 Good afternoon. The commencement ceremony for the Departments of Anthropology and Sociology, Biology, Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Chemistry and Physics, Mathematics, Politics and International Relations, Psychology and Public Health in the Feinstein School of Social and Natural Sciences will now begin. It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you. My name is Ben Greenstein, and I'm the Dean of the School, and I'll end see the proceedings this afternoon. As you may imagine, putting together a single university commencement followed by eight individual school ceremonies involved the hard work of staff from virtually all the units of the university. Specifically, I'd like to thank members of the R-D-B-U events staff, administrative staff and academic affairs, and members of the registrar's office for their hard work. Most especially, I would like to thank the members of the school's Student Commencement Committee. The committee was composed of student representatives from departments in the school, Cassandra Ceresia, Riley Clyde, Maeve Haldeman, Tobias Petey, Noah Shoudy, and Jessica Tatio provided guidance to me as we refined this afternoon's proceedings, including whether or not the grass would be mowed during no-mo-may. I had no idea the impact on allergy sufferers. Anyway, our meetings on Monday honestly were the highlight of my day this past semester. Thanks also to the SSNS Administrative Assistant, Kelly Meyer, who staffed the committee and kept me on task, and in fact, if you think about how this all began today's proceedings, would not be taking place had Ms. Meyer not been here to tell you we were about to take place. A very important group of people is made to celebration possible, and it consists of the families of the students that we honor. The myriad ways in which our students have been supported by you have been invaluable. Thank you parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family, and members of other relatives of the family for allowing the faculty and I the privilege of educating the class of 2023. Students, if you are able, I invite you to stand, turn around and face your families and give them a warm thanks. It always has been my honor and privilege to be the dean of the faculty and the School of Social and Natural Sciences. It's humbling to witness the faculty's dedication to the students as they foster teaching and learning, all while genuinely and actively caring about each student's well-being beyond the classroom. I ask everyone to join me in thanking this remarkable group of faculty. I would now like to ask Associate Dean Dr. Annika Hagley to come forward for the presentation of the President's Core Values Medallion honorees. It is my great honor to award three of our students with the President's Core Values Medallion. Our students have exemplified our core values through inclusive, innovative, engaged, experiential, and transformational academic and co-curricular achievement throughout their four years. Congratulations to our recipients and their families, friends, and faculty. This year we have three worthy awardees from the School of Social and Natural Sciences. Our first Core Values Medallion recipient is Geraldine Ramirez. Geraldine is an anthropology sociology major with a minor in cultural studies and entered Roger Williams as an intercultural leadership ambassador. In her time at Roger Williams, Geraldine has served as a new student and family orientation guide, a resident assistant, a writing tutor, and as the president of the Multicultural Students Union. She also served as a resident assistant to the RISE program, supporting a diverse group of incoming students in their transition to college academics and life. Aside from the incredible energy that Geraldine brought to these campus roles, she has gone above and beyond in terms of service to the community. She worked in Washington, D.C. as an intern to the Commission on Immigration, an intern to the Black and Latino caucus at the Rhode Island Statehouse, and as an intern in the Law Office of Jose F. Batista in Providence. She also served as a victim service intern with the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office in addition to her experiences and services in the United States. Geraldine studied in the Dominican Republic under the Social Justice in Hispaniola program and traveled to Vietnam through the Political Cultures and Contact Program. All of this while maintaining an incredible academic performance and good standing in the Honors Program. I had the pleasure of speaking with some of the faculty and administrators who Geraldine is close to on campus. They spoke of a quiet and assuming person who is sincere and openly shares thanks with those who support her and as somebody who devotes the intense work ethic she has to other students. Geraldine is the tutor in the Writing Center that has the most student visits in four years because when it's someone who's as focused, intellectually rigorous, kind, open and inclusive as she is and the work they do, meaningfully reflects that word spreads quickly. Hundreds of students have reached out for her support and she has given them her all. As a school we are delighted and honoured to award the Presidential Core Values Medallion to Geraldine Ramirez. Our second recipient is Cassandra Ceresia. Cass is an Honor Student, triple major in Marine Biology, Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences and Chemistry and will