The Sixty-Fourth
CONFERRAL OF LAW DEGREES
May 15, 2021
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The Sixty-Fourth
School of Law Commencement PROCESSIONAL MACE BEARER Herbert I. Lazerow, AB, JD, LLM, DESS, Professor of Law PROGRAM ANNOUNCER Gail F. Baker, PhD, Vice President and Provost COLOR GUARD Members of the ROTC NATIONAL ANTHEM Brooke Bauersfeld, Class of 2023 INVOCATION Msgr. Daniel J. Dillabough, BA, Class of 1970, Vice President, Mission and Ministry PRESIDENT’S GREETING James T. Harris III, DEd, President DEAN’S REMARKS Robert A. Schapiro, BA, MA, JD, Dean and Professor of Law PRESENTATION OF THORSNES PRIZES Margaret A. Dalton, BA, JD, Class of 1994, Vice Dean and Professor of Law 2020-21 THORSNES PRIZE FOR OUTSTANDING LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP Lisa Ramsey, BA, JD, Professor of Law 2020-21 THORSNES PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING Dov Fox, AB, DPHIL, JD, LLM, Herzog Endowed Scholar, Professor of Law STUDENT ADDRESS Shannon Elizabeth Whitaker, Class of 2021 CONFERRAL OF DEGREES Robert A. Schapiro, BA, MA, JD, Dean and Professor of Law ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF CANDIDATES James T. Harris III, DEd, President Robert A. Schapiro, BA, MA, JD, Dean and Professor of Law WELCOME FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Megan L. Donohue, BA, JD, Class of 2009, President, Law Alumni Association RECESSIONAL
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2021 School of Law Commencement
About the University of San Diego School of Law Each year, USD educates approximately 800 Juris Doctor and graduate law students from throughout the United States and around the world. The law school is best known for its offerings in the areas of business and corporate law, constitutional law, intellectual property, international and comparative law, public interest law and taxation. USD School of Law is one of the 84 law schools elected to the Order of the Coif, a national honor society for law school graduates. The law school’s faculty is a strong group of outstanding scholars and teachers with national and international reputations and currently ranks 36th nationally among U.S. law faculties in scholarly impact and 22nd nationally in past-year faculty downloads on the Social Sciences Research Network (SSRN). The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949.
USD Mission Statement The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic institution committed to advancing academic excellence, expanding liberal and professional knowledge, creating a diverse and inclusive community, and preparing leaders dedicated to ethical conduct and compassionate service.
Michael T. Thorsnes Prizes for Outstanding Legal Scholarship and Excellence in Teaching The Thorsnes Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship is awarded to a faculty member selected by the dean to recognize significant legal research and scholarship. The Thorsnes Prize for Excellence in Teaching is awarded to a full-time faculty member based on a vote of upper-division students. The prize recognizes a faculty member for extraordinary effectiveness in assisting students, both inside and outside the classroom, with mastering legal subject matter, thinking deeply about legal issues, and significantly improving their analytical, communication and problem-solving skills. Mr. and Mrs. Michael T. Thorsnes created these annual prizes in gratitude for the legal education Mr. Thorsnes received at USD School of Law.
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University Seal Every institution of higher learning prides itself on its seal, an emblem incorporating the history and finest traditions of the college. Each device pictured on the seal holds a special meaning. The seal adopted by the University of San Diego is a combination of the seals of the two founding institutions, the San Diego College for Men and the San Diego College for Women. The three rings represent the Holy Trinity; the dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The lamp of learning is on the right and the laurel of excellence and achievement is on the left. Below it is the stew pot or Spanish olla, the symbol of St. Didacus’ role of feeding the poor and sick in Alcalá. The three nails have been used traditionally by the Franciscans, the original missionaries to San Diego, as the symbol of the Passion of Jesus Christ. The motto, Emitte Spiritum Tuum, which means Send Forth Thy Spirit, was taken from Psalm 104, which reads: “Thou shalt send forth thy spirit and they be created: and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.”
