University of San Diego 2023 Conferral of Law Degrees

The Sixty-Sixth CONFERRAL OF LAW DEGREES

May 20, 2023

The Sixty-Sixth School of Law Commencement

PROCESSIONAL

MACE BEARER

Herbert I. Lazerow, AB, JD, LLM, DESS, Professor of Law

PROGRAM ANNOUNCER

Gail F. Baker, BS, MS, PhD, Senior Vice President and Provost

COLOR GUARD

NROTC San Diego

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Heritage Landolyn Liboon Ganasi, Class of 2023

INVOCATION

Michael Lovette-Colyer, BSBA, MDiv, MBA, PhD, Class of 2013, Vice President, Mission Integration

PRESIDENT’S GREETING

James T. Harris III, BEd, MEd, DEd, President

DEAN’S REMARKS

Robert A. Schapiro, BA, MA, JD, Dean and C. Hugh Friedman Professor of Law

PRESENTATION OF THORSNES PRIZES

Margaret A. Dalton, BA, JD, Class of 1994, Vice Dean and Professor of Law

2022-23 THORSNES PRIZE FOR OUTSTANDING LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP

Michael Rappaport, JD, DCL, Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation Professor of Law and Director, Center for the Study of Constitutional Originalism

2022-23 THORSNES PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

Roy Brooks, BA, JD, Warren Distinguished Professor of Law

Mila Sohoni, AB, MPhil, JD, Associate Dean of Faculty, Herzog Research Professor Law

ADDRESS TO GRADUATES

Martin J. Jenkins, BA, JD

Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court

STUDENT ADDRESS

Marty R. Levers, Class of 2023

CONFERRAL OF DEGREES

Dean Robert A. Schapiro

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF CANDIDATES

President James T. Harris III

Dean Robert A. Schapiro

WELCOME FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Carolina Bravo-Karimi, BA, MSc, JD, Class of 2008, President, Law Alumni Board

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 87 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 30th nationally among U.S. law faculties in scholarly impact and 28th 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 that results in a published book. 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.

Student Awards

After final grades are published, several students receive distinguished awards for exemplary performance in academic and co-curricular activities:

Judge Gerald Brown Progress Award • For the student with the greatest increase in grade point average — first to third year

Irvin J. Kahn Award • For the outstanding student in real property courses

Virginia C. Nelson Graduation Prize in Advanced Advocacy • For outstanding efforts and distinction of earning the highest grade in Advanced Trial Advocacy

Paul Plevin Quarles Labor and Employment Law Award • Highest GPA in the Labor and Employment Law concentration

Scholarship Award for the Highest Cumulative Grade Point Average, Full-Time Division

Scholarship Award for the Highest Cumulative Grade Point Average, Part-Time Division

Alec L. Cory Pro Bono Award • For the student with the highest total pro bono hours, who promoted pro bono work on campus, and also contributed the most to make the San Diego community a better place through the type of pro bono work they completed per the California definition of pro bono

Michael T. Thorsnes Trial Advocacy Award • For outstanding performance on the National Mock Trial Team

A comprehensive list of graduation honors and awards are shared in a special publication over the summer.

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 Renaissancestyle 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.”

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, bell shaped 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.”

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.

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 and Education, Magenta

American Constitution Society, Mint Green

Anime and Manga Law Society, Emerald 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

Criminal Law Society, Hunter Green

Desi Indian Law Student Association, Green and Gold Intertwined

Employment and Labor Law Society, Nile Green

Environmental Law Society, Kelly Green

Federalist Society, Maize/Light Yellow

First Generation Legal Professionals, Rust

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

Name and Gender Marker Change Clinic, Light Lavender

National Lawyers Guild, Citrus Green

National Trial Team, Red and Black Intertwined

Older Wiser Law Students, Green

Palestinian Alliance of Law Students, Forest Green and White Intertwined

Phi Delta Phi, Red, Blue, and Gold Intertwined

Pride Law, Cyan

Pro Bono Legal Advocates, Gold and White Intertwined

Public Interest Law Foundation, Lavender

Real Estate and 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

Sports and Entertainment Law Society, Maroon/Burgundy

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

Trial Attorneys of USD, Olive Green

USD Family Law Society, Brown

USD Law Democrats, Burnt Orange

USD Legal Clinics, Royal Blue and Gold Intertwines

Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, Gold and Dark Green Intertwined

Women’s Law Caucus, Light Blue

Commencement Committee

Roger Pace, PhD, Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost, Co-Chair

