.C.N., C.F.C.N., W.O.C.N.F.
Angela Nwankpah
Project: Implementing a Prediabetes Screening Risk Assessment Tool in a Primary Care Setting: A Quality Improvement Project
Chair: Joseph Cipriano, D.N.P., A.P.N., F.N.P.-B.C., A.A.H.I.V.S.
Arcilia M Ortiz
Project: Implementing an Evolutionary Program Evaluation Framework to Enhance the Effectiveness of a School Nurse Certificate and MSN Program
Chair: Kevin Emmons, Dr.N.P, A.P.N., A.G.P.C.N.P.-B.C., C.W.C.N., C.F.C.N., W.O.C.N.F.
Krishna Nitin Patel
Project: Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening in Primary Care Practices: A Quality Improvement Project
Chair: Cynthia G. Ayres, Ph.D., R.N., F.N.A.P., F.N.Y.A.M.
Sabrina Popli
Project: Development and Implementation of a Depression and Anxiety Screening and Treatment Protocol for Adults with Chronic Illness: A Quality Improvement
Chair: Mary Wunnenberg, Ed.D., M.S.N., R.N., A.P.N., P.M.H.N.P.-B.C., C.N.E.
Reeva Salkin
Project: Improving Detection of Cognitive Impairment Through Enhanced Screening Protocols in Primary Care
Chair: Margaret Avallone, D.N.P., R.N., C.C.R.N., C.N.E.
Harsimar K Sawhney
Project: A Quality Improvement Project to Increase Breast Cancer Screening Completion Using Educational Materials and a Reminder System
Project: Advancing Early Detection of Autism: Integrating M-CHAT Screening in Pediatric Primary Care
Chair: Joseph Cipriano, D.N.P., A.P.N., F.N.P.-B.C., A.A.H.I.V.S.
Candidates for Degrees DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
BIOLOGY: COMPUTATIONAL AND INTEGRATIVE
Qhawe Abednigo Bhembe ∑
Dissertation: Single-Cell Genetics and Its Relevence, Legitimacy and Credibility to the Forensic Domain
Advisor: Catherine Grgicak, Ph.D.
Meron Fasika Dibia
Dissertation: Moisture Management in Tropical Termite Mounds
Advisor: Hunter King, Ph.D.
Alireza Ebrahimimojarad
Dissertation: The Spatial Organization of Biochemical Reaction System by Molecular Nanoscaffolds
Advisor: Jinglin Fu, Ph.D.
James J. Kelley
Dissertation: Analysis and Visualization of Variants in WGS Samples
Advisor: Andrey Grigoriev, Ph.D.
Abneris Julissa Morales ∑
Dissertation: Nanocellulose: A Study of the Physicochemical Properties and Morphology
Advisor: David Salas-De La Cruz, Ph.D.
Connor S. Pitman
Dissertation: Elucidating the Role of Non-Aliphatic Hydrophobic Residues and Hydrophobic Modularity in Proteins
Advisor: Grace Brannigan, Ph.D.
Chioma Genevieve Uchendu
Dissertation: Sphingolipid Synthesis and Trafficking in Caulobacter Crescentus
Advisor: Eric Klein, Ph.D.
CHILDHOOD STUDIES
Sebastian Barajas
Dissertation: Making Paths: The power of Choice and Care at a Self-Directed Education Center
Advisor: John Wall, Ph.D.
Katherine Elizabeth Fredricks
Dissertation: Childhoods in Reality Television
Advisor: Meredith Bak, Ph.D.
Gaylene Marie Gordon
Dissertation: Navigating Safety: A Study of Developmental Mechanisms within Childhood Resilience
Advisor: Lauren Silver, Ph.D.
LaTiana Alicia Ridgell
Dissertation: Just For Me: The Construction of Black Girlhood in Children’s Hair Relaxer Advertisements
Advisor: Meredith Bak, Ph.D.
Cecelela Loyce Tomi
Dissertation: The Family Business: Children of Tanzanian Care Workers and Shared Living Experiences Advisor: Anthony Wright, Ph.D.
Palak Vashist
Dissertation: Stitching Age and Labor: The Interplay of Child Laborers, Factory Schools, and Colonial ‘Protection’ in Bombay Textile Mills, 1880 to 1911 Advisor: Lauren Silver, Ph.D.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Daniel Assamah
Dissertation: Bridging Divides or Reinforcing Inequality? Assessing Online Freelancing, Graduate Employment, and Migration Aspirations in Ghana
Advisor: Lorraine Minnite, Ph.D.
Prakash Chandra Kandel ∑
Dissertation: Fiscal Constraint and Override Activity Under Proposition 2½: Long-Run Evidence from Massachusetts Advisor: Michael Hayes, Ph.D.
Ebshoy Magdy Zaki Mikhaeil
Dissertation: The Political Economy of the Welfare State Retrenchment in Egypt after 2014: The Role of Ideational Processes and Dynamics
Advisor: Lorraine Minnite, Ph.D.
Dylan O’Donoghue ∑
Dissertation: Migrant Labor Exploitation in the Tech Sector and Factors that Shape Precarity
Advisor: Patrice Mareschal, Ph.D.
Giovanna Leticia Romero Sarubbi ∑
Dissertation: Pandemic-Era Changes in Teacher Retention
Advisor: Michael Hayes, Ph.D.
Galadriel Therese Thoman
Dissertation: The Anchor, The Bridge, and The Engine: The Failure of Economic Determinism and the Rise of Symbolic Survival in the 2020 Election
Advisor: Lorraine Minnite, Ph.D.
Dissertation with Distinction
Candidates for Degrees RUTGERS GRADUATE SCHOOL–CAMDEN
MASTER OF SCIENCE
BIOLOGY
Ahmed Abi Abdi
Adesupo Adeyege Adetowubo
Alexina Julianna Fiandra
Alexa Ray Karp
Sheida Kavehmoghaddam
Hay Young Bryan Kwok
Victory Jeannette Miranda
Leeann Perrottet
Bryan Giovanni Ramirez Aguilar
Noor Fatima Riaz Sr.
Sohail Shaik
Lyra Karnmanee Stevelman
Wesley Tsai
BIOLOGY: COMPUTATIONAL AND INTEGRATIVE
Precious Akinde #
Ashfi Bashar
Kazi Tanzina Begum
Anik Brinckerhoff #
Tanisha Dhakephalkar
Bianca Gonda #
Zion Winter Harris #
Ryan William Lamb
Juliehan Nguyen
Chris Mbae Njagi
Connor S Pitman
Basirat Oluwadamilola Rufai
Qiaochu Zhang
CHEMISTRY
Duessa Red Payumo Bregaudit #
Joshua Ubachukwu Chidi-Bernard
Matthew B Gilmurray
Rituba Jhala
Shiming Liu
Arturo Ramos Ochoa
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Rahulkumar Rajeshkumar Ankola
Malav Jayesh Champaneria
Zhìchéng Chen
Jayvirsinh Tensinh Chudasama
Nikhil Varma Dandu
∞ Capstone with Distinction
Pi Alpha Alpha Honors
Thesis with Distinction
Comprehensive Exams with Distinction
Srujan Gangoor
Fahmida Tasnim Lisa
Venkata Pramid Reddy Mitta
Swayam Riteshkumar Pandya
Alwin Philip
Fnu Piyush
Jessica P Reyes
Gagandeep Singh
DATA SCIENCE
Sarthak Chandervanshi
Nalluri Chandrahas
Bhavyani Dodda
Sai Srija Ganapuram
Chetan Sai Abhishek Injavarapu
Madison Anne Jones
Ria Vilas Kokate
Dheni Mehar Aditya Koppaka
Siddikh Ali Mohammad
Atharv Jagdish Patwardhan
Jose Andres Riveraruiz
Bharath Kumar Toutireddy
Yagna Gopal Chowdary Tummala
FORENSIC SCIENCE
Abraham Boadu
Vyshnavi Bonagiri
Hailey Rose Cassidy
Tatiana Trishanie DeSarno
Mary Elizabeth Gray
Thomas Henry III
Julianna Jimenez ∞
Priscilla Merlino ∞
Taniya Robin
MATHEMATICAL SCIENCE
Avery Ang
Isabella Nikole DeGaetano
Matthew Paul Lazzara
William G Lennon
Sathvik Murli
PREVENTION SCIENCE
Lester Charles Engels II
Makayla Elaine Folino
Fatemeh Mahdiniaybeynkalaei
Vienna Marie Monte
Wednesday Ann Moore
Curtis Joseph Pegues
Danielle Renee Quiñones
Mariah Jacqueline Scott
Violett Springate
Samantha I Vega
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Daniel Assamah
Hannah Beck
Prakash Chandra Kandel
Ebshoy Magdy Zaki Mikhaeil
Shirley Marlene Noguera Barriento
Dylan O’Donoghue
Benito Ortega Torres Sr.
