C ommen C ement e xer C ises
PRESIDING
Dr. Kevin F. Hallock President, University of Richmond
Prelude, Processional March, and National Anthem
Invocation
The Reverend Dr. Craig Kocher Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life University Chaplain and Jessie Ball duPont Chair of the Chaplaincy
Welcome ..................................................................................................................President Hallock
Introductory Remarks .................................................................................... Dr. Jamelle S. Wilson
Dean, School of Professional & Continuing Studies
Student Commencement Speaker ............................... Margaret Mary Baly, W’88, L’92, GC’25
Presentation of Awards .......................................................................................... Dr. A. Joan Saab Executive Vice President & Provost Hannah N. Derricott, C’19 Vice President, SPCS Alumni Association
2026 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award.............. Dr. Jennifer J. Smith-Slabaugh Adjunct Assistant Professor, Nonprofit Studies
2026 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award Tavorise K. Marks, C’18
Presentation of Diplomas ............................................................................................. Dean Wilson
Conferring of Degrees .......................................................................................... President Hallock
Benediction Dr. Kocher
Other Participants in the Ceremony
Dr. Kate M. Cassada, Associate Professor of Education, Program Chair, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs ....... University Marshal
Daria Kosova, C’25 .............................................................................................................................. Mace Bearer
William Smith Blake, GC’26 United States Flag Bearer
Hannah Claire Snesil, GC’26 ................................................................... University of Richmond Flag Bearer
Stacy Kendall Pearman, C’25 ............................................................................................. SPCS Banner Bearer
Dr. Daniel L. Hocutt, R’92, G’98, SPCS Web Manager, Adjunct Professor, Liberal Arts Reader
Kristen A. Ball, G’94, P’25, University Registrar Assisting with Diplomas
Gretchen Flynn Morris, Associate Dean for Student Affairs ..................................................... SPCS Marshal
Please join us following Commencement for a reception on the East Concourse Patio, off the Robins Center Ambulatory Level, hosted by the School of Professional & Continuing Studies.
* Mace, Flag, Banner bearers, and other students participating in the program are graduating students with the highest grade point averages. In the event of a tie, selection is made by committee.
Students in Completion of Award Requirements
CERTIFICATE IN APPLIED STUDIES
Graduates — August 20, 2025, and December 31, 2025
Aly Rianne Jimenez Thornton, Colo.
+ Donald Lavance Jones Jr. El Paso, Texas
Scout Kirkham Richmond, Va.
+ Diana Larkin ....................................................................................................... Richmond, Va.
+ Jason Sonexay .............................................................................................Harrisonburg, Va.
Candidates — May 9, 2026
Riley Sutton Brown Midlothian, Va.
Aliya S. Butler Baltimore, Md.
Samantha Elizabeth Eastlack Laurel, Del.
Justin Bryon Gay Brooksville, Fla.
Alyssa Watlington Husser Walker, La.
Anthony K. Lopez .................................................................................................. Queens, N.Y.
Jacob Eduardo Martin ........................................................................... Walnut Creek, Calif.
Joseph A. Plucker............................................................................................. Lynchburg, Va.
John Willis Reeves Sr. ................................................................................... Fayetteville, N.C.
• Megan Wilson Reyen ............................................................................... Tappahannock, Va.
Grace Elizabeth Riley ...................................................................................... Midlothian, Va.
• Benjamin Dandridge Sale ................................................................................ Richmond, Va.
Dylan J. Siesky ..................................................................................................... Chantilly, Va.
Warren L. Spratley ............................................................................................ Richmond, Va.
• Skylah Travis ......................................................................................................... Weldon, N.C.
Christopher Wythe Woods ....................................................................... St. Augustine, Fla.
• Miranda Rose Zamora ...................................................................................... Richmond, Va.
Mateo Peter Zeppieri ...............................................................................Newcastle, Ontario
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY
Graduates — December 31, 2025
+ Nicholos Bergheimer ........................................................................................ Richmond, Va.
+ Liliana Bermejo ...................................................................................................... Queens, N.Y.
+ Lindsay Elizabeth Heath.................................................................................. Richmond, Va.
+ Jeffery K. Johnson Chesapeake, Va.
