Fall 2023 Commencement Saturday, December 16, 2023 10:00 a.m. American Bank Center Arena
A Member of The Texas A&M University System
Fall 2023 Commencement President Kelly M. Miller, presiding Prelude and Processional* Carrier of the Mace.....................................................................................................Dr. Joshua Watson Professor of Counseling and Educational Psychology, College of Education & Human Development Welcome............................................................................................................... President Kelly M. Miller Presentation of the Colors..................................................................TAMU-CC Army Islander Battalion National Anthem.....................................................................................................Antoinette Lou Castillo Senior, School of Arts, Media, & Communication Commencement Address................................... Lieutenant General Larry D. Wyche, U.S. Army, Retired President and CEO of Wyche Leadership and Federal Contract Consulting Presentation of Degree Candidates................................................................................ Dean David Scott Dean of College of Education & Human Development College of Education & Human Development............................................................ Dean David Scott College of Engineering & Computer Science................................................................. Dean David Ma College of Liberal Arts..............................................................................Interim Dean Cate Rudowsky School of Arts, Media, & Communication............................................................. Director Diana Sipes College of Graduate Studies..................................................................................Dean Karen McCaleb Conferring of Degrees......................................................................................... President Kelly M. Miller Announcing................................................................................................. Dr. Carmen Tejeda-Delgado Professor and Director of Transformative Alliance for Student Success College of Education & Human Development Hooding of Doctoral Candidates................................................................Candidate’s Major Professor College of Education & Human Development | Assisting: Dean David Scott College of Engineering & Computer Science | Assisting: Dean David Ma Commissioning................................................................................... Lieutenant Colonel Steven E. Pierce Professor of Military Science Alumni Presentation...............................................................................................Dr. Haysam Dawod ’85 President, TAMU-CC National Alumni Association Recessional*
*Audience will remain seated.
Scan to link to digital program
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dr. Pragati Bannerjee Dissertation: Digital Divide in ICT Literacy among Teachers in South Texas School Districts Dr. Amanda Marie Covarrubias Dissertation: Perceptions of Principals regarding their Principal Preparation Program Dr. Margaret Sumner Fowler Dissertation: Teacher Stress, Hope, and Agency for the Future - A Narrative Inquiry Dr. Judy Lynn Klare Dissertation: Exploring the Phenomenon of Independence Described by Students with Autism Attending Community College Dr. Thomas Dell Lawing Dissertation: The Influence of Representation in School Bond Elections Dr. Veronica Yvette Lerma Dissertation: Exploring Instructional Leadership Practices of Assistant Principals in South Texas Region One School Districts: A Case Study Dr. Vanessa Camille Perez-Peterson Dissertation: Texas Teacher Retention Based on Principal Use of Influence Tactics Dr. Hongjie Ping Dissertation: Understanding Experiences of Faculty from the Home Institution in China-U.S. Transnational Education Programs: A Phenomenological Case Study Dr. Julie Suzanne Ponton Dissertation: Principals’ Work-Life Balance: Does Campus Grade Level Make a Difference? Dr. Enrique Alfonso Vela Dissertation: Burnout among all Level Principals in Texas
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education Dr. Renita L. Newton Dissertation: Exploring the Effects of Mindfulness-based Interventions on Resilience and Self-efficacy in African American Doctoral Students: A Single Case Research Design Dr. Jennafer LeeAnne Sellers Dissertation: Perspectives of Counseling Among a Sample of Deaf Adults