also graduate with a minor in Professional and Public Writing. She has maintained an incredibly impressive GPA during her heavy workload and is walking across this stage with 181 credits. The acquisition of which is a stunning achievement. Even more impressively, Cass has led a full and enriching college life in terms of extracurriculars and supporting her peers and the university as a whole. She is focused and passionate about biology, currently serves as the President of Beta Beta Biology Honours and travelled to New York to talk to high school students about research opportunities in biology at Roger Williams. In terms of those research opportunities, Cass took full advantage and worked with Professor Chris Burton on a thesis project. Let me get this right. Investigating genetic modifications to the rote of a brachanus pelicatus, pelicatus, ah, good enough, which I googled for us non-biologists. It's a favour test animal in marine biology because of its particular sensitivity to toxicants. You're welcome. This work has so far resulted in four poster presentations at various scientific conferences, a spoken presentation at RW Weekly Research Seminar and three grants, two internal and one from the National Biology Honours Society. Perhaps the most humbling aspect of Cass' extraordinary performance at Roger Williams has been her intense desire to share her passion for biology and for the university with others in a way that excites and supports them, as well as introducing them to the field through the experience of an engaged and excited student. Cass has served as an honours ambassador, a peer tutor and took part in programmes to build skills as a tutor which truly support the most marginalised students on campus. Finally, she served as a lab facilitator for the marine psychology classes, doing her job in normal hours but also creating extra lab opportunities by her own initiative forming a group of seniors to run review sessions for the intro-level classes. I spoke with Cass' adviser, Paul Webb, who cited this as a truly meaningful way in which Cass firstly revived interest in the biology honours club, then said about rebuilding a sense of community within the biology department, using her incredible passion and motivation for her field to restore something that would be somewhat lost amongst the post-COVID recovery. Dr Webb described Cass as curious, engaged, friendly and a truly empathetic scholar who has shown the capacity to maintain their own excellent work while seeking meaningful opportunities to support the community around her. As a school, we are delighted and honoured to award the Presidential Core Values Medallion to Cassandra Serifia. The final recipient of our Core Values Medallion is one of my babies, so I may cry, is Josias Quiroa. Josias is a first-generation college student and a double major in political science and legal studies. He has been a much-needed and incredibly influential president on our campus. Josias has served as a senior student assistant in the Office of Financial Aid, a Title IX deputy, a resident assistant for the Black and Latinx Living Learning Community and a member of the Admissions Diversity Board. He was also a member of the Hispanic and Latinx Association and the Barbershop Club, a club founded by men of diverse backgrounds on campus to promote unity and community engagement. Josias has been deeply and passionately involved in the Roger Williams community, leading the Multicultural Student Union, serving on the Student Senate and guiding new students as an orientation advisor, as well as working in the Admissions Office and Financial Aid. Josias led MSU both as vice president and president with impressive energy and sagacity. Under his leadership, MSU has become a widely known and positively regarded campus club and more and more students have joined and attended several of the events that have been so successfully put together by Josias and his team. He has directed his academic efforts in a similar direction, completing an internship with Braema Law and Associates, working with assistant paralegals and supporting immigrants as they progress through the legal system. Josias wrote his senior thesis as an investigation of the dehumanization of immigrants in its relation to increasing nationalism and has always directed his scholarly energies towards researching how the most marginalized people in American society interact with systems and attitudes that deeply affect their lives. Professors and students have consistently identified Josias as a member of the Roger Williams community who will give his all to support those around him. And although he is unassuming, he's always looking for opportunities to engage other students on topics of great importance. This speaks to one of his greatest qualities. He is a curious person, he listens with empathy and he treats everybody with respect. He holds that respect during difficult conversations and his passion and political interests are always, always informed and guided by the community that he surrounds himself with. This skill comes from years of firsthand experiences of the challenges that people face and is the basis of a character formed by the courage and sacrifice of his immigrant parents of whom he is immensely proud. I have had the great pleasure of Josias's presence in several of my own classes and I finished with a paragraph I wrote in his letter of recommendation to law school. Josias is the full package. Brilliant, dedicated, and