Coreen Petti, University Events and Partnerships, Co-Chair

Jennifer Lee Aller, Student Affairs

Amii Cambaliza, School of Law

Stephanie Zaren Castro, University Events and Partnerships

Nathan Corsino-Estrada, Parent and Family Relations

Alana De La Torre, Associated Student Government

Linda Dews, School of Leadership and Education Sciences

Mike Dils, University Mobility and Scheduling

Frank Fenney III, Graduate Student Council

Lisa Fernandes, University Advancement

Amanda Ford, NROTC

Brittany Gardner, Office of the Registrar

Anna Garretson, University Marketing and Communications

Diana Hannasch-Haag, Professional and Continuing Education

Kacy Hayes, PhD, Knauss School of Business

Benn Joyce, Professional and Continuing Education

Ron Kaufmann, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences

Capt. Quinton Kawahara, Public Safety

Emily Nagisa Keehn, JD, School of Law

Jake Kuennen, Athletic Facilities and Operations

Frances Laviscount, Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies

Joshua Lewis, Athletic Facilities and Operations

Merrill Marker, Student Affairs Facilities

Sgt. Henry Marquez, Public Safety

Rachelle Martinez, School of Leadership and Education Sciences

Bianca Morales-Egan, Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies

Sabrina Nelson, Center for Student Success

Carol Norman, Hospitality Services

Rick Olson, PhD, Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering

Stephanie Reighley, University Advancement

Sybilla Robison, One Stop Student Center

Emma Rojas-Liseski, Parking Services

Mariann Sanchez, Graduate Student Life

Rachelle Sanders, Office of the Registrar

Michael Sauer, Digital Communications

Kristin Scialabba, PhD, Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost

Reuel Shivers, Office of Graduate Records

Cheryl Liem Shoemaker, Hospitality Services

Elizabeth Silva, Office of the Registrar

Patrick Simon, University Marketing and Communications

Rosemary Stallbaumer, Student Financial Services

Jim Thrailkill, USD Torero Store

Thu Tran, General Services

Ching-Fang Tu, Office of the Registrar

Annette Welsh, University Ministry

Amy Wright, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science

Sahmie Wytewa, Center for Inclusion and Diversity

Lisa Zullo, Office of the Registrar

Sam Zullo, Office of Graduate Records

Master of Laws in Business and Corporate Law

Hoori Khandani*

Master of Laws

with a Concentration in Criminal Law

Rebecca Briggs**

Master of Laws in Comparative Law

Simon Weiss Bonde*

Romina Alessandra Brogini

Benedetta Cordova

Muzhgan Fakhri

Andrea Manuela Gloor*

Julie Groenbaek*

Hong Seok Jang

Kristoffer Probst Larsen*

Choucri Mansour*

Chinwendu Tesia Okoye*

Maria Fernanda Ramirez Cornejo*

Andre A. Sandez

Mina Sarang

Jung Hee Seo*

Louise Spang Sorensen*

Karla Melissa Torres Lopez*

Sanghwan Won

Master of Laws in Taxation

David Armstead

Colten D. Ballinger*

Brittney A. Caminiti

Traci Lynn Campbell*

Benjamin M. D’Alton*

Jenny L. Doling

Gina Lee Gurtler

Amy Vu Ho-Markowski*

Prabhjot S. Nahal

Waheed Mufeed Olayan

Jake Elijah Posnock*

Wei-Hsiang Su

Master of Science in Legal Studies

Susanne Ahlman

Philine Erika Nou Fleck

James L. Ghilardi Jr.