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & COMPUTER SCIENCE Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Computer Science Dr. Xiaojun Qiao Sr. Dissertation: Geospatial Monitoring and Assessment of Coastal Land Subsidence
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Master of Science Lauren Katherine Arana Zachary Brandon Arn Cynthia Jaye Barron Bush Jordan R. Bartley Jordyn Caraway Buell Alexis Taylor Burns Julieta R. Chapman Whitney Michelle Copeland Bianca Celeste Coronado Jamie Elizabeth Dobbins Brittney Nicole Esparza Mae-Lei D. Esparza
Marcy Lynne Estrada Katrina Lehanna Cantu Garza Jasmin Nicole Gomez Natalia Francelia Gutierrez Nina Marie Lopez Marysa Grace Luis Maribel Mata Tristen Lee McNeal Kyndra R. McCarty Linda Anita Moreno Esther Mbuyi Mutombo Elizabeth Marie Okoye-Ezeoke
Vishwa Sameer Parikh Emily Noble Paulison Cassandra Jane Robertson Briana Luz Rodriguez Bayle Frances Russell Juan Salinas III Angelica Anne Sanchez Michael John Sandroussi II David Cullum Schwab Cassandra Renee Smith Ana Liza Tortorello Marisella Villano
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & COMPUTER SCIENCE Master of Science Aswini Anumolu Mahesh Appani Chaitanya Goud Bandi Anusha Bhutham Cailyn N. Bolick Nithin Chakilam Abhiram Chelpuri Shreyaa Dhatrika Rajkumar Eslavath Rohith Gadamsetty Varshini Gande
Sai Prasanth Grandhisiri Syed Junaid Hussain Aasritha Kaja Saketh Kumar Reddy Kalkiri Vallabha Sairam Doondi Hari Karanam Rohith Kodam Kiran Sai Kolipaka Divya Madgula Daniel Gabriel Martinez Sai Meghana Myneni Shruthi Balakrishnan Nair
Yasaswani Narina Shivaram Narne Mariah Nicole Roberts Devanshi Chandreshbhai Satashia Sai Dheeraj Sivva Pranjal Srivastava Pavan Teja Reddy Syamala Jaivishal Venkatasubramanian Manish Reddy Vennapureddy Ravi Chandra Yachamaneni Venu Gopal Reddy Yarraballi
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Master of Arts Paige Ashlee Gonzalez
William James Steagall
Madison M. Urive
Master of Public Administration Adan G. Gongora Andrew James Liaromatis
Carina Lopez-Vela Ethan Robert Portillo
Mina Aitana Rodriguez-Trinidad Crystal Ybanez
SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION Master of Arts Judith Mae Aguilar Jairo Dario Benitez Sanchez
Gabriela Brookes Davis Bidwell Kathryn Elizabeth Colvin
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Brittany Lee Abrego‡ Jonathan D. Acosta Alissa D. Alvarado‡ Karina Marie Aparicio* Nathan Steve Boxwell April C. Brossmann• Kristin Michelle Burgess* Jasmine Nicole Cahill* Anabelle Canchola• Martha Carrillo* Delanie Jennifer Coroiescu Gabrielle Grace Dannunzio Caitlin Danielle Daughtrey Ross Rosendo Delgado Austin John Dobbins Andrew Falor
Bachelor of Science
Rebecca Anders Garcia‡ Kameryn Makenzee Garrett Breana Marie Garza Savannah Gomez• Allyson Y. Hein* Gregory Wayne Hernandez Angelina Rose Hinojosa Justus Rion Honea Matthew Taylor Hughes* Robert Gary Ingram II‡ Sarah Kathleen Jones‡ Aaron Matthew Lugo Mattie Lee Martin Aubrey M. Martinez• Arleth Zuliana Meza* Joshua Charles Monrad
Darren Andrew Morales Jenny Moreno• Nicolas Ryan Ortiz Bellanira Perego* Kayla L. Pieprzica Michael E. Poling‡ Julissa Ariana Ramirez* Vicktoria Elyzabeth Ramos‡ Ricardo Baltazar Rebeles• Myah Jade Richardson Sydney Lynn Rivers Tiffany Marie Rodriguez Angela Ruiz• Lillian Nicole Sanchez* Chase Shelton‡ Phoebe Kay Shelton‡
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Bachelor of Science, continued Kristin Rae Simmons‡ Marisa Marie Vega*
Kayli Vela Kristina Marie Villarreal
Michael A. Villarreal Gracie Alden Wernig
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies Gabrielle Corinne Ila Caraway Margaret Patricia Cook‡ Honors Program Graduate
Sydney Grace Hoyt Iride Lilium Pena* Carolyn Rose Puente
Elizabeth Sotello•
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & COMPUTER SCIENCE Dawson Michael Adams Robert Candelario Armijo Daniel Arnold Armstrong Timmie M. Aro Lorryn Emily Berry• Nicholas Julian Boxwell* Michael Henry Brommer‡ John Mark Camp Jay C. Cano Patrick John Carroll• Tarionne Kaleel Clay Kody Preston Crane Benjamin Deleon James Ethan Dennett• Beto Estrada Jr.‡ Nabil Abdelaziz Ferhat Taleb* Aaron Fortner* Brian Joel Fuentes
Bachelor of Science