able to perform at the highest academic levels. That alongside his kindness, empathy and quiet but forceful leadership skills make him a brilliant prospect whether he goes. Roger Williams has been lucky to have him. As a school, we are delighted and honored to award the Presidential Core Values Medallion to Josias Kiroa. Thank you, Dr. Hagley. This year's graduates indicated their preference to hear from a member of the faculty as they prepare for their lives beyond our campus. It is my pleasure to call Dr. Paul Webb, Professor of Biology to the podium. Since he began teaching at the university in 1999, Professor Webb has been a very appreciable presence at RWU. He has brought good humor, approachability, and dedication to student learning into the classroom. These attributes combined with Professor Webb's consistent and ongoing quest to learn new teaching strategies and infuse them into his classes are appreciated by his students. As a student in a recent oceanography class put it, quote, Dr. Webb is enthusiastic, humorous, and phenomenally well versed in the subject matter. He made it very easy to stay engaged with humor without distracting from understanding. Dr. Webb is easily one of the greatest professors I have had at Roger Williams. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that Professor Webb has been awarded Professor of the Semester on numerous occasions by RWU students. A major scholarly undertaking has been Professor Webb's creation of an open educational resource textbook for an introductory course in oceanography, taken by marine biology majors. He has used the text in all of the sections of oceanography he teaches, and notably, the text has been used by colleagues teaching oceanography at RWU, as well as at other institutions around the country. One RWU student reviewed the textbook, thus, the online book is very helpful and not too long. Just like my speech. Yep, welcome, Professor Webb. All right. Well, first off, congratulations. You made it. So in the past, for a faculty member to speak at commencement, they had to win the Excellence in Teaching Award. And obviously, I have not done that. Congratulations, Joseph, though. For me, I had a little bit of an easier path getting here today. I just needed their first choice to turn down the invitation. Looking at you, Cliff Tinson. And so here I am. But I did tell my parents that I'm making this speech because I did win the Teaching Award. So if you see them, don't say anything. They're super proud. I don't want to spoil the effect. So let's get to it. What does it mean to be an educated person into 21st century? I don't know. And that sounds like a pretty tedious speech. So I know all of you are very anxious to get your degrees, go celebrate with your friends and family. And the last thing that any of you want, especially those that have had my classes before, is one more lecture from a faculty member. And frankly, if we haven't prepared you for post-college life over the last four years, there's nothing I can say in the next two minutes that is going to change anything. So those that know me well know that behind this facade of a mediocre scientist beats the heart of a poet. So instead of a speech, I have composed an ode to the class of 2023. It was either that or a song, and nobody wants that. All right, so by ode to the class of 2023, you arrived fall 19 with some hopes and some dreams excited for what college would be, a fresh start, some new buds, exciting classes and clubs, and the occasional weekend party. You made friends quite fast with your two roommates from Mass, built for two, but your room's housing three. You unloaded the van, said goodbye to the fam, and joined the class of 2023. But before that year ended, your plans were amended. With a pandemic, we didn't foresee. You had to learn from your room taking classes on Zoom with classmates you rarely could see. So in isolation, you pursued your vocation, trying to keep your GPA close to three. And what saved all your asses was past fail for those classes, the spring of 2020. The next year's improved, and you got in your groove as we regained some normalcy. You joined MSU, CEN, Saga II, and your teams won the CCC. Hawkward's harmonies were complex, Howie's pushed for safe sex, and national champions in women's rugby. Twice. And as they broke from their scrum, the players all sung, we're the class of 2023. Racy Stacey gave advice. Your apartment had mice. In the commons, you ate more than you need. And when you felt too much stress, you'd make an egress, hit the beach to smoke a little cigarette. Your parties got busted by the RAs you trusted. Your roommates wouldn't clean up their debris. And in the gym, your best flex failed to win back your ex. So sad, class of 2023. But you studied into the night, saw your ideas take flight, wrote a paper using chat GPT. Did a literature search for your thesis research and you toiled in the laboratory. All while playing on sports teams, juggling jobs, sharing memes, earning work study to cover your fees. Now, all us proud saps in our gowns and our caps tip our hats to the class of 23. From Speakman and Moskowitz, Hagley and Roberts, you learned public policy. And so she was your fave, and you do nothing but rave about Rothschild and Hyderali. Both Turner and Brooks made you hit the books, opening windows into your psyche. Let's hope reading all that Freud will now help get you employed as a class of 2023. You sampled life in the brine with Weiser