Sonya L. Makkanji-Myers *

Jason Pijpaert

Elise Ann Wery

Zhenxi Zhong

Juris Doctor

Christopher Zachary Acosta

Douglas J. Agne

Alyssa Aiello

Xena Amirani

Sarah Amouzandeh

Tea Elizabeth Antonino

Amber Jenelle Babin

Samara Ann Bahu

Maggie G. Baruffi

Mackenzie Marie Batten

Alina Oleksandrovna Bazar*

George Beckett

Jennifer Bejar Cobarruvias

Michael J. Bertola II

Shahrzad Borna

Summer Meldal Bosse

Matthew K. Bowen

Shealie Erin Brew

Brandon Buck

Joanna Burstedt

Theresa Kalei Butcher

Gervilyn Mae Cadimas

Tereza Ludmila Callender

Brian R. Cardona

Bryan Gregory Carlson*

Ian Jeffrey Carstens

Paige Nicole Chandler

Natalie Clagett

Brooke Ann Clarke

Hunter Wesley Collins

Anna Louise Cornetta

Christopher James Crawford

Peter James Cuevas

Alexandra Isabella Cumberland

Sarah Marina Dahm

Justin T. Dalton

Jeremy Warren Daniels

Shannon Leigh Dart

Dimitri Alan Davis

Grant William Davis

Nicholas Michael Dea

Michael DeBonis

Dillon D. Denio

Sakheth Dhumuntarao

Andrew Thomas Donahue

Lauren Donohue

Trevor Mathew Dorne

Christopher R. Dorsett

Jack Ryan Doti

Gavyn Rhys Doty

Carson Alexis Dudick

Alexander C. Dungan

Erika Anne Eastley

Nardeen El-Guindy

Anissa Elhaiesahar

Devon Mariah Esguerra

William Salvador Espinosa

Roy H. Ezell III

Ashley Alexandra Fan

Thomas A.T. Ferrari

Luke Bennett Fishman

Vileni Maryah Flores

Skeet B. Frazee

Steven A. Funk

Conor V. Gallagher

Heritage Landolyn Liboon Ganasi

Jared Robert Garfield

Stella Diane Gerson

Rafayel Gevorgyan

Arash Ghahremani

Nicolas Charles Golda

Adam Arthur Goldberg

Bridget Hannah Gramling

Courtney Amanda Gray

Alexis Taylor Greene

Brenton Nelson Gutkowski

Adriana Joan Halabo

Taylor Ann Halby

Graham Scott Hancock

Erik Hansen

Katherine Elizabeth Hardin

Hayden James Hargrove

Evan Hawkins Harris

Samantha H. Hasiewicz

Madison L. Henry

Alexis Rose Herskowitz

Mazen Samir Hilou

Samuel A. Hjerrild

Rachel Emily Nicola Hoch

Lauren E. Holappa

Tyson S. Horsley

Erin I. Hudak

Jacklyn Alyse Hughes

Tala Rose Hughes

Connor Alexander Hume

Jansen D. Hyatt

Daryl J. Jackson

Kelly M. Johnson

Christopher M. Jones

Zubaidah A. Kadhim

Tyler L. Kaminsky

Kyu Bin Kang

Andrew Thomas Katseanes

Emily Jade Kawahara

Kerstyn Elyse Keenan

Andrew Dallas Kent

Scott J. Kerr

Raza Naiem Khan

Anoush A. Khatchatrian

Taylor Kate King

Alissa Bernadette Kirschenheiter

Martha Dominika Klak

Carolyn Anne Klier

Benjamin Andre Won Koh

Joshua E. Kovach

Gabriela M. Kula

James E. Lanham

Andrea Kelley Lavelle

Aaron Robert Lazarecky

Sean Lee

Marty R. Levers

Kerah Michele Lewis

Pouch Ching Hsuan Liang

Melody Lilazy

Michael Mooyoung Lim

Sophie Anna Brooks Livingston

Alexandra N. Loyo-Rodriguez

Blake A. Madone

Katherine Teresa Mandel

William Manson

Elyssa Yanei Martinez

Siena M. Martinez

Aiman Masood

Hamdy M. Masri

Estella Marie Massey

Hunter Shane Matos

Ulrick Tatsuya Matsunaga

Mackenzie Marie McCoy

Connor Edward McGettigan

Caelle Maureen McKaveney

Bailey J. Mezan

Mariam Mickael

Teresa Regina Morin

Austin B. Nebeker

Christine Jeeyoung Noh

Bryan Riley Nuxoll

Justin G. Oetting

Isabel Oraha

Gracie Hannah Pachie

Dana Nicole Padget

Melissa Alexandra Padilla

Alexis Nicole Page

Roxanna Palizi

Jessica Nazanin Panahi

Janine Williams Parchment

Jadwyn Nicole Parrish

Briana Nicole Peters

Evan William Peters

Julian Piroli

Connor J. Porzio

Alexander A. Powers

Logan Rand

Amanda Anne Rasmussen

Mark Matthew Rawdin

Perssia Razma

Jessica Ellen Robertson

Julian Jesus Robles*

Maiya H. Roddick-Fuller

Ian D. Ross

Jessika Brittni Russell

Justin Michael Sanchez

Cody Clark Sanders

Sarah Elizabeth Sanders

Madison Noelle Schimek

Madison Hayley Schwartz

Kristen J. Sells

Yusra Serhan

Amanda Jane Sharp

Gina Simone

Kyndall Marja Slotemaker

Kendall Smith

Megan Elizabeth Bagley Smith

Frederick Stickney Smyth

Isabella Francesca Sobalvarro

Tristen Nathaniel Spencer

David L. Spiegel

James Michael Spradley

Emma Kate Steer

Rani Christine Stenberg

David Scott Stewart

Emily A. Stowe

Frances R. Strnad

Aishat Ibukun Sulaiman

Jackson Alexander Sullivan

Camden Dean Swanson

Gautam Sadanand Thatte

Derek G. Thompson

Vinh Phu To

Sofia Torrez

Hailey Elizabeth Trawick

Lauren Kylee Trinrud

Chase W. Turnbull

Peyton M. Turner

Armand Rodney Vosguanian

Jacob C. Wade

Sophia Bryce Wagener

Morgan Haley Wahler

Lilly Claire Walker

Kara Renae Watkins

Jonathan F. Webster

Jack Whitaker

Brian Joseph Wild

Sydney Pearl Williams

Rachel Y. Wu

Rebecca Nuojia Xu

Timothy Kun Yi

Emma Grace York

Tasheen Zahra Zaidi

Nicholas Aaron Zalkow

Brody Allen Zaugg

Julia Zeigler*

Jiaye Zhou

Brett Edward Zirkle

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, 2022

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 university-wide 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 theaters, 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.

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/Bernardino and San Francisco

• You are now part of a global USD alumni network

Congratulations, Class of 2023!