Ciceron Juan-Lee Glover Jr. Jacob Adolfo Gonzalez Thomas Anthony Gonzalez Elifonso Guajardo III Changjiang He Roberto Enrique Herrera‡ Matthew Tristan Hinojosa Brandon R. Hodge Nathan Patrick Hurley Daniel James Jonker* Matthew Kastl Curtis John Patrick Edward Kenalty Amine Khodja‡ Honors Program Graduate Gabrielle Marie Lott Brian Larry G. Maliwanag Giovanni Eduardo Martinez Michael Anthony Martinez
Noah G. Morrison Bright Chinemerem Nnadi‡ Jesse James Noland Eniola Ayodeji Olawunmi Charmi Dipakbhai Patel Nicole Kali Penick Viviana G. Perez Joel Steven Portwood Kye Robert Powell Sabastion Kolumb Raggio Julie Adel Romano* Honors Program Graduate Jose Salomon Soliz Mario Anthony Soto• Thomas Alexander Stazesky Matthew T. Wagoner Abel Zaragosa Jr.*
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Bachelor of Arts Roslynn Victoria Abrigo Anna Cecilia Adams Marshall Andrew Allenger Daphne Isabella Alvarez Hector Rene Arellano Avery Danielle Ayala• Logan Stewart Bardin Iliana Iladis Beltran Ford Allen Blaylock Nicole Bucciarelli* Alondra Gonzalez Camacho Hannah K. Connolly Amber Marie Cortez Kimberly Vernurva Davis Alisson Kay De Leon Madison Hope De Los Santos• Tessa Eve Duer• Trinatee Alexandria Duhart Ashley Nichole Escobar• Denise Ann Flores• Kaley Kathryn Galipp• Desirae Nikole Garcia Michael Elliott Garcia Alejandro M. Garza Alexa Danielle Garza Fabian Esteban Garza Rachel Rene Gayle Drake Edward Gibson‡ Katie Marie Gonzales Angela B. Gonzalez
Lipsa Mahendrasingh Gurjar Megan Jessica Guy‡ Cassandra Nycole Haney Samantha Hardin Breanna Beatrice Hernandez Carlos Leopoldo Hernandez Casandra Danae Herrera* Lametria Nicole Jackson• Alina M. Jasso Rebekah Israel Jeffery Mariah Mckailyn Johnston‡ Ariana Katherine Jones• Cheyenne Jorgensen Sara A. Kirkpatrick* Amerika De Lourdes Kohne-Sanchez* Emma Christian Lapeyre Faithe N. Longoria Danielle Ari Martinez Svannah Rose Martinez Nasya Roxanne Melendez Alyssa Danielle Mendez Devin Daniel Mendoza Jacob Alexander Munson Jen Natiola Tho Truong Nguyen Cynthia Leigh Omana‡ Noha Park Jennifer Anne Parmenter* Emily Pena Othnia K. Prime
Abigail Maree Qualls Bianca Odalis Ramirez Marinna Ramirez Julia Madison Ray Gabriela Reyes Lucas N. Rice• Genesis N. Rodriguez Karime Rojas Esparza Alyssa Ann Rudolph Jolissa Brooke Salinas Noel Salinas Jr. Benjamin Aidan Sandoval Ashley Nicole Seesengood Summer Lynn Seigler* Nathaniel Hayes Smith‡ Brandon Lingad Soto• Jordan Irene Stapleton Rebecca Lynn Steinmetz Taylor Ruth Sutton Chloe Victoria Tilley‡ Genesis S. Torres• Marielena Torres Edward Willis Trout II Bailey Nichole Underbrink Alexa Nicole Vinelli Derek Dashon Willis Jr. Kaitlyn Rebecca Winston‡ Alexandra Marie Zuniga
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Monique R. Carter-Beaudion Margo Elizabeth Fritz Jennifer Fuentes•
Colten Nowell McCumber• Matthew Robert Mora Matthew Wyatt Rovira
Elizabeth A. Stevens‡ Robert Williamson Wells V
Bachelor of Science Shelley R. Adame* Lorena Marie Barboza Yalyksa Campos Alexander Cardenas Jr. Astrid Denize Cruz Thailese Danielle Cruz‡ Shelbie Berniece Fickling Mia Nicole Garcia Megan Minnie Gomez Job Gonzalez Madison Goodwyn Jessica Colunga* Mason Gray Jones
Anette Julia Landa* Alexander Isaiah Lopez Chelsea Leigh Marroquin Ashlyn Taylor Martin Rebecca Cecilia Mills-Breland Isabel Amber Muniz Anthony Marlon Munoz Skylah Lenee Ortiz Alberto A. Quintanar IV Jordan Agustin Ramirez Stone Eric Reeh Danielle C. Reyna Maura Paulina Rocha
Noemi M. Rodriguez Erin Elizabeth Roper Jesse A. Ruiz• Justine Corin Sauceda Chad Erich Sweigart Jr. Andres Jose Vasquez Savannah Rushel Villegas Dejuanio Montrel Waters Shelby Lynn Wilson Madison Leigh Witzig Aeryn Morgan Yeiser
SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION Bachelor of Arts Katie Aguilar Antoinette Lou Castillo• Samuel Parker Cross Amanda Gail Espericueta Elizabeth Alexandria Farrar Megan Emily Garcia Alexis Naomi Gomez• Savanaha Lazette Gorsuch Ashtyn Marie Graham* Hunter Blake Higgins Allyson June Hoy
Hagen Daniel Hunt• Emanie-Nia Oladunni Jolly Harper Caroline Lee* Honors Program Graduate Emily Rose Levy* Chenjing Liao Danielle Marie Mathis Angelina Sky Medina Kaitlyn Elizabeth O’Leary Anthony Joseph Porche Ila R. Pridgeon
Edwardo Ramirez Jr. Jessica Mahalia Panilo Rivas• Mariclare Sepulveda Gabrielle Makayla Tate Azalia Lizette Valadez Salome Ramiro Vera III Violeta Verano Fores Paige Ray Woelke• Mitchell James Zillmer•