Giovanna Leticia Romero Sarubbi
Montrell DeAngelo Sanders
Galadriel Therese Thoman
MASTER OF BUSINESS AND SCIENCE
BUSINESS & SCIENCE – COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES
Iqra Siddiqi
MASTER OF ARTS
CHILDHOOD STUDIES
Palak Vashist
Sebastian Barajas
Katherine Elizabeth Fredricks
Natalie Melissa Gologorsky
Gaylene Marie Gordon
LaTiana Alicia Ridgell
Shelby Alina Satchell
Sydney Nicole Spancake
Cecelela Loyce Tomi
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Kristina Marie Cagle
Eduardo Josue Estrada
Ava Katherine Guiliano
Kyara Luckey
Angelina Marie Reed
Lindsey Nicole Rodzon
Sequoia Sherrills
Ka’Mari Dynisha Williams
EMERGING MEDIA
Samantha Harken
Angel J Perez
Zachary Zane Shubert
Aiya Dion Underwood
ENGLISH
Alexis Joanne Evans
Qiuhong Nie
Gretchen Anne Purvis
Abigail Elizabeth Rice
Sarah Beth Skochko
HISTORY
Eliezer Ackerman
Nholvahiwa Cosmas Chafikana ∂
Elizabeth Bankston Creech
Elizabeth Margaret Eimer
Kelsey Heflin
Jacob Matthew Merkord ∂
Dante Jose Requena ∂
Jenna Marie Smith
Tessa Weidner
Adam Frederick Willhouse
LIBERAL STUDIES
Ayse Babayagmur Apa ∞
Anthony J Curnow
Morshia A Ellis
James Michael Finger
Lauren Beth Holloway ∞
Richard Mobley ∞
Matt Schicker
Jacob Shapley
Nickola Mia Townshend ∞
Joseph Voigt
Edward Lawrence Wingfield II ∞
Jake Yambor
PSYCHOLOGY
Kenneth James Atwood
Samrawit Binyam Gebretensay
Connor Nicholas Kuntz
Kayla N Lawson
Trevor Michael Morris
Mercy Mwiyathi Mutunga
Lexus Marie Myers
Sydnie B Rager
Jeniska Rivera #
Rebecca Leigh Schuck
Tristan Avery Stinchcomb
Devon Renee Teschner
Joseph Lawrence Tigani
MASTER OF ARTS FOR TEACHERS
SPANISH
Jhonny Alejandro Aquino Cáceres
Tayna Gonzalez
Yined Liliana Grimaldo Larrota
TEACHER EDUCATION
Keilani A Abdullah
Kate Atschinow ∞
Vivianna Thi Aviles
Lori Nicole Braunstein
Bianca Alize Cortes
Lindsey Cramer
Emely Lucia Cuevas Alcantara
Chase Van Dannelly
Nichole L Deacon ∞
Joseph John Del Percio
Jeanann Provencher Dorobis ∞
Mia Jordan Drabyk ∞
Quinn Lauren Ehmann
Elaine Abigail Estlow
Rachael Grayson ∞
Renee Christine Handley
Ava Rose Harrison
Jade Shirlianne Jean
Shelby Kaluhiokalani
Carlyne Marie Keesler
William Brady Kellum II
Nicolette Rose LaVita
Alexandra Lauren Liebman
Jessica Mills
Kyle M Moore
Terra Niederoest ∞
Lewis Desmond Officer
Eunice Yisahn Pay-Bayee
Abigail Amelia Richards
Laura Miyoshi Rodan
Julia Elizabeth Scott ∞
Renee Dayvon Shepherd
Bianca Nicole Shibla
Suzanne Slominski ∞
Carly Michelle Strohl
Madison Szyjka
Christine Nicole Thompson
Kaylee R Wurster
MASTER OF FINE ARTS
CREATIVE WRITING
Tembisa Astrid Omega Aborn #
Duboree Das
Daniela Caridad Guerrero
Esther Oganda Ohito
Leah Claire Pellegrini
Katrina Capella EchevarrÌa Richter
Eryn Sunnolia #
Doris Zheku
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (EXECUTIVE)
Hazel Applewhite
Shelly Bell Ԥ
Elizabeth Chabla Muñoz Ԥ
Eric Colvin Ԥ
Hollie Dimuro Ԥ
Kathleen Huder Ԥ
Sandra Kennedy
Mark Mcnulty ∞ Ԥ
James Mendez
Benedict Murunga Ԥ
Andrea Norcott Ԥ
Andrea Pereda Ԥ
Melissa Randazzo ∞ Ԥ
Chad Scott Ԥ
Juliane Vega Ԥ
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Olorunfunmi Yemi Adebajo ∞ Ԥ
Leandra M Bonilla
Natashia O Cooper ∞ Ԥ
Tyler Jermaine Dixon ∞ Ԥ
Shaheera Mary Hussein
Richard Daquan Hutchinson Ԥ
Jamal James Long
Kyara Luckey Ԥ
Nadine Ayanna Melendez-Benson
Bryan Morton ∞
Maninder Singh Ԥ
Talia Smith Ԥ
Solomon David Steeley Jr.
Arleny Mercedes Valdez Torres
Samaria Wicks Ԥ
RUTGERS–CAMDEN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
ORDER OF EXERCISES
Monica Adya, Ph.D., Dean, Presiding
THE PROCESSIONAL
Deeksha Singh, Ph.D., Grand Marshal
Symphony in C Brass Quintet
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM “THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER” Nallely Pineda Turcios, CCAS ’27
Christina Renna, MPA President & CEO, Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey
IN MEMORIAM
Lizette Namondo Abah, SBC ’23, GSBC ’25 BS/MS in Business Analytics
Brianna Nashae Delgado, SBC ’26 Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BBA)
THE CONFERRING OF DEGREES
Monica Adya, Ph.D., Dean
THE READER Ivo Jansen, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Area Head of Accounting
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WELCOME
Cal Maradonna, SBC ’74, GSBC ’79
Manager, Off-Campus BBA Program and Learning Abroad
CLOSING REMARKS
Monica Adya, Ph.D., Dean
THE RECESSIONAL* Symphony in C Brass Quintet
*Members of the audience are requested to resume their seats and remain seated until the recessional has concluded.
Christina Renna
President & CEO, Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey
Christina Renna currently serves as President & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey. In this role, Ms. Renna oversees a 10person team and has direct oversight of the Chamber’s work in public policy, education & workforce development, membership growth, retention, and overall member experience.
Ms. Renna joined the Chamber in 2007 and served as Director of Government Affairs through early 2010. She returned in 2014 as Vice President, then rose through the ranks as Senior Vice President before taking over the helm of the organization in January of 2020.
Prior to her most recent stint at the Chamber, in 2010, Ms. Renna was tapped by former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to serve in his Administration, serving in several different capacities, including Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. In that role, she worked directly with state and local government officials across New Jersey and served as the primary point of contact for business organizations and Chambers of Commerce, acting as the Administration’s liaison to the business community.
Ms. Renna’s past work experience also includes government affairs and communications work at South Jersey Industries and as a legislative aide to former-Assemblyman John C. Gibson of New Jersey’s First Legislative District.
In 2010, Ms. Renna was proud to be named as one of SJ Biz Magazine’s firstever list of rising stars in the South Jersey business community. Additionally, every year since 2019, she has been listed on NJBIZ’s Power List as one of the most powerful people in New Jersey’s business community, the ROI-NJ Influencers Power List and the BINJE most influential people in business lists. Active in the community, Ms. Renna currently serves on the Board of several nonprofit and community organizations in the region. She is also one of 100 Chamber executives selected to be on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce CCC100 Committee, which is comprised of the top 100 Chamber executives in the nation.
A graduate of Vineland High School, Ms. Renna received her BA in Political Science from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and her Master’s in Public Administration, with a minor in City Management, from Villanova University.
Candidates for Degrees RUTGERS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS–CAMDEN
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Amina Lynn Abdou
Caroline Michelle Abin
Syed Ameer Ahmad ••
Selena Alvarado Lugo
Rebecca Audrey Ampofo
Hamaysia A. Anderson
Conor Jay Arsenault
David Azoroh •••
Dana Becker
Jonathan K. Bennis
Kevin P. Bier
Caitlin Broderick
Nicolette Michele Broome
Andrea C. Canlla ••
Salvatore C. Casella
Sara Chau ẞ ••
Benjamin He Chen
Ryan Cherfane
Shane Daniel Chiovarou
Andrew Clark
Yashira Nichole Colón
Marci M. Coppola
Jose R. Coronado
Cheryl Lynn Covello
Angel Cruz
Susmita Datta
Gina Theresa De Lorenzo
Louis K. DeMatteo
Brianna Josephine Dominguez •••
Farah Dorcely
Ufuoma O. Edemirukaye
Sonia Chinonso Edmond-Djameh
Shehabeldin A. Elansary
Lnelle Shvon Fencher
Madeline Fernandez
Emily Erina Feza
Matthew Douglas Finlay
Liam Reilly Fitzpatrick
Andrew Joseph Fortuna
Michael Thomas Fortuna
Christopher J. Fortunato •
Grace Snyder Fusco
ҩ Athenaeum
ẞ Business Honors Societies * † Honors College
◊ Business Leader Development Program Honors Certification
Shivani D. Ghaghada
Lucy Ghannoum
Oswaldo A. Gonzalez-Varon
Giacomo James Greco ẞ •••
Nickolas Griffith
Javish Jerome Harris •
Norbelis Hernandez ••
Jenny Alejandra Hernandez Sangregorio
Samantha A. Hoenings
Paris Noelle Jackson ẞ
Shawn Singh Jhim
Jennifer Rose Johnson •
Joshua Andrew Katz
Jason Kellogg
Ryan Kolenovic
Feba Joy Kottackakam •
Giselle Castillo Koval ẞ •••
Mikael La Ferla ••
Lily Lam
Georgios Lazaropoulos •••
Malvina Leka
Sarah Rose Lentini
Antoinette Kathleen Liegel
Gregory F. Longabucco
Brandon J. Lopez •
Marina Lyandres
Alyssa Maciaszek ẞ
Deniz Ilke MacLeod
Stuart Alasdair Macnab ẞ •••
Robert Friëdrich Uwe Mader
Alyssa Michele Maglio •••
Valerie Martinez ẞ •••
Maleek Leroy Mayers
Joseph Michael McCarr •••
Lynae J. McKoy
Leah Meyers
Ba’shawn Dant’e Mickens
Joy Jayeshkumar Modi
Kosha Modi
Cassandra Jane Montgomery •
James Philip Moody ẞ •••
Robert Moriggia ••
Jaclyn M. Navara ẞ •••
Stephen Douglas Nelson ẞ
Danny Ngo
• Cum laude
•• Magna cum laude
••• Summa cum laude
§ In Memoriam
Wasey Noori
Chinyere Nwanosike
Kalyn M. O’Brien •••
Yuka Olujobi ••
Hammad Farooq Zakaria Patel •••
Maitree Sandipkumar Patel
Vivek D. Patel •
Werley D. Scott Paul •
Stephanie N. Perez
Praveen Kumar Prabhala
Alexxandra Preciado
Kyle Shaun Priebe ••
Richard Puglisi
William John Rader
Joanna Ragukonis •
Cassiel Ramirez
Carli Ann Ramos
Shahani N. Ranasinghe
LaTonya Renee’ Reed ••
Sean Joseph Ring
Timothy John Rothemich Jr.