+ Sarah Michele Jones Cary, N.C.
+ Sydney Christine White Richmond, Va.
Candidate — May 9, 2026
Rachel Amber Rogers East Greenbush, N.Y.
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Graduates — August 20, 2025, and December 31, 2025
+ Mirna Ashraf Farag Richmond, Va.
Sayed Akaber Hussaini Richmond, Va.
Candidates — May 9, 2026
Reginald Van Johnson Jr. ........................................................................... Franklinton, N.C.
Christopher S. Morris ........................................................................................ Edenton, N.C.
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE NONPROFIT STUDIES
Graduates — August 20, 2025
Zelda Jean Hinkle ............................................................................................. Richmond, Va.
Claudia Stack Strobling ................................................................................... Richmond, Va.
Candidate — May 9, 2026
James D. Katsaros ................................................................................................. Henrico, Va.
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN LIBERAL ARTS
Candidate — May 9, 2026
Jacqueline Perkins Ross Richmond, Va.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Graduates — August 20, 2025, and December 31, 2025
+ Anthony T. Britt Mechanicsville, Va.
Justyn R. Freeman, magna cum laude Richmond, Va.
+ Marco W. Howard, cum laude Richmond, Va.
+ Daria Kosova, summa cum laude Glen Allen, Va.
+ Stacy Kendall Pearman, magna cum laude Richmond, Va.
Jason M. Richard .......................................................................................... Willamsburg, Va.
Ryan Scott Tucker Socha, cum laude .................................................... Mechanicsville, Va.
Wanda Lopez Washington, cum laude ......................................................... Midlothian, Va.
Tyler Erik Wobschall, magna cum laude ..................................................... Kalispell, Mont.
+ December 2025 graduate
• August 2026 candidate
Candidates — May 9, 2026
Sarah C. Buehren, magna cum laude Mechanicsville, Va.
Danielle Elizabeth Cain, magna cum laude Richmond, Va.
• Nyreng Deng Dut Richmond, Va.
Sydney A. Foster, magna cum laude ...................................................... Mechanicsville, Va.
• Traci A. Spencer ................................................................................................... Roanoke, Va.
• Trevor M. Tilley ..................................................................................................... Henrico, Va.
MASTER OF EDUCATION
Graduates — August 20, 2025, and December 31, 2025
Frankie-Lynne Conklin Richmond, Va.
+ Erin Johanna Halye ............................................................................................ Powhatan, Va.
+ Christopher-Gerard Isaac Harts ................................................................. Portsmouth, Va.
+ Kimia Mia Jahangiri .............................................................................................. Henrico, Va.
+ Natasha Mary Sturrock.............................................................................. Dundee, Scotland
+ Clara Swartz ....................................................................................................... Richmond, Va.
+ Angela Tench ............................................................................................. Virginia Beach, Va.
Emma Christine Wolfe........................................................................................ Chantilly, Va.
Candidates — May 9, 2026
Gilbert Lino Carter Jr. ...................................................................................... Richmond, Va.
Michael Jamison ............................................................................................. Memphis, Tenn.
Megan M. Kelso-Teel................................................................................ San Antonio, Texas
O’kelly Franklin Lilly ........................................................................................ Midlothian, Va.
Sheralyn A. Potter ............................................................................... Olongapo, Philippines
Karen E. Richardson ................................................................................ Manakin Sabot, Va.
Ashley Lynn Seal ...................................................................................... Manakin Sabot, Va.
Betsy Stewart ..................................................................................................... Richmond, Va.
Candace Aliyah Weather.......................................................................... Virginia Beach, Va.
MASTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Graduate — December 31, 2025
+ Kayla Marie Jones ............................................................................................ Midlothian, Va.
Candidates — May 9, 2026
Chase Renee Monroe ........................................................................................ Richmond, Va.
Alice R. Persons ................................................................................................. Richmond, Va.
Rebeca Soto Bradford ........................................................................ Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Stephanie Diane Starling ................................................................................. Richmond, Va.
December
• August 2026
MASTER OF LIBERAL ARTS
Graduates — August 20, 2025, and December 31, 2025
Shelby Martine Driskill..................................................................................... Richmond, Va.