University Mace Although the ceremonial mace may have been military in origin, in American higher education the mace has long been the symbol of awesome responsibility. A burden of the highest calling, it signifies the protection of truth and the transmission of knowledge to young minds. For that reason, a mace is substantial and pure, therefore typically sterling silver. In addition to silver, the University of San Diego’s mace is also comprised of a shaft of walnut, a wood common to Spain, the country that inspired the university’s Renaissance-style architecture. The University of San Diego’s mace was created in 2003 and unveiled at the November 16 inauguration of former President Mary E. Lyons. The flame, which caps the lantern of truth, is reminiscent of USD’s architectural ornament, the omnipresent finial. The flame is also symbolic of the human mind and its burning quest for knowledge. One side of the mace is inscribed with the university’s monogram, the design of which was adopted in 1972 at the time of the merger of the two colleges. The other side is inscribed with the university’s seal, which in 1997 was designed as the perfect merging of the seals that represented the original institutions, the San Diego College for Men and the San Diego College for Women. Appropriately, the merging of the seals into one exemplifies one of USD’s founding mottos, “That all may be one.” The university’s ceremonial mace, in turn, honors the motto on the seal, “Send Forth Thy Spirit.”
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2021 School of Law Commencement
Academic Regalia The custom of wearing a “cap and gown” originated in the Middle Ages when academic dress was mandated for both students and faculty of European universities. The cap and gown, in addition to indicating scholarly status, also served to keep students and professors warm in unheated buildings of the earliest universities. Most of the attire you will see today follows the American conventions for academic regalia—conventions that originated at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The bachelor’s gown has long, pointed sleeves; the master’s gown has oblong sleeves open at the wrist; and the doctoral gown has full, bellshaped sleeves with three bars of black velvet. The cap for bachelor’s and master’s degree holders is a “mortarboard,” a stiff, black hat, flat on top. Doctoral degree holders wear a soft velvet “tam” or a “mortarboard.” Perhaps the most important element of academic regalia is the hood, the length and intricacy of which depend on the academic degree of the wearer. The velvet trim around the hood indicates the academic degree and the satin lining of the hood represents the institution where the degree was earned. University of San Diego School of Law graduates wear hoods lined in Torero Blue and Alcalá White with purple velvet trim indicating the graduate’s law degree. Many American universities have their own distinctive robe, often multicolored, or have a single color rather than black. Among the faculty and administrators in the procession today, you may see people wearing robes in various colors that indicate their alma mater’s distinctive robe. At this commencement you may also see academic dress that follows other, very different national traditions, because USD’s faculty includes professors who hold advanced degrees from universities in other countries.
Regalia Accessories A number of other items such as cords, stoles, medals or medallions representing various academic achievements or other honors may also be worn at the discretion of degree-granting institutions. Honor cords usually consist of twisted cords with tassels on either end. They may be awarded for various academic achievements, to members of honor societies, or for distinguished extracurricular service. With cap, gown and hood, the honor cord complements the regalia of the law school candidate. Unlike hoods, tassels and stoles, custom allows more than one cord to be worn at the same time.
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At today’s ceremony, you will see the white honor cord which represents exemplary pro bono service for students who complete a minimum of 100 hours of pro bono legal service during their law school career, and the blue and white knotted cord which represents exemplary pro bono service with high distinction for students who complete a minimum of 250 hours of pro bono legal service during their law school career. Students may also be wearing other honor cord colors which represent the following student organizations, advocacy groups, or journals: Advocates for Children & Education, magenta; American Constitution Society, mint green; Appellate Moot Court Board, purple and silver intertwined; Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, lilac; Black Law Students Association, special gold; Business Law Society, peach; Christian Legal Society, red; Client Advocacy Team, teal and white intertwined; Consumer Attorneys of USD, olive green; Criminal Law Society, dark green; Employment and Labor Law Society, light green; Environmental Law Society, kelly green; Federalist Society, light yellow; First Generation Legal Professionals, rust; GOOD Guys in Law School, light lavender; Health Law Society, purple; Immigration Law Society, turquoise; Intellectual Property Law Association, pink; International Law Society, teal; Jewish Law Students Association, navy blue; La Raza Law Students Association, orange; Law Students for Cross-Racial Understanding, wine; Middle Eastern Law Students Association, silver; Military Bar Association, royal blue; Mock Trial, red and black intertwined; National Lawyers Guild, citrus green; Older Wiser Law Students, green; Phi Alpha Delta, purple and gold intertwined; Phi Delta Phi, red, blue, and gold intertwined; Pride Law, cyan; Pro Bono Legal Advocates, gold and white intertwined; Public Interest Law Foundation, light purple; Real Estate & Land Use Society, copper; Saint Thomas More Society, red; San Diego International Law Journal, lavender and maroon intertwined; San Diego Journal of Climate and Energy Law, royal blue and kelly green intertwined; San Diego Law Review, silver and navy blue intertwined; Society of Changemaker Organizations, emerald green; Sports & Entertainment Law Society, maroon; Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, drab; Student Bar Association, royal blue and white intertwined; Tax Law Society, gold; Transactional Law Team, black and light blue intertwined; USD Law Democrats, burnt orange; Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, gold and dark green intertwined; Women’s Law Caucus, light blue.