Eugene Francis Xavier Rutzler Jr. •
Jenna C. Ryan DiNoia
Gabriel Jesus Sanchez
Ana Stephanie Santos Burgos
Emma Rose Sargent
Kathryn Elizabeth Scioli
Jason Daniel Scott
Keysean Emanuel Simmonds
Manisha Singhal
Ryan James Smith ••
Kristina Sofchak ẞ
Linzie Dale Steinbach •••
Eric P. Szukiewicz ••
Rami Tawam •••
Jordan Dwayne Trusty-Smith
Namarlyn Ureña Rodríguez
Rachel Ann VanDriel •
Carmen Elizabeth Vasquez
Danny Bryant Vazquez ••
Puja Vengadasalam
Domenica Vera
Thomas Michael Waidelich •••
Barbara Jean Watkins
Keyanna Lena Watkins
* Invited member of one or more of the following honor societies: Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Gamma Sigma, Mu Kappa Tau, and the New Jersey Collegiate Business Administration Association.
Margo Wallace, SNC BSN 2008 M.S.N, D.N.P., R.N. Director, Center for Academic Resources, Engagement, and Services (CARES)
RECESSIONAL Symphony in C Brass Quintet
Assemblywoman Carol A. Murphy Deputy Speaker/Health Chair –New Jersey State General Assembly
Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Carol is the proud daughter of a Bronze Star US Army Master Sergeant who served in Korea and Vietnam. Her father’s service in the military greatly influenced her early life, instilling in her the importance of integrity, honor, and service to her community and nation.
Those values guided Carol to a life of service, and she has dedicated her entire career to helping others, fighting for the values that make New Jersey strong and the issues that matter most to working families.
Carol began her career in public service at the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, where she established a transparent government records division and worked to build and modernize public schools for the 21st century across New Jersey.
In 2017, Carol became the first Assemblywoman to represent the Seventh Legislative District in 20 years. She is currently serving her fifth term in the State Assembly. Carol serves as the Chair of the Health Committee and Deputy Speaker and was formerly Majority Whip from 2023 to 2025 and Deputy Majority Leader from 2020 to 2022.
As a State Assemblywoman, Carol has shown a tremendous record fighting for the all New Jerseyans and the issues that matter most to our families. She has become known as a prolific legislator and led efforts to codify human rights into our state constitution, deliver the most significant investment in women’s healthcare funding in state history, ensure pay equity, raise the minimum wage, reduce gun violence, provide affordable prescription drugs, stand up for LGBTQ+ rights, and reduce our property tax burden.
Carol is the highest-ranking woman to ever serve from South Jersey in the state legislature and is fighting on the front lines during our most challenging times. In the Assembly, Carol will continue to fight for the values that make New Jersey strong and the issues that matter most to working families, protect our rights and freedoms, secure investments in our schools and infrastructure, create economic opportunities, as Health Chair work toward more affordable health care, make South Jersey more affordable, keep our communities safe, and stand up to extremism to defend our democracy.
Candidates for Degrees RUTGERS–CAMDEN SCHOOL OF NURSING
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Jenna DiBuonaventura
Angeliki Maria Kappatos
Georgina Kay Keller
Marybeth Kruszewski
Samantha Erin Leahey
Maria A Peguero
Deyanna Mabel Kumba Sheriff
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Jia Valdez Abat •••
Joyce Inioluwa Adegoke
Edweena Nana Ama Agyemang
Mokshna Alston
Paige Rose Attanasi •
Ysabella Brocka Bascara †
Xochitl Bautista Castelan † •
Lanna Nicole Biederman ••
Dynasty Diamond Birriel •
Devon Nichole Black
Victoria Abisola Borode †
Chinonso Chukwueke †
Kylee Cintron
Xavier Colondres † •
Michael Francis Connor IV •
Jose Gregorio Contreras Crespo
Ethan Andrew Craik
Abigail Brianna Cross
Juriely Marie De Jesus Melendez
Samantha Mae Rojo Dela Cruz ••
Angelina Marie DelPalazzo •
Stephanie Devanney
Stephanie M DiCicco
Andrea Dominguez Quintero
Edie June Doobinin
Geoffrey Duru •
Gregory Michael Earle •
Marvin Ralph Tomas Enriquez •
Annalise Jolie Eubanks
Jenelle Alexis Eubanks
Casey Fernandez
† Honors College
• Cum laude
•• Magna cum laude
••• Summa cum laude
Victoria Love Fowler
Tia Isabella Franco •••
Sahara Emma George
Gianna Giangreco •••
Faith Isabella Gigliotti
Victoria Josefina Gomez-Minier •
Islijah Estrella Hernandez
Niya S Hewitt
Whitney Huynh •
Nikitha Jeyaprakash † ••
Jamie Jian † •••
April Gianna Jones ••
Jikya Nyasia Jones •
Madison M Karnuk
Matthew Makoto Kay •
Melissa R Kerr
Shermane Danielle King
Jewel Leigh La Bletta
Sofia L Linares-Martinez
Gianna Rose Lopresti •••
Mindy-Man Gia Ly •
Riley O Maahs
Kevin Joseph Magistrado
Princessangelica Lomboy Malé •
Prerana Malla ••
Aiyana Janica Vergara Matugas
Natalie Nicole McGraw
Sarah Grace McKernan
Rachel C McKnight
Janet Marie Melendez † •
Alexa Maria Mendez •
Kaiylah Canlas Mercado •
Riley Nicole Miller •••
Erika Jolie Morris
Jada E Nagle † •
Trichtien Nguyen
Aidan M Orzechowski •
Hamilton Pangan † ••
Jaclyn Leida Pantaleon •
Michael Anthony Pasquale
Jhaiden Perdomo ••
Olivia Francesca Perez
Summer Elizabeth Piotti ••
Ma Eriah B Pocdihon † •••
Selene Quintero-Ocampo •
Joseph Nacino Quitola
Ruchel Reyes-Moreno
Kayla Alicia Richards
Morgan Cohen Mackenzie Riley •
Jessica Rojas Rojas •
Hope Salcedo
Emilia Sanchez Sevilla
Jessyka H Santos
Jacqueline Michele Sarkisian ••
Maresa Isabel Savarese ••
Alyssa Christine Schmidt
Shawn P Selzer •
Katherine Grace Sims ••
Amanda Jean Smith † •••
Azizah Syed •
Victoria Lynn Tacconelli
Ryza Telva
Joshua Daniel Tietz
Jada Leigh Toliver •
Mamadi Turay
John Uzochukwu Ukor
Brandon Navarro Velez
Katrina Ann Vyzaniaris
Simone Wallace
Tiana Joy Felicia White
Tiera Shardae Williams
Alasia Brianna Young
ACCELERATED BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Taylor Acevedo
Lily Aduyor •
Gabrielle A Aslanian •
Amanda Sabrina Beltran ••
Jack Benson
Brooke Elizabeth Beyrodt ••
Riya Bhatt
Skylar-Rae Boone
Mason Dickson Bower
Natalie Summer Brees •
Zoë Brun
Please note that all honors and notations in this booklet are based on the enrollment status and grade point average at the conclusion of the winter semester. Final awards and notations, including spring grades, will be on the diploma and transcript. An updated version of this booklet with honors based on spring semester grades is available at camden.rutgers.edu/commencement
Admiral William J. Fallon, United States Navy (Retired)
THE READER
Matthew W. Martucci
PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES
John D. Griffin, Ph.D.
Dean
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Arts
ALUMNI GREETING
Leslie Walker, CCAS ’86
THE ALMA MATER
Rutgers Concert Choir
Soyeon Bin, Director
THE RECESSIONAL*
Symphony in C Brass Quintet
*Members of the audience are requested to resume their seats and remain seated until the recessional has concluded.
Admiral William J. Fallon United States Navy
(Retired)
Admiral William J. Fallon retired from the U.S. Navy after a distinguished 40-year career of military and strategic leadership. He led U.S. and Allied forces in eight separate commands and played a leadership role in military and diplomatic matters at the highest levels of the U.S. government.
As head of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Fallon directed all U.S. military operations in the Middle East, Central Asia and Horn of Africa, focusing on combat efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He led the U.S. Pacific Command for two years, directing political-military activities in the Asia-Pacific region. He also served as Presidential Envoy to Japan, handling bi-lateral relations after the collision of a U.S. submarine and a Japanese fishing vessel.
On September 11, 2001, Admiral Fallon was serving in the Pentagon as Vice Chief of the Navy. He personally directed the recovery of the Navy staff in the wake of the attack and led in the planning of the retaliatory attacks on Al Qaeda and Taliban forces in Afghanistan. He later commanded the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and U.S. Fleet Forces Command, with responsibility for the readiness of U.S. Naval forces worldwide.
Admiral Fallon began his Navy career as a combat aviator flying from an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War and participated in many vital U.S. military operations during the Cold War. He led a Carrier Air Wing in combat during the Gulf War of 1991, and commanded a Navy Battle Group and the U.S. 6th Fleet Battle Force during NATO military operations in Bosnia.
Admiral Fallon was a Robert E. Wilhelm Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Center for International Studies. He serves on the Global Affairs Advisory Board of Occidental College and the Advisory Board of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. He is a graduate of Villanova University, the U.S. Naval War College, the National War College, and has an MA in International Studies from Old Dominion University.
Chairman of the Board of GoSecure Inc., a company in the cyber security business, he is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and serves on the board of the American Security Project.
Admiral Fallon is the author of the recently published book, “Decisions, Discord, and Diplomacy: From Cairo to Kabul.”