and Rhine, exploring worlds that live under the seas. Many genes were transcribed with Marston by your side. As you decoded, Cs, Ts, As, and Gs. Breen taught chemistry with ease, and advanced math was a breeze in classes with Ed Doherty. Sure, organic was rough, but you students stood tough, because you're the class of 2023. And outside this bubble, the world saw some trouble. Chris Rock slapped on live TV. BLM, January 6, the war on Ukraine, and hashtag Free Brittany. Brittany Spears, Brittany Griner, take a pic. The overturning of Roe, the rise and fall of crypto, and the implosion of Kanye. Sorry, Yi. The years have seemed long, but you've all come out strong, because you're the class of 2023. So Alyssa Diaz, Kylie Hills, Matt McBride, Joshua Peck, Jenna Colantonie, Jesse Sands, Emma Place, Ezra Miller, Mia Cruz, Danny Cook, and Noah Shoudy. Zachary Quirk, Robbie Burns, Danielle Reynolds, Emma Dunn, and Kaley Devaney. And of course, all the rest, you all passed the test as a class of 2023. Now, it may not be clear where you all go from here. Get a job. Start on your PhD. Or take some time to yourself for your own mental health. Grab a surfboard. Head to Fiji. Whether moving back home or heading out on your own or joining the family company, use all you have learned and the degree you have earned as a class of 2023. But there's still work to do, and we're calling on you to be the difference that you want to see. Resist hate. Stand for truth. Never allow another buffalo, Yuvaldi, Tennessee. Try to heal the division and spread more respect for letting people live as they want to be. Is this a lot to ask? Yes, but you're up to the task because you're the class of 2023. Finally, as you depart for your life's brand new start, some advice that I hope you will heed. Remember, one real true love beats 10,000 likes you might get in your insta feed. Go forth and do good. Achieve all that you could and live the life that you want to lead. And I think we have cause for another round of applause for the class of 2023. True spirit of the liberal arts, a scientist composes and delivers an ode to the class. Thanks very much. All right. Now it's time to get to what you're really here for. We're going to confer academic degrees on the class of 2023. Candidates for the bachelor's degree wear a hood signifying a graduation, the degree in permanent connection to Roger Williams University community. These hoods bear the RW colors, white and light blue. First, I'd like to acknowledge those students who have the distinction of graduating with honors. Would all students graduating cum laude with a cumulative grade point average of 3.4, please stand if you are able. Will all students graduating magna cum laude with a cumulative GPA of 3.6, please stand if you are able. And finally, will students graduating summa cum laude with a cumulative GPA average of 3.8, please stand if you are able. To all of our academic honors recipients, your hard work and commitment to academic excellence are to be commended. And we're proud of your accomplishments. We'll now begin the conferral of degrees. Students will be asked to come forward to the platform by degree program and be recognized individually on the stage. This will begin in just a few moments. Will candidates for the degree in the Feinstein School of Social and Natural Sciences, all of you rise? All of you rise. I'm pleased to satisfy that these candidates are eligible for the degrees appropriate to their course of study. By virtue of the authority granted by the state of Rhode Island and delegated to the president by the Board of Trustees, we confer upon you the degree to which you are entitled with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto. Candidates for what you may be seated. Candidates for master's degrees today will be hooded by the school psychology department graduate program director as they process for their degrees. The formal hooding of students receiving advanced degrees is a centuries-old practice and signifies student achievements in their chosen field of study. Master's students' hoods include a wide velvet band of a color denoting the academic area in which their degree is hold. Health, will the candidates for the degree of master of arts in forensic mental health counseling and candidates for the degree of master of arts in forensic and legal psychology come forward to the foot of the stairs of the stage? Augusto, Allison, Beth, Cristiana Cloutier, William St. Pierre, Hannah Baldwin, Michaela Keisosaran Osage Ekeviar Jr., Amanda Gabrielle Riello, Zachary T. Quirk, Stephanie McConnell Sawyers, Samara Lynn Gallion, Shayna Grenevelle Jeanette, Jordan Thompson, Christopher Robert Downs, Alexis Lynn Callahan, Zoe Sweatt, Elizabeth Hope Nouse, Kelsey Renee Fython, Sophia Diane Marino, Jason McKelvie, E. Hopkins. Those are our candidates in Master's of Arts for Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Will the candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology come forward to the foot of the stage at stairs left? And I ask Professor Thiel Rothschild, Chair of the Department of Anthropology and Sociology to come to the podium. Hi. Geraldine Mabel Ramirez, Bachelor of Arts, Anthro-Sociology, Summa Cum Laude, Bachelor of Arts, Anthro-Sociology, Bachelor of Arts, Anthro-Sociology, Summa Cum Laude, M. Fiorella, Bachelor of Arts, Anthro-Sociology, Cum Laude, Elizabeth St. John, BA Anthropology and Sociology, G. Kristi Fiena, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies, Anthro-Sociology. Will candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Biology, Marine Biology or Environmental Science come forward to the foot of the stairs at stage left? And I ask Professor Brian Weiser to the podium. Cassidy Jane Pillett, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Magna Cum Laude, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Cum Laude, Katie Elizabeth McCain, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences, Alexandra Cruz, Bachelor of Arts, Marine Biology, Stephanie L. Venditti, Bachelor of Arts, Marine Biology, Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences, Niziak, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of... science? Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Theresea, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Marine Biology, Aquaculture and Aquarium Sciences, Chemistry, Summa Cum Laude. Jenna Elizabeth Capp officer, Bachelor of Arts, Marine Biology, Bachelor of Science, Biology, miracles, J. Pushlar, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology. Alexander Matthew Beale, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology. Andrew James Troy, Bachelor of Arts, Marine Biology. Benjamin David Cheson, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology. Thomas McBride, Bachelor of Arts. Hashana Flaudelees, Bachelor of Arts, Marine Biology. Schmedike, Allison Hope Schmedike, Bachelor of Arts, Marine Biology. Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology. Ian Simmons, Bachelor of Arts, Agriculture and Aquarium Science. Communications and Media. Farisan, Bachelor of Arts, Aquarium and Aquarium Science. O'Barton Judkins, Bachelor of Arts. Kimberly Agonis, Bachelor of Science, Biology. Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science, Ian Cashin, Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science, Magna Cum Laude. Elizabeth Stephanowitz, Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science, Summa Cum Laude. Bachelor of Science, Elizabeth Bridget Allen, Bachelor of Science, Biology. Victoria Lynn Freitas, Bachelor of Science, Ian Rushlow, Bachelor of Science, Biology. Pagan DeBlois, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Marine Biology, Computer Science. Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology. Summa Cum Laude. Elizabeth Sasana, Bachelor of Arts, Biology. René Gondair, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Chemistry, Magna Cum Laude. Emma Dunbar Place, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Matthews, Bachelor of Science, Summa Cum, Bachelor of Arts, Biology. Jane McGovern, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Summa Cum Laude. H. Messna, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology. Mitchell, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Environmental Chem, Magna Cum Laude. Egan Bellitto, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Environmental Chemistry, Cum Laude. Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Aquaculture and Aquarium Science, Summa Cum Laude. Edwards, Bachelor of Science, Marine by Lynn Child, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Cum Laude. Savannah Ziba, Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Magna Cum Laude. Isanzio, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Magna Cum Laude. Giotis Espinal, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Cum Laude. Samantha Cora-Sawes, Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Magna Cum Laude. Bachelor of Science, Biology. Carter Ryan McLaughlin, Bachelor of Science, Biology. Magna Cum Laude. Liam Joseph Engel, Bachelor of Arts, B. Joseph Fennessy. Bachelor of S. Bucklin, Bachelor of Arts, Individualized Major in Conservation and Sustainability Study. Monet Hines, BS, Biology, Paul Luka-Girot, Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science. Jessica Ann Rovershoe, Bachelor of Arts, Biology. Paul Yamorski, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology. Sarah A. Fabiano, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Chemistry, Magna Cum Laude. Anne Schott, Bachelor of Arts, Aquaculture and Aquarium Science, Educational Studies, Cum Laude. Will candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry? I guess you're already here. And you're at the stage, I ask Professor Stephen O'Shea, Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Physics to come to the podium and he's already here. Let's go. Rhetorex, Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, Cum Laude. Isabel Parris-August, Bachelor of Science, Faye Severo, Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Biology. Elizabeth Miller, Bachelor of Arts, Aquaculture and Aquarium Science, Magna Cum Laude. Kimberly Ann Bousset, Bachelor of Science, Summa Cum Laude, Ezra Miller, Bachelor of Science, Mathematics, Cum Laude. Somehow we segue directly into math. All right, so these are candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics and we have Professor Ed Doherty here at the podium to congratulate the graduates. And so we've already had this one fellow come by and come by again. He's back, Ezra Miller, Bachelor of Science, Mathematics, Cum Laude. Jasmine A. Levitt, Bachelor of Science, Mathematics. And Bhutan Jr., Bachelor of Arts, wait, wait, wait. Congratulations. Sorry, sorry, I'm getting carried away. Okay, we now have candidates for a degree of a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science or