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2021 School of Law Commencement
Commencement Committee Roger Pace, PhD, Office of the Vice President Mary Kruer, University Ministry and Provost, Co-Chair Ryan Lanza, University Advancement Coreen Petti, University Events and Joshua Lawrence, Athletic Facilities Partnerships, Co-Chair Antonieta Manriquez, University Center Jennifer Lee Aller, Student Affairs Merrill Marker, Student Affairs Facilities Aleczander Bangert, Parent and Family Sgt. Henry Marquez, Public Safety Relations Charles Bass, Alumni Relations Stephanie Zaren Castro, University Events and Partnerships
Rachelle Martinez, School of Leadership and Education Sciences Andrew McMillin, University Advancement
Branda Cook, Athletic Facilities
Sabrina Nelson, Center for Student Success
Patricia De Saracho, Professional and Continuing Education
Jonathan Oberg, Tram Services
Linda Dews, School of Leadership and Education Sciences Flora Elman, University Center Barbara Ferguson, University Marketing and Communications Lisa Fernandes, University Advancement Amanda Ford, NROTC Anna Garretson, University Marketing and Communications John Hanson, PhD, School of Business Kacy Hayes, PhD, School of Business Benn Joyce, Professional and Continuing Education Ron Kaufmann, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences
Rick Olson, PhD, Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering Renda Quinn, Parent and Family Relations Stephanie Reighley, University Advancement Sybilla Robison, One Stop Student Center Emma Rojas-Liseki, Parking Services Mariann Sanchez, Graduate Student Life Kristin Scialabba, PhD, Office of the Vice President and Provost Carol Scimone, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science Wajma Shams-Lyons, University Scheduling Reuel Shivers, Office of Graduate Records Cheryl Shoemaker, Hospitality Services Elizabeth Silva, Office of the Registrar
Capt. Quinton Kawahara, Public Safety
Lauren Smeenge, Conference Services
Emily Keehn, Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
Jim Thrailkill, USD Torero Store
Laurie Keller, School of Law
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Thu Tran, General Services Ching-Fang Tu, Office of the Registrar
Master of Laws
with a Concentration in Environmental and Energy Law Alexandra Marin Stormer
Master of Laws in Business and Corporate Law Alexander Sheridan Deitsch Adriana Edwards**
Master of Laws in Comparative Law Asem Ali AlHamad Saeed Ali Alnaggar* Fahad Ahmed Alquwaee Hammam Alrasheed** Fahad Alsuwailem** Moayed Althagib** Anneth Barajas** Yasir Fahad Duhayyim Sophie R. Guinan Leslie Miranda* Amparo Eugenia Pereda Coll Andrielle White
Master of Laws in Taxation Thomas Mark Benson* Brittany Nechell Brewer Oswaldo Xavier Calvachi Haosu Cui Christopher R. Engelmann* Katilyn Karoline - Nicole Farrell* Jasmine Marie Farrington Natalie Hagen Ryan James Hendry* Phillip W. Hilliard Bethany Anne Holzer Blake Lauren Koloseike
Jake Maximillian Kuhn Christine Kurian* Lauren E. Lee* Tiffany Ashley Leonin* David Martinez-Gonzalez** Guillermo Mercado Peter Gunston Nelson* Laura E. Pappas* Alena Mills Quartz* Ramona Suchomel Rosalinda Torres Steven Yourke*
Master of Science in Legal Studies Alton Julian Bennett* Larissa Claire D’Andrea* Sonya Makkanji** Alexi Danielle Santiago Laurale Woodward**
Juris Doctor Jennifer Marie Aardema Katie Marie Abajian* Kezia Ruth Adler Diane Sunyoung Ahn Lifen Wang Alfstad Kaitlin M. Amos Natalie J. Annunziata Devon Joseph Arabo Maryam M. Atty Amanda Rae Azemika Kenneth Crippen Bagdasar Agassi Bagramyan Orlando Thomas Barajas Katherine Yvonne Barton Elaina M. Bauer Madison Rosemary Beck Baylee Jean Beeman Blake William Bohlken Jack Pierce Branscome Taylor Celia Brewer Lauren Elizabeth Brown
*Requirements completed December 31, 2020. **Requirements expected to be completed by August 15, 2021.