Mitchell James Dunham Hamilton, Ontario
Claire Myriam Le Du Maisons, France
+ Kathryn Laura Mew Cobbs Creek, Va.
Gerard W. Peacock Sicklerville, N.J.
+ Nicole Taylor Pugh Richmond, Va.
+ Sydney Lee Wahl Vancouver, British Columbia
Candidates — May 9, 2026
Bijan H. Anvar Larchmont, N.Y.
Katherine McGinty Botha Richmond, Va.
Michael Blane Dickerson Richmond, Va.
• Michael James Farrell Manasquan, N.J.
• William Johnston Sydney, Australia
• Mauricio Alexander Rodriguez Revere, Mass.
• Sean Patrick Scanlon ........................................................................................ New York, N.Y.
Tierra R. Simon ................................................................................................ Houston, Texas
• Hannah Claire Snesil ........................................................................................ Richmond, Va.
• Dylan Patrick Winebrenner.......................................................................... Clarksburg, Md.
MASTER OF NONPROFIT STUDIES
Graduate — December 31, 2025
+ Emily Jane Kyser Richmond, Va.
Candidates — May 9, 2026
Zelda Jean Hinkle Richmond, Va.
• Sydney E. Jacobs Plainview, N.Y.
• Elizabeth Lindsay Knight Williamsburg, Va.
• Frank DeLaney Lott Richmond, Va.
Katherine Blaire Mansfield Richmond, Va.
• Kamara Parker Centreville, Va.
MASTER OF TEACHING
Graduates — August 20, 2025, and December 31, 2025
+ Margaret Mary Baly Richmond, Va.
+ Ashantae Bell Clark Oxen Hill, Md.
Kimberly Marks Campbell Richmond, Va.
+ December 2025 graduate
• August 2026 candidate
+ Kylee Sunshine Eaton Mechanicsville, Va.
+ Sydney C. Johnson Williamsburg, Va.
+ Lucy Watson Poindexter Richmond, Va.
+ Josephine W. Veserat ........................................................................................ Powhatan, Va.
Candidates — May 9, 2026
William Smith Blake Manakin Sabot, Va.
Melissa R. Howell Richmond, Va.
• William Gordon Kossler Richmond, Va.
Rachel Elizabeth Matthews Midlothian, Va.
Kristen Marie Oliver Austin, Texas
Nina Leigh VanAtta San Jose, Calif.
Sadie Ann Williams ........................................................................................... Richmond, Va.
Mackenzie Ann Woody ...................................................................................... Powhatan, Va.
Awards and Honors
2026 BOOK AWARD RECIPIENTS
Book Awards recognize academic success and dedication to the School of Professional & Continuing Studies and the University. They are presented to top students in each program, as chosen by the faculty.
Curriculum and Instruction
James W. Lanham Book Award for Excellence Clara Swartz
Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Catherine S. Fisher Book Award for Excellence Gilbert Lino Carter Jr. Karen E. Richardson
Human Resource Management
Steve Neal Book Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Achievement ................................................................................. Traci A. Spencer
Steve Neal Book Award for Outstanding
Graduate Achievement ...................................................................................
