C ommencement May 6, 2020
Virtual Commencement Exercises for
The Class of 2020 The College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Texas A&M University
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 • 2:00 p.m. Veterinary & Biomedical Education Complex College Station, Texas
A Commencement Celebration ACADEMIC PROCESSION Mace Bearer Kenita S. Rogers Executive Associate Dean WELCOME Eleanor M. Green The Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine CLASS OF 2020 REFLECTIONS Taylor E. Adams Class of 2020 CHARGE TO THE CLASS OF 2020 Kevin Washburn Professor, Large Animal Internal Medicine PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES Karen K. Cornell Associate Dean, Professional Programs BESTOWAL OF DOCTORAL HOODS Audrey K. Cook Associate Professor, Small Animal Internal Medicine and Johanna Heseltine Clinical Associate Professor, Small Animal Internal Medicine PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS John R. August Dean of Faculties Emeritus CONFERRING OF DVM DEGREES Eleanor M. Green The Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine ADMINISTRATION OF OATH Karen K. Cornell Associate Dean, Professional Programs CLOSURE Eleanor M. Green The Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinarian’s Oath Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.
Candidates for The Degree of May 6, Taylor E. Adams Emily Lynn Adamson Amanda Regina Armendariz Brianna Elizabeth Armstrong Kathaleen Nguyen Bailey Don Arlis Barnett Joseph Packard Blount Shiloh Winston Brackett Valerie Briell Sarah Elizabeth Brien Karly Michelle Brightwell Katie Allison Burchfield Chelsea Victoria Burleson Stephen Paul Chapman Sophie Louise Christilles Annalis Cigarroa Elizabeth Irene Clementson Nicole McKenzie Copeland Danielle Freeman Covarrubias Emily Kate Crews Kelly Rose D’Ancicco Courtney Lynn Daily Carissa J. Dale Desiree Deshaun Davidson Gabriela Miatto De Lima Ryan De Vuyst Brittany Anne Nicole Donald London Paige Dority Nantika Khamkorn Du Hunter Lewis Enderle Shelby Elizabeth Faw Austin Douglas Floyd Kelli Marie Franks
Wendy Lee Garcia Sarah Lynn Genz Nicole Heather Gibbs Meagan Alexandra Gonzales Amelia Marie Gonzalez Lynanne K. Graf Maria Elizabeth Granello Breanna L. Green Hunter Rhea Greer Victoria Michele Grimsley Zachary D. Grimsley Lorena Gutierrez Alana L. Hall Daniel Nicholas Hanson Haley Lynn Jatzlau Wendell Kale Johnson Sydney Walker Jones Brooke Elizabeth Orsak Kehlenbrink Kleg Everett Kennedy Shanna Tanaz Keshvari Kailey Nicole Kestner Chelsea M. Kosar Bailey Elizabeth Kramr Brooke Allison Kuehler Evelyn Elizabeth Lake Kristina Marie Leon Miranda Dawn Lester Katrina Wong Luu Lauren Balderas Lyda Tyler Howard Mackey Michael Steven Manriquez Ashtyn Nicole Marek Elizabeth Ann Martin
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine 2020 Scott Jacob Mash Amanda Nicole Mason Amber Nicole Matula Leah Bell McAda Reagan Scott McAda Emily Elizabeth McCann Andrea Mercer Antonio J. Miller Brandi Momoko Miller Kelly Kowoon Min Sierra Ashley Mountain Ashley Juliane Musgrave Duc M. Nguyen Jennifer Nhuy Nguyen Bridget Lee Norris Michelle Nicole O’Bert Daniel Robert Olson Kathryn Taylor Ortiz Cortney Rebecca Pease Thomas Vincent Peltier Andrew Carl Penn Monica J. Pickett Paulina Marie Platten Ashton M. Plummer Ashley Nicole Polasek Jessica Annette Porras Anna Marie Pratas Julia Clare Purnell Michael Lee Rauch Lindsey Alexandra Reichwein Meagan Elizabeth Rennie Jace Deleath Reynolds Itzel Alexia Rios
Chris Dianne Rivera Alicia Lea Robinson Alyssa Nicole Rush Rylee Jade Rushing Sadie L. Sacra James Christian Sanchez Kody Everett Scherer Devyn Micah Schultz Anne Lily Serra Rebecca Ryan Shipley Pauline Grace Sklenar Sarah Ashley Slack Amethyst Tess Southern Jill Mackenzie Starks Lauren Elizabeth Strazdis Kristen Elizabeth Streeter Amanda C. Tabone Margaret Elaine Tiedeman Jonathan Riley Tingle Luke Paul Tomaso Alexa Hanna Turner Timothy Scott Turner Michael Trevor Vallon Carling Catherine Vanier Jillian Villalva Rachel Deanne Walla Jenna M. Ward Kelly Xia Wen Nathan Wayne Wheeless Erika Carol Wiggs Mary Margaret Worley Rachel Leigh Youngblood
THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM BOARD OF REGENTS Elaine Mendoza, Chairman Tim Leach, Vice Chairman Phil Adams Robert L. Albritton Jay Graham Michael A. “Mike” Hernandez III Bill Mahomes Michael J. Plank Cliff Thomas Levi McClenny, Student Regent
John Sharp Chancellor, The Texas A&M University System
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION
Michael K. Young President
Carol A. Fierke Provost and Executive Vice President
Michael J. Benedik Vice Provost
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES ADMINISTRATION
Eleanor M. Green The Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine
Kenita S. Rogers Executive Associate Dean
Karen K. Cornell Associate Dean, Professional Programs
Robert C. Burghardt Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies
Gerald W. Parker Associate Dean, Global One Health
Todd M. O’Hara Department Head, Veterinary Integrative Biosciences
Susan C. Eades Department Head, Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Jonathan M. Levine Department Head, Small Animal Clinical Sciences
Ramesh Vemulapalli Department Head, Veterinary Pathobiology
Larry J. Suva Department Head, Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology
Academic Regalia Academic institutions throughout the world have created a wide variety of customs including distinctive dress, color, and ceremony to indicate the accomplishments of scholars. English traditions originating at Oxford and Cambridge led to the development of American academic regalia. By the 20th century, institutions of higher learning in the United States had adopted a welldefined code of academic costume, gowns, hoods, and colors. For instance, the baccalaureate gown is worn closed and is identified by long, pleated front panels and long, pointed sleeves. The master’s gown has very long sleeves, closed at the bottom, and the arms of the wearer are placed through an opening in the front of the sleeves. Doctoral gowns may be worn open, and they are distinguished by velvet panels around the neck and down the front of the gown. Three horizontal black velvet bars, or the color representing the wearer’s degree, also mark the doctoral gown. In the United States, the hood is the most colorful feature of academic regalia. The bachelor’s hood, when worn, is comparatively short; the master’s a bit longer; and the doctor’s, at four feet, reaches far down the wearer’s back. The outside of the hood is black and is bordered with a two-, three-, or five-inch band of velvet in the color representing the degree received, and the hood is lined with the colors of the granting institution. For instance, the Master of Arts hood from Texas A&M has a white border, for the discipline color of arts, letters, and humanities, with a maroon and white lining; the Master of Science hood has a golden yellow border, for science, with a maroon and white lining; and the Doctor of Philosophy hood has a border in the blue of philosophy with a maroon and white lining. Among the other discipline colors are agriculture, maize; architecture, brown; business administration, olive green; education, light blue; engineering, orange; medicine, green; and veterinary medicine, gray. These colors represent the degree earned, not the academic major. The PhD in engineering, for example, would normally wear the dark blue of philosophy on the hood and gown instead of the orange of engineering. Official guests of the university and members of the Board of Regents wear the doctor’s gown with the blue of philosophy on the front and hood.
Ceremonial Mace The university mace, a gift of the Texas A&M University Class of 1990, leads the academic procession at commencement and on other special ceremonial occasions. Historically, the use of a mace dates back to the Middle Ages and was carried before or placed near a magistrate or other dignitary as an ensign of authority. This mace, made of sterling silver, walnut, and oak, depicts various university symbols. It was designed by Rodney Hill, Texas A&M architecture professor, who also carved the staff. Silversmith Lane Coulter ‘78 of Santa Fe, New Mexico, prepared the silver head of the mace, and Lars Stanley ‘74 of Austin, Texas, designed and manufactured the stand.