a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. We have Professor Joseph Roberts, the chair of the department and winner of this year's Excellence in Teaching Award at the podium. And Bhutan Jr., Bachelor of Arts, Political Science. Thomas Christopher Kilburn, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science. Josiah Emmanuel Quiroa, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science. Brett McDonald, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations. Josiah Poff, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations. Patrick Hanna Ogden, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations. Andrea Margarita Ariago Cota, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations. Magna Cum Laude, Drick Shoudy, Bachelor of Arts, International. Ian Bensadok, Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude. Mitchell H. Dutcher, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations. Summa Cum Laude. Madison A. Dent, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science. Ashley Renee Bartels, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science. David Michael Finnegan, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science. Cum Laude. Jessica Marie Tadio, BA, Bachelor of Agile Degree, Political Science and Philosophy. Summa Cum Laude. Jackson Graham Lauer, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Economics. Summa Cum Laude. And Frederick N. Cannon, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and History. Cum Laude. Eva Marie Gertz, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science. Emma Rose Trahan, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science. Summa Cum Laude. Professor of the Degree of Bachelor of Arts and Psychology. Come forward to the foot of the stairs at stage left. I ask Professor Aaron Thule, Chair of the Department to come to the podium. Alyssa Liana Diaz, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude. Michelle Leslie, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude. Emily Goff, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude. Jenna Rose Galassa, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa Cum Laude. Marcella Marie Collado, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa Cum Laude. Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude. Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Samantha Zarkoen, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude. Emma Gale Dunn, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa Cum Laude. Jenna, Caitlin, Cormaya, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Jesse, Chirgin, Sands, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Summa, Cum Laude. Devin, Raymond, Thiesin, Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude. Charlotte, Russell, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Danielle, Donahue, Reynolds, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Malia, Lauren, Jeffree, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude. Audrey, Rose, Leblanc, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Lily, Rodzinska, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude. Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna, Cum Laude. Bridget, Elizabeth, Grealish, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna, Cum Laude. Emily, Margaret, Segreta, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa, Cum Laude. Jessica, Yunmei, Scalisi, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Braylin, Gabriel, Ash, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna, Cum Laude. Christina, Rose, Mazzarella, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna, Cum Laude. Patrick, Langdon, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Maceira, Capaduala, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa, Cum Laude. Jessica, Tujillo, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa, Cum Laude. Alyssa, Rose, Malsyn, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Scott, Gordon, Matson, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude. Andrea, Sophia, Brett, Psychology. Dante, T. Semetti, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna, Cum Laude. Sara, E. Cross, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Emily, Sebastiana, Mazzotti, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude. Aidan, J. Cunert, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa, Cum Laude. El, Tartigliere, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Rihanna, Haley, Flores, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Allison, Elizabeth, Rickett, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa, Cum Laude. Madison, Quaterini, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa, Cum Laude. Michelle, May, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa, Cum Laude. Lee, Catherine, Bennett, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa, Cum Laude. Gwyneth, Carol, Sieber, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude. Samantha, Marie, Gregory, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna, Cum Laude. Megan, Elizabeth, Thorny, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude. Simrat, Cor, Dillon, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Jordan, Elizabeth, Sweeney, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna, Cum Laude. Maeve, C. Heldman, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa, Cum