Chase Renee Monroe Alice R. Persons
Information Systems
Christopher and Swartz Memorial Book Award ......................... Samantha Elizabeth Eastlack
McDonald Davis Jr. Book Award ............................................................................ Trevor M. Tilley
Liberal Arts
Daniel McDonald Roberts and Frances Taylor Roberts
Master of Liberal Arts Memorial Book Award Nicole Taylor Pugh
Nonprofit Studies
Louis J. Narduzzi Memorial Book Award Emily Jane Kyser
Zelda Jean Hinkle
Paralegal Studies
William R. Marshall Jr. Memorial Book Award ..........................................Grace Elizabeth Riley Riley Sutton Brown
Teacher Licensure Preparation and Teaching
Samuel E. Perry Jr. and Nancy B. Perry Book Award (Grades K–6) .........Kristen Marie Oliver
Ann C. Taylor Book Award (Grades 7–12) ........................................ Rachel Elizabeth Matthews
JEAN H. PROFFITT STUDENT SERVICE AWARD
Established in 1996 by the School of Professional & Continuing Studies and the SPCS Student Government Association, this award is presented to a graduating student recognized by his/her peers for outstanding service to the School. This year’s recipient is:
Natasha Mary Sturrock
RICHARD W. LEATHERMAN SR. AND IDA MAY LEATHERMAN MACE BEARER AWARD
Established in 2013, this award honors the memory of Richard W. Leatherman Sr. and Ida May Leatherman and is given to a graduating student in recognition of academic excellence. The award recipient is given the honor of carrying the University Mace and leading the graduates in the Commencement processional. Maces, symbols of leadership and ascendancy, have been used since the Middle Ages by governments, institutions, churches, and schools in special rites and ceremonies. This year’s recipient is:
Daria Kosova
COLONEL PORCHER L. TAYLOR JR. PH.D. BOOK AWARD FOR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Established in 2006, this award honors Dr. Porcher L. Taylor Jr. and the servant leadership he has exemplified his entire life. Dr. Taylor, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., served in World War II, Vietnam, and the Korean Wars. Dr. Taylor also served as Vice President for Student Affairs at Virginia State University and has spent his entire life involving himself in civic, charitable, educational, and religious causes and serving as a role model for youth. This award is given to a graduating student who has provided leadership and involvement to their community. This year’s recipient is:
James D. Katsaros
Frank DeLaney Lott
JOANITA BBAALE SENOGA BOOK AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE BY A STUDENT WHOSE NATIVE LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH
Established in 2006, this award is given to the student with the highest undergraduate grade point average whose native language is not English. This award is named in honor of its first recipient, Joanita Bbaale Senoga. Ms. Senoga, a refugee from Uganda, overcame many hardships to earn her degree, including escaping persecution in her native land and then struggling to bring her family to the United States. Ms. Senoga worked three simultaneous part-time jobs and raised a family all while attending classes full time. This year’s recipient is:
Nyreng Deng Dut
TAYLOR KIE COUSINS AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
Established in 2010, this award is given to a graduating student who exemplifies outstanding service and leadership to the University community. This award is in memory of Adjunct Professor Emeritus Taylor Cousins’ service and commitment to the School of Professional & Continuing Studies as a teacher and in recognition of his involvement in service to the community. This year’s recipient is:
Katherine Blaire Mansfield
ACADEMIC HONORS
General academic honors of three ranks are awarded to members of the graduating class on the basis of their cumulative grade point average on work completed in the School of Professional & Continuing Studies.
Summa Cum Laude .....................
Magna Cum Laude
Cum Laude ...................................
3.80–4.00
3.50–3.79
3.20–3.49
SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STUDENT CHAPTER
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world’s largest HR professional society, representing 285,000 members in more than 165 countries. SHRM triple honor cords are five feet in length, navy blue, light blue, and white. The cords are worn and knotted around the neck with tassels at each end, recognizing achievement in the field of human resources.
STUDY ABROAD STUDENTS
Study abroad sashes display the unique qualities and national colors of the study abroad student’s host country’s flag. An alternative item approved for study abroad students is a small flag (not to exceed the dimensions of three-by-five inches) representing the respective country in which the student studied, which is worn on the left shoulder of the gown.
RICHMOND’S SPIDER FIRSTS
First-generation students’ cords are silver and rose, signifying they are among the first in their family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.
Biographies
STUDENT SPEAKER
Margaret Mary “Meg” Baly, W’88, L’92, GC’25, is earning a Master of Teaching degree through the School of Professional & Continuing Studies at the University of Richmond. Growing up in a military family, Baly’s father served in the U.S. Army, and she has three older brothers. Her upbringing involved moving eleven times, including two tours in Germany, before completing high school in Northern Virginia.
Baly is a three-time Spider. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French from the University of Richmond in 1988. She then worked in insurance claims for a year before returning to UR for law school, where she earned a Juris Doctor in 1992. Her early legal career included clerking for the Supreme Court of Virginia and later handling insurance defense cases with Progressive Insurance.
After the birth of her second child, Baly shifted her career toward education, starting by working in her children’s schools. This experience led her to obtain an early childhood education certificate and become a preschool teacher. Discovering her passion for teaching young learners and a desire to advance into elementary education, Baly enrolled in SPCS’s Master of Teaching program.