Candidates for Degrees RUTGERS SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES–CAMDEN
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
BIOLOGY
Moneeb Ahmad ҩ •••
Mudassir Mohammed Ahmed ҩ † •••
Deaideen Alkhawaldeh † ••
Sherlyn Alvarado-Villa
Amama Asif
Myo Thinzar Htin Aung ҩ † •••
Raqųel Amarilyss Avìles
Lawrence P. Azzara
Emma K. Bogdan ҩ † ••
Rania Soundos Boukhalfa
Kiyara Lanee Causey •
Alexis Paige Chapman
Christina Elie Cherfane ҩ ••
Monil Chikani
Parth Desai ••
Christine Do †
Leilani Kalia Franklin
Damon Guinn
Jason Thomas Horner Jr.
Linta Jamil •
Prabhleen Kaur
Angel Robert Keifner ҩ ‡ † ••
Mounia W. Khalil ҩ † •••
Renuka Kumar •
Sandy Lam
Godson Josh Laurard
Anh Ly ҩ † •••
Teresa Ann Maahs ҩ † ••
Owen Marshall McElhiney ҩ ••
Shaan Rakesh Mody ҩ ‡ † •••
Leyna N. Nguyen ҩ † •••
Victoria Ruby Persad
Pamela Kim Phan
Jordan Popovski
Kevin Leon Roberts
Alan Gerald Rozenblit ҩ † •••
Ariana Santiago-Ramirez
Flynn Renee Semenuk
Kamryn D. Sharief
Anisha Esther Snell ҩ † •••
Lombeh Emmaria Tengbeh Jr.
Kaitlyn Margaret Tocarchick ҩ † •••
ҩ Athenaeum
‡ Phi Beta Kappa
† Honors College
Nagelli S. Torresfrancisco
Jayla Marie Washington
Tayler R. Williams ҩ † •••
Aniah Jai’lyn Wilson-Edmonds ••
CHEMISTRY
William O. Aluoch
Ethan August Dreyer ҩ •• �
Bertoldo Gomez
Tingke Huang • �
Sophia Elizabeth LaPorta ҩ † ••• �
Linda Nguyen
Marshall G. Pasternak ҩ † ••• �
Joshua Samuel Stabinski
Waddah Yahia ҩ • �
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Luis Daniel Alvarez ҩ ‡ ••
Jude Michael Bariana
Aryan Omkar Bhat •
Hamza Zaheer Bhatti ҩ •••
Jordan Joseph Burmylo-Magrann
Eva Chen
Wenhao Chen •
Farhan A. Chowdhury ҩ † •
Nguyen Quynh Nhu Chu ҩ † ••
Sara Sachin Deshpande
Jay Foster ҩ •
Brandon Joel Francis
Luna Alexia Galvich •
Jay Garcia
Cristopher A. Guaman
Kushal Gurram
Arpita Isaac
Alex Olivia Koehn
Eric Louis LaPierre
Kien T. Le ҩ ••
Lekha Rajesh Londhe •
David Oghenerume Majomi •
Jeslyn Miranda •
Tanzeem M. Nazmee
Madison Night •
Maurice Obanor
• Cum laude
•• Magna cum laude
••• Summa cum laude
Ibrain Rafael Ortega Jr. •
Joshua Castro-Karl Ottey •
Ananya Pramod Kumar Paribrajak
Dhruvil S. Patel
Krupa N. Patel
Matthew Thomas Poitras ҩ •
Moksh Ishwar Rohra
Rudraraj Vikramraj Sakariya
Anthony Alexander Savage
Prabhdeep Singh
Jakson A. Soliman
Elijah Faith Telva
Tansha Pravin Varma
Robert Frank Zonin III
MATHEMATICS
Luis Daniel Alvarez ҩ ‡ ••
Aryan Omkar Bhat •
Hamza Zaheer Bhatti ҩ •••
Katherine Ann Espiritu † •
Jay Foster ҩ •
Mohamed Cherif Kanoute † •
Mulunesh Eileen Kramer
Adelena Margaret Kravitz
Kien T. Le ҩ ••
Lekha Rajesh Londhe •
David Oghenerume Majomi •
Mia Judith Morales Intriago
Krupa N. Patel
Anthony Alexander Savage
Dev K. Thaker
Robert Frank Zonin III
PHYSICS
Marcus Cornel Spann
� Departmental Honors
Please note that all honors and notations in this booklet are based on the enrollment status and grade point average at the conclusion of the winter semester. Final awards and notations, including spring grades, will be on the diploma and transcript. An updated version of this booklet with honors based on spring semester grades is available at camden.rutgers.edu/commencement
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS
VISUAL ARTS
Enrique Argueta Morales ҩ ••
Melodi Brianna Clark
Heather Lynn Edwards ҩ •
Satine Brionne Elzey ҩ † •••
Naely Fernanda Fajardo
Angelina K. Fox ҩ ••
Colin A. Gelak
Jada Whitney Johnson
Jordan Kaylee Robbins Schafer •
Oliver Leeandra Segreto ҩ •
Sara O. Torres
Melissa V. Vilain
BACHELOR OF ARTS
AFRICANA STUDIES
Alaysia Amani Byrd ҩ ••
Paige La’Nee Saxon
ART
Michael Thomas Adair
Bryan Aviles ҩ •••
Marguarita Balaguer •••
Christian Anistian Coston
Marcos Gabriel Cotto
Ibrahima John Diack
Maya Rose Elena Driessen
Patrick Kelly Erwin II
Angelica Fernandez-Lopez ҩ ‡ •••
Nina Fuentes
Natalia Marie Gisone
Celeste Marie Givin
Abigail Rose MacCarthy ••
Mark Randall McLaughlin
Deanna Fernandez Moore •
Serenity Nevaeh Rivera ҩ † •••
Demetrio Antonio Sampson
Elizabeth Ann Straub
Erielys Marie Vicente •
Reilly E. Ziolkowski ҩ •••
BIOLOGY
Emily Oliveira Fabricante
CHEMISTRY
Shrey Dharmendra Patel
CHILDHOOD STUDIES
Presley Nicola Albadine ҩ ‡ •••
Regina Elayne Alston
Cheyann Bullock
Joselyn Carmen Carrero •
Myesha Coats •
Tierra Daniels
Hiba Durrani
Endiyah Jhanaé Fleming
Anayah Mary Frazier
Xavier Steven Gordy
Zhoneé Monique Grant
Kathryn Dawn Gregory
Skylar Ann Hoff ҩ •••
Kwynn Jackson ҩ •••
Olivia Nicola Kidd
Alexandra Nicole LaRue ••
Charlee Savannah Lopez ҩ ••
Peyton Elizabeth McGregor
Tina Isabella Mulder
Dylan Oliver
Karla Nicole Paredes Vargas †
Sophia Elisabeth Smith
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Essence Sadie Alford
Sara Ali
Wandys Miguel Aquino Peralta ҩ ‡ † ••
Jerald Carr •
Raj Chauhan
Benson Z. Chen
Bionca Coleman
Joshua U. Ejiofor
Kendell Michael Harris
Adam Victor Hen ҩ ••
Ahmir Lamar Johnson
Jae Y. Jung
Zohaib Khan
Nikoloz Kurtanidze †
Jamyang Tenpa Lama ҩ ••
Samarth Pradeep Muthyala
Ivin M. Nguyen ҩ •
Daniel Andrei Nikiforov
Benjamin Patrick O’Hara
Wali Abdul-Jabar Palmer
Alex Phuong •
Ramesh Elias Pimentel •
Johnathon Rodriguez
Marcos Manuel Santana
Jared Alexander Scotton
Jainnoo Shrestha •
Eric Swen Jr.
Jaden Devyn Taylor
Jeury Valdez
Evangelos Vezyris •••
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Anna Elizabeth Blatcher
Christan Lee Brady •
Micaela Marie Brown •
Mahailia La Mei Campbell
Madison Ann Carr
Kenneth Raymond Cashman Jr.
Kai Amali Clarke-James
QueenTeja Zabria Cooper •
Troy Gabriel Dietrich Jr.
JennaMarie Diiorio ҩ •••
Trinity L. Echevarria
Kimberli Tatiana Espinal Jimenez
Amber Marie Galarza Stuart
Madisyn Rose Guzman-Sternotti •••
Victoria C. Heifet ҩ •
Maxwell James Johnson
Wendy Kare
Joseph Christopher Lodise
Samantha Lee Lucia † ••
Ryan Macuch
Alex Antonio Martinez
Lirianny Martinez ҩ † •
Gianna Marzullo
Daniella Mastromarco ••
Jacob Britton McGinnis ҩ † ••
Carlos Medina •
Geralyi Mercado
Isabella Morales
Keara Leigh Moulton •
Joseph Nguyen
Natalie Quynh Nguyen •
Alexa Jordyn Nichols
Eliezer Nunez-Payano ••
Courtney Elizabeth Pearson •••
Isaiah Andre Pinkney
Gabriel Prado
Scott Price Jr.
Cindy Rosa
Luis Adrian Sanchez Jr.
Bruce Schank Jr. •
Pablo J. Solorzano Jr. •••
Rabiyatu Sow •
Marisa Strahlendorf
Canna Styles Bunch
Tamara Lynn Sweeten
Kaydence Mia Todd
Brandon David Valeri
Julian Vasquez
Matthew Thomas Vega
Christian Wallace
Tatyany Susana Walls •
Hayley Jordan Welsh ••
Isabella Marie Witting
DIGITAL STUDIES
Cosmo Luizza •
ECONOMICS
Amama Asif
Daniel J. Bier •••
Christina Christion
John Steeve Hilaire Sr.