Bachelor of Fine Arts Brittany Nicole Dehlin-Mata* Morgan Elizabeth Litton Noah Melendez
Claire M. Rasmussen* Erica Nicole Sanchez-Medrano Esther Robbins Santee*
Gabriella Grace Vian‡
Bachelor of Music Grace A. Melendez
Hayley Frances Rambo•
Nicole Lee Rieser•
Officer Commissioning Second Lieutenant United States Army Samuel P. Cross
Thomas A. Stazesky
The names on this program include all students who have applied for graduation. Conferral of the official degree is based upon completion and certification of all degree requirements.
Commencement Speaker Larry Wyche ’83 currently serves as the President and CEO of Wyche Leadership and Federal Contract Consulting, where he and his team train corporate executives, business owners, and entrepreneurs in leadership and federal government contracting strategies and best practices. A retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General, Larry began his military career in 1975 and later joined the U.S., Army ROTC program at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, then known as the University of Corpus Christi. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Island University in 1983. Larry also earned a master’s degree from National Defense University and a second master’s degree from Florida Institute of Technology. Larry served as the second highest ranked logistician and supply chain leader in the Army, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of a $58 billion enterprise with a global workforce of over 120,000 soldiers, civilians, and contractors. He garnered numerous accolades during 42 years of service to our country. Larry’s ongoing efforts to stay connected to the Island University include the establishment of the Lieutenant General Larry Wyche and Denise M. Wyche Endowed Scholarship for ROTC students. In 2018, Larry was recognized by A&M-Corpus Christi as a Distinguished Alumnus. He is also a lifetime member of the Texas A&M Chancellor Century Council. Larry has been married to the love of his life, Denise, for nearly 43 years and the couple now live in Katy, Texas. They have three children and five grandchildren.
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents Mr. William Mahomes, Chairman................................................................................ Dallas Mr. Robert L. Albritton, Vice Chairman...............................................................Fort Worth Mr. David C. Baggett................................................................................................Houston Mr. John W. Bellinger........................................................................................ San Antonio Mr. James Randy Brooks.....................................................................................San Angelo Mr. Jay Graham.........................................................................................................Houston Mr. Michael A. Hernandez III.............................................................................Forth Worth Mr. Michael J. Plank.................................................................................................Houston Mr. Sam Torn.............................................................................................................Houston Ms. Elizabeth Annie Valicek.....................................................................................Houston
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Official Ring Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the Islander Alumni Association unveiled the official ring in 1999. The ring itself is a symbol of achievement, unity, and University spirit. Upperclassmen wear the ring with the school’s name facing their heart. Upon the granting of degrees at commencement, graduates turn the ring around, with the name facing outward. This symbolizes that the graduate is now ready to face new challenges outside the University. The official ring is a visible, tangible manifestation of the long-lasting bond between Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi and its alumni, offering symbolic representation of one’s past, present, and future as an Islander. As always, it is alumni who carry the same pride in their University, and a seamless gold band holds together the many people who have shared a dream—to earn a college education.
