2021
COMMENCEMENT
SATURDAY, MAY EIGHTH | ERIE INSURANCE ARENA | ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
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COMMENCEMENT Graduates and members of the audience are asked to remain in their seats throughout the ceremony so that they do not interfere with the special moments of others. During the ceremony, please turn off all cell phones and mobile devices. Thank you.
COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM Dais Party
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1. Keith Taylor, Ph.D. President
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5. Rev. Michael T. Kesicki ’83 University Chaplain and Associate Vice President for Mission and Ministry
2. The Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico, J.C.L. Bishop, Diocese of Erie Chairperson, Board of Trustees
6. Matthew Schlessman President, Student Government Association
3. Harry Hairston ’77 Honorary Degree Recipient and Speaker Retired Senior Investigative Reporter, NBC10 Philadelphia 4. Walter Iwanenko, Ph.D. Provost and Vice President for Student Experience
7. David B. Barker, Ph.D. President, Faculty Senate 8. Karinna M. Vernaza, Ph.D. Dean, College of Engineering and Business 9. Lori D. Lindley, Ph.D. Dean, College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences 10. Sarah J. Ewing, Ph.D. Dean, Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences
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Order of Exercises Processional* “Pomp and Circumstance: March No. 1” Sir Edward Elgar Posting of the Colors of the United States and Gannon University* Gannon University’s Army ROTC National Anthem* “The Star-Spangled Banner” By: Francis Scott Key Call to Commencement Walter Iwanenko, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Student Experience Invocation* Rev. Michael T. Kesicki, University Chaplain and Associate Vice President for Mission and Ministry
Presentation of Degree Candidates Lori D. Lindley, Ph.D., Dean College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences Doctor of Philosophy Sarah J. Ewing, Ph.D., Dean Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences Occupational Therapy Doctorate Doctor of Physical Therapy Karinna M. Vernaza, Ph.D., Dean College of Engineering and Business Master of Business Administration Master of Healthcare Administration Master of Science in Computer Information Science Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Master of Science in Embedded Software Engineering Master of Science in Engineering Management Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering Lori D. Lindley, Ph.D., Dean College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences Master of Arts Master of Education Master of Public Administration Master of Science Master of Science in Criminalistics
Welcome Keith Taylor, Ph.D., President Presentation of Honorary Degree Keith Taylor, Ph.D., President Introduction of Commencement Speaker Keith Taylor, Ph.D., President Commencement Address Harry Hairston ’77 Honorary Degree Recipient and Speaker Retired Senior Investigative Reporter, NBC10 Philadelphia
Sarah J. Ewing, Ph.D., Dean Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences Master of Athletic Training Master of Physician Assistant Science Master of Science Master of Science in Nursing Conferral of Degrees Keith Taylor, Ph.D., President Prayer of Sending Forth The Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico, J.C.L., Bishop, Diocese of Erie
All who are able are asked to stand.
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Prayer of Sending Forth The Bishop: God, our Heavenly Father, we praise you for creating us in your image and likeness. In your generous Providence, you allow Gannon University to be a community where this great truth of human dignity is proclaimed, learned and lived. You wish Gannon to be a place where our students can seek and find you. With grateful hearts, we thank you for sustaining our graduates with your love and your truth. All respond: Amen The Bishop: Lord Jesus Christ, by your death and resurrection you redeemed a fallen human family. Be with our graduates as they continue to discern what is right and good and true in the midst of the confusion and tensions in our world. Help us to build a culture where each human life, no matter how vulnerable, may be respected and protected from degradation and violence. Lord, be our way, our truth and our life.
Faculty, Staff, Parents recite together: Lord God, You accompany us at each moment of our journey through life. Continue to guide our graduates in the paths they have chosen. May your truth purify their values. May your wisdom enlighten their decisions. May your goodness be the foundation of their relationships. May your love be the consolation of their souls. Be at their side in difficulty. Prompt their generosity in prosperity. Deepen their humility in success. All respond: Amen The Bishop: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All respond: Amen
All respond: Amen The Bishop: Come, Holy Spirit, bestow upon our graduates soundness of mind and holiness of life. With the aid of your spiritual gifts, prompt them to integrate their faith into their lifestyles, their work, and their relationships. Help them to value the service of others over selfish gain. Come, O Spirit, enkindle in them the fire of your love. All respond: Amen
Academic Regalia in American Universities In 1895, the Intercollegiate Commission presented to American institutions of higher learning the Intercollegiate Code. Today, this code provides for three types of gowns. Those for bachelors are made of black material and have long, pointed sleeves. The master’s gown is made with an oblong sleeve, open at the wrist. The rear part of its oblong shape is a square cut and the front part has an arc cutaway. The doctor’s gown is made with bell-shaped sleeves and like the master’s gown, it is designed so that it can be worn open or closed. The black oxford cap is worn for all degrees, but only the doctor’s cap may be made of velvet. Only doctors and presidents of colleges may wear a gold tassel on the cap.