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Meghan Victoria Brown Rayne Akhira Brown Brandon Michael Burger Chase Drew Canevari Natalie Castro Rolaine Marie Castro Shirley Alise Chestnut Alec McClean Clark Dominic Vincent Claudio Henry Charles Coates Kaitlyn Cochran Erin Catherine Cole James Daniel Colleran Ashley Chanel Cordero Alberto Julian Corona Meghan Alisa Crumm Alyson Anheuser Crutchfield Kevin David De Ceoursty Jessica Allison De Lellis Megan Alexis Divine Katelynsam Rebecca Scully Dixon Stephen Alagos Dolar Julia F. Drury Cory J. Dugan Alaina Michelle Dye Conner L. Dyte Therese Marie Ellis Lexi Jo Epley Michael Joseph Errichetti Sabrina Faramarzi Elsa M.L. Felgar Anthony J. Felix Andrew Michael Ferguson Daniel R. Findley Rachel Elizabeth Forster Hannah Jane Fowl Joshua E. Frazier Marcus Shaun Friedman Jordan Thomas Gagnon Tiana Camille Garbett Scott Robert Gattenio Rachel George Geagea Lawrence John Tsang-Lee Geist Tyler Joseph Goss Andrea Suzanne Grim
Min Soo Ha Lauren Nicole Haack Yasmeen N. Halim Krishna Rajan Hammond Joubin Hanassab Alexandrea H. Hanna Julia Nicole Hanson Cortney Jessica Harrington* Alyson Elizabeth Hayden William Maxwell Heineken Amanda H. Herron Michael W. Hervey David Burke Anton Hewett Breanna Lynn Hite Brittany M. Hodgson* Kevin J. Holt Marlee Ann Horwitz Jocelyn Housley Marie Kathryn McDonald Hulen Brandon K. John Strider Marsh Kachelein Yasmine Kalhor Kemberly Renee Kantor Katerina A. Karaoglanova Hannah L. Karraker Meghan R. Keenan* John Morton Kelley Kathryn D. Kellner Sara Beth Keys Casey Lynn Kirk Robert Burke Koehler Elaine Haymar Kong Haley Kopp Mikaela Jayne Kraus Christine Lambert Kelsey Jacqueline Landon Macsen S. Latimer Gabriel Jonathan Lee Kim William A. Llamas David Evan Lloyd Karla Andrea Lopez Torres Kaylee Briana Mageean Sage Marie Maggi Matthew Kaveh Majd Taha Majeed*
*Requirements completed December 31, 2020. **Requirements expected to be completed by August 15, 2021.