Aidan McDevitt
Ramesh Elias Pimentel •
Jonathan Esli Quevedo-Veliz
Carlos Raziel Rodriguez •
Isabella Tamara Romanello •
Elizabeth Stewart
Amber Iman Wise
ENGLISH
Charles Abraham Baliban † •••
Shaion Mekhia Brown
Angelina M. Cheng ҩ •
Julio Cesar Dagand ҩ ‡ •••
Ella N. Filipowski ҩ •••
Jaime Lynn Frampton ҩ ‡ •••
Ola Galadyk † ••
KateLynn Jeanette Garden
Scarlett Elizabeth Kinsey •
Skylar Ann-Ellen Kipp
Kendall Reese Lafferty ҩ ••
Ryan Matthew Lopez
Cosmo Luizza •
Tishanna L. Mayes
Timithy Nguyen •
Elikemuel Rodriguez ҩ ••
Kateri Anne Tyrrell ҩ ‡ ••
Isatu Whyte
FRENCH
Justin Ben Mansour † •
GENDER STUDIES
Ella N. Filipowski ҩ •••
Ciará N. Johnson
Scarlett Elizabeth Kinsey •
GERMAN
Richard T. Spissell ҩ ‡ •••
Athenaeum
Phi Beta Kappa
Honors College
GLOBAL STUDIES
Doraine Jowyll Baker †
Aidan Anthony Baltakov
Isabella S. Bordon †
Justin Ben Mansour † •
Rabiyatu Sow •
Brandon Alexandro Vidales ҩ ‡ ••
HEALTH SCIENCES
Alexis Ann Andricola † ••
Malaysia Ashcroft
Berkant Aydin •
Kylie Marie Barber ҩ † •
Charmaine Joyce Santos Bernardo ҩ •••
Sara Rose Beyer ҩ •
Isabella S. Bordon †
Yssa R. Brewer
Christina Christion
Cameron J. Connelly
Paris Channel Correa
Dylan Matthew Cruice
Tynirah Ineisha Drain-Mantez
Amy Veronica Escobar-Miron
Kaylee Roxed Estrada I
Giovanni C. Faltz
Lexia Flores Gomez
Sianni M. Frazier
Jordana Rose Fredo
Jaceline Garcia
Haylee Jade George ҩ ••
Zakera Grace-Small
Zhoneé Monique Grant
Sanum Gulshan
Jonathan Hardy •••
Marina Isabel Heredia
Duane Steven Horne Jr. ••
Desmond Wellesley Howell
Nikitha Jeyaprakash † ••
Halimah Khan ҩ ••
Michelle N. Lawrence
Edmund J. Lu ҩ † ••
Adrian Lucero
Isabella Hope Lynch •
Brianna Joy Mallette •••
Ana Bella Matos Diaz
Natalie Nicole McGraw
Martina Moffo •
Katherine Ning Jing Moore
Cindy Orozco
Gianna Lanae Patitucci •
• Cum laude •• Magna cum laude ••• Summa cum laude
Alyson Rose Petro
Ashley Petthyng
Padmini Rao
Hassan Rasheed
Gabriella Regalbuto •
Angelina Marie Rodriguez
Angeliyz Rosario
Dana Simmins
Richard William Snyder III •
Aine Keelin Steiner
Franzmarie Taguinod
Evelyn Thi Tran
Vi T. Tran
Jallah Musa Trawally ••
Dwana Tribbett
Crystal Yen Nhi Trinh
Andrew Lloyd Tummings Jr. •
Brandon David Valeri
Xinyue Wang
McKenna Williams
Winnie Wu
Catherine Kyuri Yang •
HISTORY
Robert Ellis Brant ҩ ••
Tyler Robert Ford
Kayla Franklin •
Eugene Jackson •••
Nicolas Lukaitis
Thien Vu Hoang Nguyen
John Wilson Ormsby IV
Anthony H. Paulucci ҩ ••
LIBERAL STUDIES
Kaylie Baksh
Mayan Barkel
Geraldine Barksdale
Vincent Joseph Beahan IV
Rachelle Zinab Bouanaka •••
Carli Nicole Buchalter •••
Mark Kennedy Buerck
Seamus Aiden Coyle
Ethan Luis De Jesus
Madison Louis Donofrio •••
Joyce R. Howell
NaCaia A. Jackson
Ciará N. Johnson
Timothy Patrick Kelly ҩ •
Becca D. Kennedy
Ryan Matthew Lopez
� Departmental Honors
Please note that all honors and notations in this booklet are based on the enrollment status and grade point average at the conclusion of the winter semester. Final awards and notations, including spring grades, will be on the diploma and transcript. An updated version of this booklet with honors based on spring semester grades is available at camden.rutgers.edu/commencement
Dominique Lynard
Matthew Gregg Montgomery •••
Victoria Patricia Morkevich
Denise Velta Nicolas •
Mike Valentine Prower •••
Rosa H. Ramos
Layne Alex Raposo
Aracelis I. Rivera
Bianca LeeAmy Rodriguez
Helena Roesing
Christopher Rossiter
Libi Henia Shental ••
Jada Jeni Square •
Erica Scott Stevens ••
James Adam Straut
Dahiana Taveras •••
Nicholas Sava Trahan •••
Caitlin F. Wilson
Tora Marie Wright •
Soleil Kai Yakita
MUSIC
Alayna Zania Brown
Cory Ryan Yhap
PHILOSOPHY
Christopher M. N. Abacan
Luis Alberto Aguiar
Alhajie Abdul Bah
Julio Cesar Dagand ҩ ‡ •••
Patrick William Hughes •
Julie Michele Kwietnieski ҩ ••
Joseph Harvey Lescht ҩ † •••
Jacob Eric Troutman
Brandon Alexandro Vidales ҩ ‡ ••
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Christopher M. N. Abacan
Gideon Oluwatomiwa Adeleke •
Jayman Avery IV •
Doraine Jowyll Baker †
Aidan Anthony Baltakov
Justin Folahan Bamgboye ҩ † •••
Robert Ellis Brant ҩ ••
Bydirah Brown
Kenneth Michael Brown Jr.
Jessica Carolina Buendia Gallego ҩ •
Jeffrey Jayes Douglas ••
Katina Dowley •••
Rian James Fitzpatrick ••
Kayla Franklin •
Mya R. Hailstork
Christian Aleksandr Janiszewski • Guneet Kaur ҩ ‡ † •••
Nicole Ketch •
Luke Joseph Kratz
Joseph Harvey Lescht ҩ † •••
Michael Jacob Milman •••
Thien Vu Hoang Nguyen
Olivia Alexandra Nunes ҩ ‡ † •••
Uchechukwu Queeneth Nwajei Gleason •
Kaitlyn O’ Connor
Jason Ismael Ortigoza •
Hatice Özer •••
Paula Pinto •••
Joseph Prioli •
Elikemuel Rodriguez ҩ ••
Lucas Caleb Pascua Sandig ҩ † •••
Rubem Ramos Santos •
Briannah Morgan Shaw •
Joshua Vincent Stapleton ҩ † ••
Nicholas James Williams
PSYCHOLOGY
Estefani Acevedo ҩ •••
Presley Nicola Albadine ҩ ‡ •••
Regina Elayne Alston
Kenyse Francheska Aponté
Berkant Aydin •
Miragrace Malan Balbas •
Moumita Banerjee •
Eric Benjamin
Micaela Marie Brown •
Alaysia Amani Byrd ҩ ••
Gabriela Cabarcas
Mahailia La Mei Campbell
Joselyn Carmen Carrero •
Erin Elise Chajkowski
Suzzana Christensen ҩ ••
Myesha Coats •
Caitlin Cohen •••
Xochilt Cornejo
Aidan Christian Coughlin ҩ † •
Dylan Matthew Cruice
Jasmyn Maria Cruz •
Tierra Daniels
Zonae Lynelle De Leon † •••
Gina Nicole DeRocini •
Hiba Durrani
Maha Durrani ҩ ‡ •••
Frederick Thomas Esposito
Kaylee Roxed Estrada I
Joshua Edward Fletcher •••
Natalie Jane Flores •••
Mary Eleanor Gerber •••
Celeste Marie Givin
Dylan Howard Glassman •
Xavier Steven Gordy
Jason Tyler Grace Jr. ҩ † •••
Zhoneé Monique Grant
Cameran Elaine Hartranft •••
Melanie Nicole Heintz
Taylor Ann Hinson
Somalia Kelly Hinton Nixon ••
Skylar Ann Hoff ҩ •••
Amanda Hoopes •
Carly Jo Huddell •
Kwynn Jackson ҩ •••
Robin Gail Kavanagh •••
Olivia Taylor Keane
Sara Anne Kelley
Mickenzie Anne Keough •
Olivia Nicola Kidd
India Aliese King
Adriana Lourdes Kirwin ҩ † ••
Julie Michele Kwietnieski ҩ ••
Alexandra Nicole LaRue ••
Faith E. Lee •••
Shamiya Reneé Livingston
Charlee Savannah Lopez ҩ ••
Hector Jesus Lopez III
Edmund J. Lu ҩ † ••
Adrian Lucero
Makayla Celeste Ludwick
Dominique Lynard
Srijan Makkena ҩ † •••
Robert Francis McDaniel Jr. ••
Racquel McIntyre
Arianna Merendino
Forrest Miller •
Emily Rose Moore
Tina Isabella Mulder
Pramila Murphy •••
Jada E. Nagle † •
Tyhara Nelson
Chizurumoke Adonis Njokubi
Dideoluwa Oluwayanmife Olu-Owotade
Julianna Rose Oppermann •••
Jeilyn Sujeily Pagán Maldonado † •••
Gabriella Palfey •
Rachel Elizabeth Parker •••
Regina Marie Pauro ҩ •
Christy Angelie Peña
Alyson Rose Petro
Stephanie Laura Piscopo •••
Leila Idalis Plasencia ••
Grayson Douglas Powell ҩ •••
Angelina Marie Real •
Mya Nicole Reddick
Naomi Stephanie Revueltas-Angeles
Faith Gabrielle Hermo Rivera
Serenity Nevaeh Rivera ҩ † •••
Tayrinn Shauri Roderick •••
Ashely Rodriguez •••
Samantha Adele Rota †
Ida Marie Rotondi
Angelica Sanchez Benito
Frederick Steven Schauer II
Edward Schlechtweg •••
Makensie Janae Shields •
Je-Naya Nicole Shipley
Divinah M. Simmons
Mark Gerardo Subong
Amari Taylor-Watkins
Victoria Cecilia Torres
Brandon David Valeri
Alyssa Cristina Vojtecky ••
Abigail Ann Walker ҩ •••
Brianna Madison Watson •
Mercury Zimmer
RELIGION
Eugene Jackson •••
SOCIAL WORK
Esi Amissah
Shanise Bailey •
Patricia Lynn Beck ••
ZJohnyce Mayasia Beverly •
Vivianna A. Bordon
Jacob Bouson •••
Ida Brooks
Sonaya Brown •
Salina Cherry •
Kennedy Cipolla •
Christopher G. Cosky
Jordyn E. Court ҩ •••
Aniyah Davis
Carleigh Davis
Brandi E. Dennis •••
Christinia Marie Eibeck † ••
Juniper Ella Apple Emmons
Morgan Farren ••
Monica A. Figueroa Pimentel ••
Kayla Marie Fischer-Spross •••
Theresa Grace Fitzpatrick •••
Samantha Marie Garcia ҩ ••
Anthony Paul Gellura † •••
Jazmin Marie Gonzalez •••
Jason Tyler Grace Jr. ҩ † •••
Gianna Nicole Granato •••
Shakeema Nicole Harris •
Alexis Nicole Hatfield ҩ •••
Anthony Charles Herbert ••
Joy Veronica Higgins ҩ •••
Michelle Janine Hurley ••
Lanyia Imani Johnson
Eva Nicole Kassekert ҩ •
Payton Emmanuel Keen
Bryn Lena Kelleher •••
Lisa J. Laureano
Alana Leanne Maldonado •
Kayla F. Manjorin-Russo •••
Shanice Ivette Orozco •
Athenaeum
Phi Beta Kappa
Honors College
Kat Luna Pear ••
Karli D. Pitts •
Babetta Pluguez •••
Ashley Evelin Polanco-Salguero •••
Brianna Marie Prout •
Tamara Ramos
Tiara Michelle Ramos •
Julie Michele Roche ••
Dariely Rosario Burgos † •••
Shawn Anthony Ruffin Jr. ҩ •
Jack Louis Ruiz † •••
Jaquelinee Haydee Santos Chur •••
Nichole Amber Schmidt •••
Amanda Elizabeth Serrano •
Jaylynn N. Silva
Elle Rose Silvestre ҩ ••
Octavia O. Skinner •
Stephanie Smith •••
Genesis Brianna Soto
Diana Karina Sotomayor
Casey Lynne Spila •••
Rosaline Stokes •••
Ashley N. Stout ••
Brianna Thomas
Rachel Marina White •
Jazmyn Rajanay Whitfield
SOCIOLOGY
Deleon Betty Benjamin
QueenTeja Zabria Cooper •
Brandon David Valeri
SPANISH
Isabella S. Bordon †
Karla Nicole Paredes Vargas †
Ashley Petthyng
Naomi Stephanie Revueltas-Angeles
Marcela Michelle Sandres Urbina
Jason George Shinn
THEATER
Francheska Mejia ҩ ••
• Cum laude
•• Magna cum laude
••• Summa cum laude
GONFALONIERS
College of Arts and Sciences–Camden
David Salas-de la Cruz, Ph.D.