It is the hood which is the most important and distinctive feature of the American code.
Arts, Letters, Humanities - White
The doctor’s hood, of black cloth, is four feet in length and made with a wide panel. The master’s and bachelor’s hoods are three-and-one-half feet long and three feet wide.
Engineering - Orange
The binding or trim of all hoods is of velvet, two, three and five inches wide for the bachelor’s, master’s and doctor’s degrees, respectively.
Nursing - Apricot
The color of this velvet trim indicates the department or faculty to which the degree pertains, each department having been assigned a different color by the Intercollegiate Code. The lining of the hood reflects the official colors of the college/university.
GANNON UNIVERSITY | COMMENCEMENT 2021
Business - Drab Education - Light Blue Health Sciences - Sage Law - Purple Medical Sciences - Green Philosophy - Royal Public Administration - Peacock Public Health - Salmon Science - Gold Social Work - Citron Theology - Red
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COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER Harry Hairston ’77 Harry Hairston earned his bachelor’s degree from Gannon College in 1977. He recently retired as senior investigative reporter for NBC10 Philadelphia, where he worked for 17 years. Hairston received several Mid-Atlantic Emmy® awards during his career with NBC10. In 2015, he was the first in the nation to report aggravated indecent sexual assault charges filed against actor and comedian Bill Cosby. Hairston’s reporting also heavily influenced and helped strengthen New Jersey’s anti-swatting laws. In 2013, he was recognized for an investigative series that uncovered candy drop box scammers, which led to their arrest and conviction. His work also led to stronger accountability processes within City Hall after he exposed how Philadelphia officials could not account for $21 million in missing items purchased with taxpayers’ money. In 2012, Hairston received a Mid-Atlantic Emmy for his exclusive jailhouse interview with Rabbi Fred Neulander, who was serving time inside New Jersey’s maximum-security state prison for the 1994 murder of his wife. Hairston received another Emmy in 2012 for his exclusive report on a New Jersey schoolteacher who bullied a special needs student in class, garnering national and international attention. In 2011, Hairston was named “Journalist of the Year” by the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. Hairston’s passion has been to be the voice for those who feel they aren’t being heard. Through his work with NBC10 Responds, he helped viewers with consumer issues gain back more than $1 million. Hairston is a native of Pittsburgh. He participates in many community causes around heart disease, cancer research, mental health research and education, diversity and community improvement. Hairston also supports the dedication of first responders. His hobbies include golfing, playing tennis and riding motorcycles.
Harry Hairston Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa
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CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES Doctoral Studies COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCES Doctor of Philosophy Stephanie Rose Fetzner Organizational Learning and Leadership Doctoral Dissertation: A Phenomenological Study of the Millennial Experience in Corporate Training John Thomas Kimmel Organizational Learning and Leadership Doctoral Dissertation: Student Engagement Decline for Middle-Level Students in Rural Schools of Northwestern Pennsylvania Susanne Marie Kuligowski Organizational Learning and Leadership Doctoral Dissertation: Exploring Human Resource Management Perspectives of Employee Retention Practices in Nonprofit Organizations
MOROSKY COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND SCIENCES Occupational Therapy Doctorate Catherine A. Carlton Lindsay Anne Church Madeline Feneque
Carrie A. Griffiths Courtney Wilson Lancia Alyson Pasquale
Dorothy Rebecca Porcello Janine M. Ricketts Tiffany Alicia Yoch