University Mace The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Mace is the wooden staff that is carried by a mace bearer leading the academic processional for commencements, convocations, and special university ceremonies. Originally, the mace was a long-handled club used by knights during the Middle Ages to crush the armor of enemies. Later, ceremonial maces were carried by guards of French and English monarchs. Later still, the mace was carried or placed by a magistrate or dignitary to establish authority. In sessions of the British House of Commons, the mace is placed on the treasury table. In the U.S. House of Representatives, it is placed to the right of the speaker. Today, the University Mace is used to symbolize the authority of the University President and is a grand emblem of tradition at commencement ceremonies for colleges and universities.
Academic Regalia Academic regalia (cap, gown, and hood) date to 12th-century Europe, where they were worn primarily for warmth by university students as well as laymen. As laymen gradually changed their garb to capes and breeches, institutions of learning prescribed the gown of black for scholars, with a hood draped down the back when not worn over the head and a mortarboard cap shaped like the mortarboard of the master workman. In 1985 in the United States, the Intercollegiate Commission prepared a code, specifying the design and color of academic regalia for colleges and universities in the United States. Under this code, the bachelor’s gown has long pointed sleeves. The master’s gown has an oblong sleeve. The doctor’s gown has bell-shaped sleeves. Gowns are generally black; however, a number of schools have adopted special regalia for the doctor’s gown. The velvet border of the hood may represent either the color of the degree or the color of the field of study. The current trend is for the color to represent the field of study rather than the name of the degree, but in earlier years dark blue was characteristic for a Ph.D. in any field. Hoods are lined with the official colors of the college or university from which the degree is received. Caps are the traditional mortarboard except for the doctor’s degree, where a four-sided velvet tam is optional. Caps from schools with special color gowns or from foreign universities may be more distinctive. Cap tassels for the doctor’s degree are gold, while the tassels for the master’s and bachelor’s degree are typically black. Holders of all these degrees wear the tassel on the left. The ritual of bachelor’s degree candidates shifting the tassel from right to left marks the conferring of one’s first university degree.
Hood Color Code
Arts, Letters, Humanities...................................... White Commerce, Accountancy, Business........................Drab Dental......................................................................Lilac Economics........................................................... Copper Education.......................................................Light Blue Engineering......................................................... Orange Fine Arts, Architecture......................................... Brown Library Science....................................................Lemon Medicine............................................................... Green
Music.......................................................................Pink Nursing................................................................Apricot Philosophy..................................................... Dark Blue Physical Education....................................... Sage Green Public Administration............................... Peacock Blue Public Health.............................................. Salmon Pink Science....................................................Golden Yellow Social Work...........................................................Citron Speech.......................................................... Silver Gray
Academic Honors Students earning academic honors wear cords in recognition of academic excellence. The following honors are awarded at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi: ‡ Summa Cum Laude: the silver honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.9 and above. * Magna Cum Laude: the blue honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.7 to 3.899. • Cum Laude: the green honor cord is awarded to graduates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.5 to 3.699.
*The honors presented during the ceremony are calculated on the student’s institutional cumulative grade point average and institutional credit hours through the semester prior to filing for graduation. Official honors designation, which includes the calculation of the final semester’s grades and hours, will be indicated on the final transcript and diploma.
Honor Society Medallions and Cords Students at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi have the privilege of being asked to join honor societies. Membership is based on grade point average and special criteria for each organization such as major, community service, and service to a profession. Students belonging to these honor societies wear cords and medallions that represent their high achievements and the colors and symbols of the organization.
Music Provided by Symphonic Winds
Directed by Dr. Brian Shelton, Professor of Music Special thanks to the faculty, staff, Student Government Association, and Island Ambassadors who participated in today’s events.