University College–Camden
Timothy Knievel, A.B.D., Ph.D.
MARSHALS
Bailey Blessing, M.S.
Selim Cakmakli, Ph.D.
Robert A. Emmons, D.Litt.
Keith M. Green, Ph.D.
Nathan Fried, Ph.D.
Marilisa Jimenez, Ph.D.
Jeri Middlebrook, M.S.W.
James Mobley, M.F.A.
Kimberlee Moran, MSc.
Silvia Perez-Cortes, Ph.D.
Sunil Shende, Ph.D.
� Departmental Honors
Please note that all honors and notations in this booklet are based on the enrollment status and grade point average at the conclusion of the winter semester. Final awards and notations, including spring grades, will be on the diploma and transcript. An updated version of this booklet with honors based on spring semester grades is available at camden.rutgers.edu/commencement
RUTGERS LAW SCHOOL
Thursday, May 21, 2026
ORDER OF EXERCISES
WELCOME
Antonio D. Tillis, Ph.D. Chancellor, Presiding
PRESIDING
Johanna Bond, J.D., M.P.P., LL.M., Dean and Professor of Law
THE PROCESSIONAL Symphony in C Brass Quintet
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
“THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER” Nallely Pineda Turcios, CCAS ’27
THE OPENING CEREMONIES
Johanna Bond, J.D. Dean and Professor of Law, Presiding
STUDENT SPEAKERS
Isabel Ballester, Student Bar Association President
CONVOCATION SPEAKER
James R. Maida, Esq. RLAW ’90 Founder, President & CEO of Gaming Laboratories International (GLI®)
PRESENTATION OF GRADUATES
Johanna Bond, J.D. Dean and Professor of Law, Presiding
READERS OF THE NAMES
Michael Carrier, Distinguished Professor of Law
Ruth Anne Robbins, Professor of Law
HOODING
Rick Swedloff, Professor of Law
Jacob Russell, Associate Professor of Law
Thea Johnson, Professor of Law
Seema Safiee, Assistant Professor of Law
REMARKS
Angella Middleton, President, Rutgers Law Alumni Association
THE RECESSIONAL* Symphony in C Brass Quintet
*A light reception will follow at the Law School
James R. Maida, Esq. RLAW ’90
Founder, President & CEO of Gaming Laboratories International (GLI®)
James R. Maida is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Gaming Laboratories International (GLI®), the world’s largest and leading independent testing and certification company for gambling and lottery systems. Mr. Maida began his career in public service with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, where he certified gaming equipment and developed the regulatory foundation that would shape his professional life.
In 1989, while attending Rutgers Law School, Mr. Maida co-founded the first independent gaming device testing company serving regulators in the United States. Over the past four decades, he has grown GLI from a pioneering start-up into a global organization with 31 locations and more than 1,600 employees worldwide. Today, GLI consults on and tests land-based, online and lottery games and systems for more than 46 state governments, 250 tribal gaming commissions across 710 jurisdictions, and over 1,000 gaming and technology suppliers. GLI is also one of only two firms that specialize in the testing and certification of state voting systems.
An internationally recognized authority in gaming law and technology, Mr. Maida is a frequent speaker at legal, regulatory, and technology conferences around the world. He has also testified as an expert witness in significant gaming matters at both the Federal and State levels, including before the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, the National Indian Gaming Commission, and numerous state legislatures.
Mr. Maida’s leadership and vision have earned him widespread recognition. He has been inducted into the prestigious American Gaming Association Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Gaming Hall of Fame and was named one of the “25 Most Influential Persons in the Gaming Industry.” He was also honored as the New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019 and received the Arthur E. Armitage Sr. Distinguished Alumni Award from Rutgers Law School in 2013.
Through The James and Sharon Maida Foundation – which supports global initiatives in education, healthcare, and environmental stewardship - the Maidas established the Rutgers Maida Public Interest Fellowship Program in 2015. Since its inception, The Maida Fellowship has supported hundreds of Rutgers Law students in providing more than 150,000 hours of pro bono legal services, expanding access to justice for thousands of individuals. The Maidas have also funded Rutgers Law scholarships and bar study stipends to support the next generation of legal professionals.
In addition, Mr. Maida has served on numerous charitable and educational boards, including the Lehigh University Board of Trustees, the Rutgers University Foundation Board of Overseers, and the Monmouth Medical Center Board of Trustees.
He and Dr. Sharon Maida are the proud parents of four children, as well as grandparents to two grandchildren.
Candidates for the Degree JURIS DOCTOR
Zachery Abunemeh
Megan Ann Adams
Alia Marie Alebus
Arman R. Aliasgharpour
Nadira Imani Anderson ф
Lillian Gifty Naamua Antwi
Alison R. Armendinger
Alyssa Janeen Armor
Zachary Lincoln Ball
Isabel Emelinda Ballester
Melissa Ann Baroni
Sophia Fawn Belko
Taylor L. Bellman
Garrett William Blesi
Miranda Bernardyn Bottura
James Ryan Boyd
Jerry Ray Brenoskie III
Madison Elizabeth Bromke
Dylan Brown ф
Mary Brittany Bruder
Porsha Bryant
Naomi Jane Burrows
Alexander M. Campbell
Emma Flavia Carabello
Miranda Carlo
Collin J. Cassidy
Laurel Cassin
Ali Chaudhry
Samantha Coffman
Mara Crossett
Áine Daly
Gregory Jamal Dancy II
Natahlia Daversa
Lauren M. Dempsey
Emily M. Dentinger
Shannon Marie DeSousa
Aminata Diallo
Diana Diaz ф
Kaitlin L. Dirkx ф
Ruthie Eden Douglass
Laura Koehler Dumas
Andrew Victor Dydynsky П
Michael Allen Eible
Olivia Faith Eissler
Carleigh Grace Ellis
Kevon Taro Elzey
Steven A. Emanuel
Jane Louise Donio Enscoe
Elizabeth Lascarez Espana
Julianna Paige Evans
Lewis Daniel Evans
Natalia San German Falana Oropeza
Jackson Marshall Falk
Olivia Farneski
John Ferrara Jr.
Amanda Catherine Forester
Orlando Franqui
Nicholas Anthony Freijomil
Amy E. Fricker
Ling Hua Gao
Ashley Marie Gavalchin
Stephanie A. Genna
Kristina Cassandra Jayne Goshorn
Dalton Kyle Guillory
Lucas Michael Harsche
Tyler Michael Hartman
Joshua D. Hartwell
Benjamin Hayhow
Julia Kathleen Hoff
Alexander F. Horner
Ryleigh Joy Huntsinger
Noah Michael Insel
Henry Taylor Jobes
Louis T. Juliano
Samuel Robert Kasilowski
Mary Margaret Katt
Gianna M. Kemmerer
Donisha Kendrick
William Martin King IV
Dawson Baily Kipphut
Veton Klobucista
Patrick Knott
Jonathan Joseph Koehler
Mckenna Mary Kohlepp
Benjamin Thomas Krause
Thomas Little
Erin Gosnell Leuthold ф
Eva Lushaj
Colt Luzzi
Caroline Maglaras
Nikos S. Mallous ф
Judith Mannara-Davey
Christopher M. Marrone Jr.