Juhyeong Lee Christopher Liatti Stephanie Rita Maciag Angela Mary MacKay Amanda Mangelo-Pomp Alex Ray Moldovan Grace Monhemius Jake Gary Naisbitt Adam William Naugle Amber J. Naylor Jessica Ott Kylee Jo Proudfit Nicole Purnell Jacqueline Olivia Lou Roussos Tyler Stephen Sadvary
Julia Schreier Gabriella Marie Simora Hannah Ruth Smith David Matthew Stroh Michael John Tambellini Zachary Raymond Taylor Lindsey Tomola Marissa Kristina Valente Lucille Van Vooren Brianna Weber Matthew Gabriel Michael Wilson Alexis M. Young Michael Zellers Maria Rose Zito
Doctor of Physical Therapy Megan Ann Adams Briahna Marie Barnhardt Melissa A. Benowitz Rodney DeGuzman Bravo Patrick Vincent Claybaugh II Adam Cummings Nnaemeka Chikezie Ekeh Makayla Lyn Finan Matthew John Fitchet Leah Marie Gardner Dominick F. Goldbach Michael William Iwaskewycz Megan Blair Kasperski Nathan Garett Klein Ehrin Paul Lee
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CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES Graduate Studies COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS Master of Business Administration Kristen Lee Amendola Nomin Erdene Batbold Alison Marie Bouman Jamarea L. Bullock Amber L. Costello Ashley L. Fedroff Candace Francis Kanika Garg
Steven Paul Hunter Anthony Scott Jaskiewicz James V. Keefe Jr. Daniel Patrick McCallion Hajara Ntale Erin Marie Petrosky Kirk Reynolds Humza Saleem
Alafias Jalil Satcher Morgan Rose Schenker Anjali Shahi Christina Sims Jessica L. Staudacher Nemanja Uzanovic Phillip Andrew Vargo II
Angela Marie Ruby Kathryn Rose Straatmann
Christopher M. Theriault Summer Young
Master of Healthcare Administration Jestin Neil Carlson Amber L. Chernicky
Master of Science in Computer and Information Science Tanmai Badola Sai Tarun Gollapudi Bradley Steven Gressler Sravya Kadambari
Gnana Rishita Mullapudi Rajeshkumarreddy Nandoori Deep Patel Jalpa Y. Patel
Kaushal Patel Yash Ketankumar Patel Parth Sanjay Sapre
Sanjana Sanjaykumar Barot Brent Allen Cole
Gerald Paul Otoide Balaji Sekar
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Saad Almutairi Juliyan Patrik Arockia Doss
Master of Science in Embedded Software Engineering Tenger Batjargal Rohan Jacob George
Sanket Manoj Khobragade Haris Memic
Master of Science in Engineering Management Almohand Abdulrahman Alsanee Meshary Emad Alsehly
Paul Anthony Montagna Kevin John Otteni
Norman F. Stark
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering Timothy Blackhurst Jatin Kumar Gupta
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Addison Ephraim Hockins Harsh Dharmeshbhai Patel
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COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCES Master of Arts Meghan Nicole Conley
Shanna Conway
Lee Hunter
Luke Ronald Mariotti Megan McIntire Nicholas McIntire Henry James McKenzie Maria G. Miller Allix Munch Kyle W. Nelson Melissa Christine Neubert
Alia Shaina Ramona Nolan Coleen Megan Phillips Katrina M. Reasbeck Andrea Louise Rizza Chad William Saltsman Samantha Lynn Scialpi Alicia Stone Courtney D. Wroblewski
Ali Hassan Alramadan William Roemer Driver Jacob Jones
Korey D. MacIsaac Furba Jangmu Sherpa
Eleni Loukaidou Elaina Lynnette Seawick Curtis Lee Taylor Kevin Michael Timko
Brian Tomko Nicole Genevieve Weaver
Sarah Rose Murphy Morgan Rose Pelinsky Amanda Rose Puthoff
Andrea Simeone Carlos Ernesto Sorto
Master of Education Stephan Robert Ahl Sarah Lynn Arney Paul R. Baltzer Erica Bucceri Clara Lyn Drake Jacqueline Natasha Svadeba Eshleman Corey Keenan Emily Louise Lion
Master of Public Administration Khlood Hasan Alharbi Mohanad Ibrahim M Alkraiween Abdullah Abdulkliq Alqarni
Master of Science Rachel Dorsey Amanda Julia Frappolli Adrian John Fritzke Vanessa H. Latzer
Master of Science in Criminalistics Kelsey Rae Gordon Katherine Harkins Brittney D. McNiff
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MOROSKY COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND SCIENCES Master of Athletic Training Kara Anne Burger Allecia J. Domer
Amberlynn Kegler Brenna Gabrielle Schuler
Hannah Blair Vernetti Maggie Alexandra Wolodkevich
Allison Louise Gentile Nicole Angela Grimm Zachary James Jacobelli Karissa Leigh Jones Bailey Elizabeth Lawrence Emily Lindaman Kyle Joseph Luben Randie Elise Lugenbeal Sarah Lundquist Kayla Nicole Mansell Brandon W. Miller Brendan Joseph Miller Molly Anne Minko Marah Negley Elizabeth Nguyen Stuart Nocera Hailey Mairead Noll Alexis Lynn Novak