Baly’s extensive experience as an educator includes roles as a lead junior kindergarten teacher, instructional assistant, and long-term substitute kindergarten teacher. Currently, she leads a fourth-grade classroom at Good Shepherd Episcopal School, where she is committed to creating an engaging, relationship-centered learning environment that supports diverse students’ academic and social-emotional growth.
Baly’s journey from legal professional to dedicated educator exemplifies a deep commitment to lifelong learning and fostering positive educational experiences for children.
ITZKOWITZ FAMILY DISTINGUISHED ADJUNCT FACULTY AWARD
Dr. Jennifer J. Smith-Slabaugh has been an adjunct assistant professor in the Nonprofit Studies program at the University of Richmond’s School of Professional & Continuing Studies (SPCS) since 2015. Smith-Slabaugh specializes in courses such as Community Engagement in the Nonprofit Sector, Program Design & Proposal Writing, and Volunteer Management, equipping students with critical skills to effectively address complex social issues through nonprofit management.
Before joining the University of Richmond, Smith-Slabaugh served in multiple capacities at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), including Grant Program Specialist and Assistant Professor at the Center for School-Community Collaboration and Executive Director of the Virginia Mentoring Partnership. Her leadership in the nonprofit sector and dedication to youth development has spanned more than two decades. Her work with Virginia Project AWARE as State Manager and Youth Mental Health First Aid Coordinator demonstrated her commitment to improving mental health awareness and support services for school-aged youth.
Smith-Slabaugh holds a Ph.D. in Education with a concentration in Adult Education and Nonprofit/Business Management from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she also earned a master’s degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management. Her extensive experience in teaching, program development, community engagement, and nonprofit leadership is complemented by a longstanding commitment to professional service. She currently serves as treasurer for Richmond Community of Caring, a community partnership dedicated to positive youth development and school climate improvement.
Passionate about experiential education and reflective practice, Smith-Slabaugh has contributed to the field through invited presentations and workshops at national and regional conferences, including the Association of Experiential Education. In addition to her academic and nonprofit work, she actively participates in local education initiatives and nonprofit boards, advocating for effective volunteer management and youth mentorship programs.
Dr. Smith-Slabaugh’s enduring commitment to nonprofit education, community engagement, and youth development makes her a distinguished recipient of this year’s Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award.
GIBB FAMILY DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
Tavorise K. Marks, C’18, is the owner of Tavorise K. Marks State Farm, located in Hopewell, Virginia, where he and his team provide insurance and financial services locally and throughout the Commonwealth. He earned is post-bachelor’s certificate in paralegal study from the University of Richmond School of Professional & Continuing Studies in 2018.
Marks is currently serving as the president of the SPCS Alumni Association Board of Directors and concluding his term on the Board. He joined the Alumni Association Board in 2020 and has held several additional leadership positions including chair of the governance committee and vice president. During his time on the board, Marks has been instrumental in streamlining the processes of governance committee, updating the Board’s bylaws, and supporting a refocus on student and alumni engagement.
An entrepreneur at heart, Marks is also the founder and principal of Commonwealth Equal Consulting, a nonprofit consulting firm, specializing in assisting companies, organizations, agencies, nonprofits, and communities with their human capital management, diversity and inclusion, and conflict resolution needs.
Marks is a proud alumnus of Norfolk State University, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. An avid lifelong learner, Marks holds additional degrees and certificates from the U.S. Army, Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Marks is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in public policy from Liberty University.
Marks is a regionally known leader and advocate focused on strategic change and transformational leadership, demonstrated by his expansive volunteer service. In addition to the SPCS Alumni Association Board of Directors, Marks currently serves on the boards of FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Virginia’s Gateway Region Economic Development Organization, Hopewell Economic Development Authority, Deliver My Vote Education Fund, and State Farm’s Virginia Political Action Committee.
Marks is a Silver Life Member of the NAACP and has previously served on the boards of the Hopewell Rotary Club, Hopewell Police Foundation, and Better Business Bureau Serving Central Virginia.
Marks and his family currently reside in Chester, Virginia, on a small urban farm with their boxer, Titus. He loves sports, Virginia history, the great outdoors, and is an avid reader.