Alexandra Araxie Marshall
Alexis Grace Matte
Gabrielle Marie Mavroidis
Scott Craig McClary
Patrick McNulty
Elijah Jayden Miller
Spence Paxton Millrood
Julianna Minus
Lindsey L. Morrison
Hugo Moura
Do Yeon Na
Marco A. Nastasi
Makayla Fusano Newman
Marc V. Nuzzo
Emily Rose O’Donnell
Mario Ofidis
Travis Orgel
Ashini Ashutosh Patel
Francesca Marie Patetta
Andrew Francis Plunkett
Brendaliz A. Polanco
Alexandra Zoey Pollack
Hailey Patricia Power
Andrew Power ф
Ryan A. Quinn
Seam Rahman
Ryan J. Raynor
Chyanne L. Rhodes
Katherine Marie Irma Richey
Elisabeth Ann Roberson
Jhordan N. Roberts
Kerry Jafar Robinson
Mackenzie Rene Runciman
Robert A. Russell
Mahirali Saiyed
Nicolas Sarracino
Stephen Joseph Scheuren
George P. Schmidling
Julia Nicole Schultz
Devin Reilley Sengpiel
Devon Seville
Megan Ann Sharp
Devon R. Shaw
Owen Shiffner
Lauren K. Smith
Millie Martinez Sosa
Nicholas Hunter Spitz
Alexis Lynn Steigelman
Thomas W. Stelling
Thomas Christopher Stimson
Kylie Anne Stinsman
Rowan May Sullivan
Anastasia J. Swanson-Boyd
Tyler Swartz
David Austin Sweeney
Logan Sweeney
Addie Elizabeth Tanzman
Drew Taylor-Hughes
Camryn R. Thompson
Alexandria Reese Townsend
Joseph Traum П
Xingwen Wei
Matthew White
Payton Williams
Jessica M. Willox
Alexa Coria Zavala
Jamie Hannah Zimmerman
GONFALONIER/MARSHAL
Adam Crews,
Assistant Professor of Law
Please
Rutgers University–Camden CAMPUS INFORMATION
RUTGERS SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES–CAMDEN FACULTY
BIOLOGY
Brian Corbett, Ph.D.
Nathan Fried, Ph.D.
Anthony Geneva, Ph.D.
Angélica González, Ph.D.
Andrey Grigoriev, Ph.D.
Eric Klein, Ph.D.
Kwangwon Lee, Ph.D.
Jennifer Oberle, Ph.D.
Tracie L. Paulson, M.S.
Xingyun Qi, Ph.D.
Charlene W. Sayers, M.S.
Daniel H. Shain, Ph.D.
Maria Solesio Torregrosa, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Nir Yakoby, Ph.D.
CHEMISTRY
Georgia Arbuckle-Keil, Ph.D.
Bailey Blessing, M.S.
Michelle G. Carlin, Ph.D.
Jinglin Fu, Ph.D.
Catherine Grgicak, Ph.D.
George Kumi, Ph.D.
Guillaume Lamoureux, Ph.D.
Santanu Malakar, Ph.D.
Alex J. Roche, Ph.D.
David Salas-de la Cruz, Ph.D.
Katharine Winchell, Ph.D.
Youwen (Warren) Zhang, Ph.D.
CHILDHOOD STUDIES
Meredith A. Bak, Ph.D.
Sarada Balagopalan, Ph.D.
Valerie Bass, Ph.D.
Daniel T.J. Cook, Ph.D.
Naomi Fair, Ph.D.
Marilisa Jiménez García, Ph.D.
Susan Miller, Ph.D.
Lauren Silver, Ph.D.
Anthony Wright, Ph.D.
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Iman Abdollah Dehzangi, Ph.D.
Rajiv C. Gandhi, Ph.D.
Guy Kortsarz, Ph.D.
Desmond S. Lun, Ph.D.
Suneeta Ramaswami, Ph.D.
Sunil Shende, Ph.D.
ECONOMICS
Selim Cakmakli, Ph.D.
I-Ming Chiu, Ph.D.
Noha Emara, Ph.D.
Osama A. Hamed, Ph.D.
Jinpeng Ma, Ph.D.
John Smith, Ph.D.
Tetsuji Yamada, Ph.D.
ENGLISH AND COMMUNICATION
James Brown, Ph.D.
Travis DuBose, M.A.
Richard L. Epstein, Ph.D.
Shanyn Fiske, Ph.D.
Christopher J. Fitter, Ph.D.
William FitzGerald, Ph.D.
Ashley Gimbal, Ph.D.
Keith M. Green, Ph.D.
Lauren P. Grodstein, M.F.A.
M.A. Rafey Habib, D.Phil.
Tyler B. Hoffman, Ph.D.
Ophelia Eryn Hostetter, Ph.D.
Holly V. Blackford Humes, Ph.D.
Ellen Malenas Ledoux, Ph.D.
Paul Lisicky, M.F.A.
Howard Marchitello, Ph.D.
Tom McAllister, M.F.A.
Allison Page, Ph.D.
Patrick Rosal, M.F.A.
Jillian Sayre, Ph.D.
Claire Stricklin, Ph.D.
Lee Ann Westman, Ph.D.
Lisa Alison Zeidner, M.A.
HEALTH SCIENCES
Joanna Cohen Kallan, Ph.D.
Michelle Livings, Ph.D.
HISTORY
Jesse Bayker, Ph.D.
Kendra Boyd, Ph.D.
Katherine Epstein, Ph.D.
Carly Goodman, Ph.D.
Evan Jewell, Ph.D.
Nikhil Paul Kapur, Ph.D.
Emily Marker, Ph.D.
Susan Mokhberi, Ph.D.
Andrew B. Shankman, Ph.D.
Lorrin Reed Thomas, Ph.D.
Wendy Woloson, Ph.D.
MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
Nawaf Bou-Rabee, Ph.D.
Siqi Fu, Ph.D.
Haydee Herrera-Guzman, Ph.D.
Howard Jacobowitz, Ph.D.
Debashis Kushary, Ph.D.
Sara Leshen, Ph.D.
Haisheng Li, Ph.D.
Christopher Z. Lim, M.S.
Randy Mershon, M.S.
Mahesh G. Nerurkar, Ph.D.
Benedetto Piccoli, Ph.D.
Longmei Shu, Ph.D.
Gabor Toth, Ph.D.
Yuchung J. Wang, Ph.D.
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION
Craig Agule, Ph.D.
Margaret Betz, Ph.D.
Stuart L. Charmé, Ph.D.
Nicole Karapanagiotis, Ph.D.
John A. Wall, Ph.D.
PHYSICS
Grace Brannigan, Ph.D.
Hong Fang, Ph.D.
Julianne Griepenburg, Ph.D.
Hunter King, Ph.D.
Jiantao Kong, Ph.D.
Sean O’Malley, Ph.D.
Cory Trout, Ph.D.
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Michael Boyle, Ph.D.
Kelly Dittmar, Ph.D.
Maureen Donaghy, Ph.D.
Anthony Grasso, Ph.D.
Timothy M. Knievel, A.B.D., Ph.D.
Beth Rabinowitz, Ph.D.
Shauna Shames, Ph.D.
Wojtek M. Wolfe, Ph.D.
PSYCHOLOGY
Andrew Abeyta, D.Phil.
Sarah Allred, Ph.D.
Kristin August, Ph.D.
Courtenay Cavanaugh, Ph.D.
Lauren Daniel, Ph.D.
E. Sean Duffy, Ph.D.
Jamie Dunaev, Ph.D.
Yoona Kang, Ph.D.
Charlotte N. Markey, Ph.D.
Naomi R. Marmorstein, Ph.D.
Tamara Nelson Calhoun, Ph.D.
Ira J. Roseman, Ph.D.
Robrecht van der Wel, Ph.D.
J. William Whitlow, Ph.D.
PUBLIC POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, Ph.D.
Stephen D. Danley, D.Phil.
Michael A. Hayes, Ph.D.
Paul Jargowsky, Ph.D.
Patrice M. Mareschal, Ph.D.
Angie E. McGuire, Ph.D.
Clinton McNair, Ph.D.
Lorraine Minnite, Ph.D.
Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn, Ph.D.
Erin Robinson, Ph.D.
Jovanna Rosen, Ph.D.
Nathaniel Wright, Ph.D.
SOCIOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Julio Alicea, Ph.D.
Ross Allen, J.D.
Gail A. Caputo, Ph.D.
Christina Jackson, Ph.D.
Nathan Link, Ph.D.
Joan Maya Mazelis, Ph.D.
Michelle L. Meloy, Ph.D.
Kimberlee Sue Moran, MSc.
Laura J. Napolitano, Ph.D.
Kayla Preito-Hodge, Ph.D.
Daniel Semenza, Ph.D.
Richard Stansfield, Ph.D.
Christopher Patrick Thomas, Ph.D.
Sarah Tosh, Ph.D.
EDUCATION AND TEACHER PREPARATION
Sara Becker, Ph.D.
Ann Heidelberg, M.Ed.
Anne McGeehan, Ed.D.
VISUAL, MEDIA, AND PERFORMING ARTS
Margery S. Amdur, M.F.A.
Julianne Baird, Ph.D.
Paul Bernstein, M.F.A.
Elizabeth Demaray, M.F.A.
Kenneth Elliott, Ph.D.
Robert A. Emmons, D.Litt.
Allan J. Espiritu, M.F.A.
Alejandro Loureiro Lorenzo, Ph.D.
James Mobley, M.F.A.
Elizabeth Pilliod, Ph.D.
Cyril Reade, Ph.D.
Joseph C. Schiavo, Ph.D.
Stass Shpanin, M.F.A.
LiQin Tan, M.A.
Chinghsin Wu, Ph.D.
Mark Zaki, Ph.D.
WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
James Boucher, Ph.D.
Judith R. Downing, M.S.
Próspero García, Ph.D.
Carla E. Giaudrone, Ph.D.
Ana Gomez Laguna, Ph.D.