Kelsey Ann O’Connor Stephanie Lynn Pingrey Anna Pitliangas Allison Pollock Bethany Ann Pollock Lydia Joy Pollum Morgan Leigh Puruczky Michael J. Rizzo Chloe Elizabeth Rosso Madeline Xingni Rowley Madison Joan Rupnik Nicole Ann Schlegel Samantha Olivia Schmitz Shaylynn Skorka Amanda Marie Sommers Brianna Ro Stuparitz Michal Krzysztof Szelwach Zachary Van Gorder
Rachel Hansrote Cailyn Hays Hannah Karrisa Hites Alexandra Lee Hopperton Shanda J. Howell Christopher W. Keane Mackenzie Ann Keenan Molly Diane Kimpton Megan E. Landreth Kirsten Nicole LeVan Macy Marafioti Abigail Martini Andrew Maxwell Natalie Kay Miller Nathaniel Millsap Natalia Muñoz Brianna Lynne Murosky Kassidy O’Keefe Victoria M. Patrignani
Zaira Peñaloza Nicole Marie Pizzi Samantha Ruiz-Bueno Jasmine Samkutty Susmita Sarki Laura Elizabeth Schneider Morgan Seaberg Emma Rose Shabala DeAnna Marie Smith Prakash Subba Sarah Rose Szczotka Derrick Szklenski Kaitlyn Nicole Szparaga Katie Anne Thompson Haley Nicole Toth Amanda Marie Weber Lauren Victoria Zemanek
Master of Physician Assistant Science Sarah Al-Asady Heba Alsahlani Julianne Marie Baraona Rachel E. Bash Erin Behe Madeline Carrie Beining Alexis Marie Belleza Lauren Grace Bergamasco Stephen Michael Boylan Odyzza Jane Centro Christina Marie Chorazy Morgan Sotera Cratty Julia Nina DiSalle John Henry Donnelly Kate A. DuCarme Mary Margaret Duncan Mikayla Rose Fox Allyson Gates
Master of Science Zaina Heather Abdelkareem Rachel Jean Bailey Alyssa Marie Bileck Aurora Jane Brown Emily Rose Cekella Shane Chapman Vanessa Coccurello Emily Ann Coffman Riley Crage Natalie Ann Crooks Elizabeth Ashlee Davis Benjamin John Deck Cassidy Delaney Briana Elizabeth Dickinson Hannah Marie Eckert Jonathan Michael Ekas Sarah Freidhoff Samantha Faye Gaffney Emily Hair
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Master of Science in Nursing John Salvatore Caroccio Jr. Ashley Simone Corle Darija Rose Davidson Kelsey Fuller Joshua David Hall Thomas Richard Hornyak Jr.
Jordan Johnson Joshua D. Lovenduski Bryan T. Newcomb Kristen Overholt Andrew Joseph Patterson Tessa Lee Ray
Michael Joel Rizzo II Ashley Elizabeth Siggia Michael Slampak Kathleen Ann Wernicki Jessica L. Zoltowski
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ACADEMIC AWARDS Graduate Studies For Excellence in... Athletic Training Allecia J. Domer
Engineering Management Paul Anthony Montagna
Occupational Therapy Doctorate Courtney Wilson Lancia
Business Administration Shannon Nicole Bastow
Environmental Health and Engineering Margaret A. Helms
Doctorate in Physical Therapy Michael William Iwaskewycz
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Brian Tomko Computer and Information Science Parth Sanjay Sapre Criminalistics Carlos Ernesto Sorto Curriculum and Instruction Bridget E. Seth Electrical Engineering Steven Tyler Rowland
Healthcare Administration Jestin Neil Carlson Mechanical Engineering Harsh Dharmeshbhai Patel Doctor of Nursing Practice Elizabeth Demko Nursing Darija Rose Davidson
Physician Assistant Heba Alsahlani Public Administration Korey D. MacIsaac Sport and Exercise Science Andrew Maxwell Strategic Communication Abigail M. Ritchie
Occupational Therapy Hannah Marie Eckert
Embedded Software Engineering Niklas C. Bitters
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GANNON UNIVERSITY MISSION Gannon is a Catholic, Diocesan university dedicated to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. Our faculty and staff prepare students to be global citizens through programs grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and professional specializations. Inspired by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, we offer a comprehensive, values-centered learning experience that emphasizes faith, leadership, inclusiveness and social responsibility.
The list of graduates included on the commencement program is not intended to be used as an official indication of graduation. The diploma of the University and the official transcript, signed and sealed by the proper officers, provide authentic testimony to the conferring of a degree.
WWW.GANNON.EDU | 1-800-GANNON-U