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Alyson Carole Malak Brian Noble Mallard Bradley C. Manering Samantha Anne Manganaro Alexander M. Mann Grant William Margulieux Gaaret Ray Marinelli Vahe Leon Marouti Victoire Yasmine Marqué Taylor Patrick Marrinan Chandler Cole Martin John R. McCallie III Christina Anne McLaughlin Tara Caitlin McMillen Anuja N. Mehta* Leor Mekahel Michael Josiah Melton Stephanie Anne Mendivil Rose M. Mennig Devon Raine Meyer Bradley R. Mills* Arzviek Moradian Blaine Robert Mullican Kush Rajanikant Nagin Arin D. Nahapatian Sebastian Alexis Navarro Taylor N. Needham Tatiana Masad Nicola Jake Mamoru Nishizu Katherine Louise Noe Helena Rae Normandie Jessica Ifeoma Debbie Nwasike Kevin Joseph Oberlies Hailey Nicole Oberst Waheed Mufeed Olayan Jessica Carol O’Malley Madison Lyn Orcutt Jonathan G. Padua Pablo R. Pantoja** Jessica Sujin Park Pooja Patel Michael Huston Patterson Jason Ethan Peretz* Natassia Peterson** Kathryn Marie Pettit
Nareg Pirjanloo Anthony Vincenzo Pizzichini Allana Lin Lew Platt Robert Ponce Kimeya Poushnejad Alexandria Pritchett Catherine Akua Quaidoo Jasmine N. Rabbani Kaitlin Marie Radvansky Stacia Christine Ratliff Ashlee Nicole Remington Sarah Elizabeth Roa Madeline Janette Rojer Mariela Rosas Romo Daniel Louis Rosen Samuel Freeman Roth Michael Joseph Russo Christopher C. Ryan Albert B. Ryu Shabnam Saadatkhah Hyla Rachel Schneir Allison Elizabeth Schubert Anna Lynn Sebastian* Yasmeen Mary Seiba Elnaz Shahla* Neda Shahrestani Julia Abigail Sherwood Michael Handler Shoemaker Angela Marie Silva Christopher Michael Sirkis Monika K. Siu Julia Michel Skyhar Theodore Merrill Snodgrass Jr. Shana Gabrielle Sobel Joshua Mirjavanmard Spandy Carly Stacey Madison Eva Standon Justus Gregory Swajian Savannah Marian Swartz Jack Otto Tamplin Jessica L. Taylor Michael S. Tiab Anreet Kaur Toor Stephanie Xuan Tran Austin I. Trickey
*Requirements completed December 31, 2020. **Requirements expected to be completed by August 15, 2021.
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Joseph John Tull Halie Jordan Turigliatti Gabriela Lucia Turner Kimberly Ferrari Vallot Nathan Lee VanRensselaer Jessica Lin Vaughn Nathan Barrett Vavra Juan Manuel Villalvazo Evan M. Walike Brigid Mansfield Weintraub Taylor LaReine Wendland Shannon Elizabeth Whitaker Benjamin William White Shelby Ann White
Millicent Clare Whitemore Dylan Deanna Wilson Sabrina Ming Wai Wong Kameron Taylor Wright Thomas Hoi-Fai Yau Samantha Allison Young Elmira Yousufi Anastasia A. Zaharoff Eden Zakay Jackson Robert Zeman John Paul Zens III Salma Zinabidine John Anthony Zubieta
The above list constitutes all students who have declared the corresponding graduation date and requested that their names and degrees appear in the commencement program. It is not a certified list of degree recipients.
*Requirements completed December 31, 2020. **Requirements expected to be completed by August 15, 2021.
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Welcome to the Alumni Association! Today, you join more than 16,500 law alumni and 75,000 total USD alumni as a member of both the Law Alumni Association and universitywide Alumni Association.
Alumni Association benefits include: • Invitations to regional alumni events and programs • Lifetime access to #HireUSDLaw and the Office of Career and Professional Development for job postings, resume services, Westlaw and Lexis career libraries, and career resources/guides • Lifetime access to the Pardee Legal Research Center and Copley Library • Free facility pass to the Sports Center and Mission Fitness Center for one year after graduation and lifelong access at a discounted rate • Discounts for USD athletics, Torero Store, Outdoor Adventures, Bartell Hotels, Professional and Continuing Education, movie theatres, southern California attractions and more • The Advocate–the annual law school magazine, the Docket–the law school’s monthly e-newsletter, and the USD Magazine
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Next steps: • Update your contact information law.sandiego.edu/alumni-update • Connect with alumni by region law.sandiego.edu/alumni-chapters • Participate in alumni events and programs law.sandiego.edu/alumni-events • Join an Alumni Affinity Network law.sandiego.edu/alumni-networks • Stay up-to-date on alumni news law.sandiego.edu/alumni-news • Join T.E.A.M. — Torero Employer and Alumni Mentors mentoring.sandiego.edu Expand your network and connect on an exclusive online alumni platform that fosters connections, referrals, professional advice, and meaningful career conversations. • Support scholarships, fellowships, clinics, centers and institutes law.sandiego.edu/gift • Request your official USD Alumni Association membership card law.sandiego.edu/alumni-membership-card
Alumni snapshot: • USD law alumni live in 60 countries, all 50 states and the District of Columbia • The top five international countries for USD law alumni are Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada and Mexico • Top states for USD law alumni are California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, Virginia, and Texas • More than 11,000 USD law alumni reside in California • The top five California counties for USD law alumni are San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside/San Bernardino and San Francisco • You are now part of a global USD alumni network
Congratulations, Class of 2021!
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