Jean-Louis Hippolyte, Ph.D.
Eveling Hondros, M.A.T.
Silvia Perez-Cortes, Ph.D.
James A. Rushing, Ph.D.
RUTGERS SCHOOL OF NURSING–CAMDEN FACULTY
Donna M. Nickitas, Ph.D., R.N., N.E.A.B.C., C.N.E., F.N.A.P., F.A.A.N., Dean
Sharon R. Andress, D.N.P., R.N. C.E.N., C.N.E. Margaret Avallone, D.N.P., R.N., C.C.R.N., C.N.E.
Cynthia G. Ayres, Ph.D., R.N., F.N.A.P., F.N.Y.A.M.
Janice M. Beitz, Ph.D., R.N., C.S, C.N.O.R., C.W.O.C.N.-A.P., C.R.N.P., A.P.N.C, A.N.E.F., F.N.A.P., W.O.C.N.F., F.A.A.N. Joseph Cipriano, D.N.P., A.P.N., F.N.P.-B.C., A.A.H.I.V.S.
Deirdre M. Conroy, D.N.P., A.P.N., N.P.-C. Jeanann Sousou Coppola, D.N.P., R.N., C.N.M., C.N.E., C.-E.F.M., F.A.C.N.M. Jim Cucinotta, MBA
Brigitte S. Cypress, Ed.D., R.N., C.C.R.N. Thomas A. Dahan, Ph.D.
Robert L. Johnson, Interim Chancellor, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences; Dean of New Jersey Medical School
Antonio D. Tillis, Chancellor, Rutgers University–Camden
Keena Arbuthnot, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer
William J. Castner, Executive Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel
Ralph A. Gigliotti, Chief of Staff to the President
J. Michael Gower, Chief Financial Officer and University Treasurer
Louis Gremillion, Jr. Associate Vice President for Advancement and Special Assistant to the President
Kimberly Hopely, Executive Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement and President of the Rutgers University Foundation
Kimberly J. Lewis, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
Steven K. Libutti, Director of the Rutgers Cancer Institute and Vice Chancellor of Cancer Programs
Kim Manning, Vice President for University Communications and Marketing
Brian Quigley, Senior Vice President for Government Relations
Keli Zinn, Director, Intercollegiate Athletics
GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERSHIP
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Amy L. Towers, Chair
James F. Dougherty, Vice Chair
Mark A. Angelson
Hollis A. Copeland
Alan M. Crosta, Jr.
Nicholas Fixmer
George S. Helmy
Tilak Lal
Mark E. Manigan
Amy B. Mansue
Jose A. Piazza
Harvey M. Schwartz
Gary B. Taffet
William F. Tate IV, Ex Officio
John M. Vazquez
Lucille L. Foster, Senate Representative
Heather N. Pierce, Senate Representative
Safanya N. Searcy, Senate Representative
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Kenneth R. Johnson, Chair
Mary Papamarkou, Vice Chair
Gary W. Chropuvka, Vice Chair
Fauzan Amjad
Danielle Bechta
Gregory Bender, Emeritus
Jennifer C. Bender
William E. Best, Emeritus
Jonathan R. Boguchwal
Greg Brown, Emeritus
Linda J. Caldwell Epps
Dorothy W. Cantor, Emerita
Kim Case
C. Edward Chaplin
Mary J. Chyb, Emerita
Kevin J. Collins, Emeritus
Marc de Grandpré
Monica E. de los Rios
Deborah De Santis
Peter N. DeNigris
Anthony J. DePetris, Emeritus
Mary I. DiMartino, Emerita
James F. Dougherty, Emeritus
Harriett A. Druskin
Norman H. Edelman
Robert P. Eichert, Emeritus
Dina Karmazin Elkins
Robert M. Falzon
Christiana R. Foglio
Jeanne M. Fox
Robert H. Friedman
Margaret A. Gillis
Rochelle Gizinski, Emerita
Christopher Godoy
Leslie E. Goodman, Emeritus
Derrick L. Green
David L. Harris
M. Wilma Harris, Emerita
Joyce P. Hendricks
Robert A. Hering, Emeritus
Mark P. Hershhorn, Emeritus
Carleton A. Holstrom, Emeritus
Frank B. Hundley, Emeritus
Nimesh S. Jhaveri, Emeritus
Tilak Lal, Emeritus
Robert A. Laudicina, Emeritus
Yanique D. Le-Cadre
Indu Lew
Walter B. MacDonald
Duncan L. MacMillan, Emeritus
Susan F. Martin
James P. McCarthy
Patricia Nachtigal, Emerita
Dean J. Paranicas, Emeritus
Ameya Ketankumar Patel
Meet Patel
Ilce Perez
Jose A. Piazza, Emeritus
George A. Rears, Emeritus
Linda D. Moton Rivers
Carole Sampson-Landers
Philip Scalo
Kenneth M. Schmidt, Emeritus
Squire J. Servance
Richard H. Shindell, Emeritus
Dorothy M. Stanaitis, Emerita
Robert L. Stevenson, Emeritus
Sandy J. Stewart, Emeritus
William F. Tate IV, Ex Officio
Heather C. Taylor, Emerita
Michael R. Tuosto, Emeritus
Maria P. Vallejo
Wendy M. Purcell, Senate Representative
Robert A. Schwartz, Senate Representative
Arielle Berkowitz, Student Representative
Chidera Ntiwunka-Ifeanyi, Student Representative
OFFICERS OF THE BOARD
J. Michael Gower, Treasurer
Patrick L. Melillo, Interim Secretary
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY–CAMDEN
BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 2025–2026
James F. Dougherty, Chair
Walter B. MacDonald, Vice Chair
Amy B. Mansue
James P. McCarthy
Jose A. Piazza
Antonio D. Tillis, Ex Officio
Samuel Rabinowitz, Faculty Representative
Gaylene Gordon, Graduate Student Representative
Jennifer Levy, Undergraduate Student Representative
OFFICERS OF THE BOARD
J. Michael Gower, Treasurer
Michael Sepanic, Secretary
2026 RUTGERS–CAMDEN COMMENCEMENT COMMITTEE
Kristin Walker and Kelly Carlucci, Co-Chairs
Danielle Askew
Kathleen Brennan
Michael Burke
Ashley Dolce
Timothy DiVito
Christopher Gebhart
Todd Giese
Matthew Gulsby
Kristin Imhoff
Diana Keough
Mitch Larson
Arlene Lentini
Christina Lynn
Penny Mancini
Joyce McMurray
Amy Miller
Thomas Murtagh
Samuel Rabinowitz
Julie Roncinske
Tom Ryan
Debbie Scheibler
Douglas Shelton
Michelle Sudler
Chrissie Taylor
Rachel Tomlinson
Donna Vazquez
Krista Wehlen
THE ACADEMIC COSTUME
The wearing of the academic dress dates back to the early days of the oldest universities in the world. In the American Council on Education’s book titled American Universities and Colleges, it is suggested the “Gowns may have been counted necessary for warmth in the unheated buildings frequented by medieval scholars. Hoods seem to have served to cover the tonsured head...”
Throughout the years, European universities have continued to show great diversity in their academic dress. American universities, on the other hand, when they decided to adopt academic dress, immediately established a code of regulations which today is followed by almost all American institutions. The establishment of this code has made it possible to distinguish the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor’s degrees and at the same time recognize the university which has given them the degree.
Gowns: Bachelor’s gown has pointed sleeves and is worn closed. Master’s gown, worn open or closed, has oblong sleeves, the front part of which frequently is cut away at the elbow. Doctor’s gown has bell-shaped sleeves. It is worn open or closed. Cotton, poplin, or similar material is used for bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and rayon or silk ribbed material is used for the doctor’s degree.
Hoods: The hoods vary in sizes: 48 inches for the doctor’s degree, 42 inches for the master’s, and 36 inches for the bachelor’s. All hoods are lined in silk in the academic color or colors of the institution conferring the degree. If the institution has more than one color, the colors are shown in divisions using chevrons. The binding or edge of the hood is usually made of velvet in the color designating the subject in which the degree was granted.
Below is a list of some of the faculty colors as prescribed by the Intercollegiate Code for the binding of the hood.
Agriculture
Arts, Letters, Humanities
Business Administration, Commerce
Economics
Education
Engineering
Fine Arts, Architecture
Journalism
Law
Library Service
Medicine
Music
Nursing
Oratory-Speech
Pharmacy
Philosophy
Physical Education
Public Administration
Science
Social Service
Theology & Divinity
The color or colors of the
the
Maize
White
Brown
Copper
Light Blue
Orange
Brown
Dark Crimson
Purple
Lemon
Green
Pink
Apricot
Silver Gray
Olive Green
Blue
Sage Green
Peacock Blue
Golden Yellow
Citron
Scarlet
Caps: Black mortarboards or soft hats are worn for all degrees. The gold tassel signifies a doctorate.
lining of the hood for
nine colonial colleges are: scarlet, Rutgers; crimson, Harvard; green-gold-silver, William and Mary; blue, Yale; red-blue, Pennsylvania; orange-black, Princeton; light blue-white, Columbia; brown, Brown; and green-white, Dartmouth.
ON THE BANKS OF THE OLD RARITAN
From far and near we came to Rutgers, And resolved to learn all that we can; And so I settled down, in that noisy college town, On the banks of the Old Raritan.
Chorus:
On the banks of the old Raritan, my friends, Where old Rutgers evermore shall stand; For has she not stood since the time of the flood, On the banks of the old Raritan.
The sun of justice shines in Camden; Its enlightened truth we all can share; Our hearts and minds unite at that honored urban site, On the banks of the old Delaware.
Chorus:
On the banks of the old Delaware, my friends, Sound the clarion trumpets, let them blare; Clash the cymbals, ruff the snare, Rutgers’ glory fill the air, On the banks of the old Delaware.
Camden verses written by Dr. Julie Kendall and Dr. Kenneth Kendall
Class of 2026 You did it!
With your Rutgers degree, you are joining a global network of more than 600,000 alumni.
Follow us on Instagram today. It only takes a minute!