Laude. Zachary, Shaw, Abbott, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude. Jorge, Sican, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Evia, Jean, Oofway, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna, Cum Laude. Thieu, Dario, Mercado, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Matthew, Elliot, Glen, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Ronald, Smith, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Joshua, Preston, Gallardo, and Demetria, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Kendra, Elizabeth, Barnard, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. So the candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Public Health come forward to the foot of the stairs at the stage left. Professor Jacqueline Pollock, Chair of the Department of Public Health is now at the podium. Lepinsky, Bachelor of Science, Public Health, Summa, Cum Laude. Ellie, Grace, Hills, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health, Magna, Cum Laude. Mary, Teresa, Larilla, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health. M, Tenny, Bachelor of Science, Public Health. Grace, Isla, Guy, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health. Riley, Margaret, Clyde, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health, Mathematics, Summa, Cum Laude. Marie, Dula Cruz, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health. Zoe, Rely, Moro, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health. Bachelor of Arts, Public Health. Gabriela, Rose, Poulin, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science, Public Health, Cum Laude. All right, we miss anybody? Never got your degree? All right. At this point, we honor a member of the faculty who has chosen to retire from the university. I ask Professor Cliff Timson to approach the podium. Professor Cliff Timson. Over the 29 years you have served on the faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Physics, you have embodied the Roger Williams University ethos that, as a department colleague, notes, quote, students are our primary product. Indeed, numerous students are regularly seen outside your office door and M&S happily. I repeat, happily, awaiting a chance to seek extra help, engage with research questions, and receive larger lessons from you regarding learning and life. At all levels of the chemistry curriculum, you create a nurturing classroom environment. A senior student taking your recent laboratory course and inorganic chemistry commented, quote, I have a fear of being called on in class, but this class is the first that I felt it helped my learning instead of getting in the way of me only being focused on being called on. Your reputation of having high expectations for your students, passion for the material, and dedication to go to whatever lengths necessary to facilitate their learning established you as one of the pillars of our introductory chemistry sequence. As a first year student in a recent general chemistry class put it, quote, Dr. T is an amazing teacher and taught us in a way that was engaging, and he really cared about all of us. He didn't want anyone to fail and gave many opportunities to succeed. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that you received two outstanding teaching awards bestowed by students, firstly, on the main campus in Bristol, and the second awarded by those in the university Open 4 Plus 1 program. You've maintained an active and productive student-focused research program during your time at RWU, and in collaboration with department colleague Cliff Murphy received the first scientific patent at the university, thus expanding the reach of recognition for both your department and the university. As one of your M&S colleagues points out, you also may be individually responsible for more people knowing about the existence of ruthenium. Ruthenium? Than anyone in New England. Ruthenium. Your mentorship, or perhaps more accurately stewardship, of many former research student extends long beyond their time on campus and has resulted in remarkably strong ties between the department, the university, and its alumni. This is perhaps best exemplified by the endowment established by the Gagliardi family and recognition of the mentoring and close personal relationship you established with Dr. Chris Gagliardi, an RWU student and now RWU trustee. The Gagliardi family distinguished seminar series allows our students to interact with distinguished scientists in informal settings, while the more recently established Gagliardi career panel allows students to learn from their myriad career pathways graduates have, RWU graduates have walked since they earned their degree. Your colleagues in the department and MNS speak with affection and respect, as they describe your easygoing good humor, passion for your discipline, and our ability to articulate it with a beer culture class in Europe, rapport with students, and common sense approach to the important leadership roles you have undertaken during your time at RWU. In recognition of your achievements and service to the university and by action of the Board of Trustees is my distinct pleasure to award you the rank Professor of Chemistry Emeritus. We will find it difficult to fill the space you leave behind. Congratulations. These are my closing remarks, and we're almost finished. As dean, I've been and continue to be a tireless messenger for the value and relevancy of a student-centered experiential education that provides connections between the college learning experience and the world beyond campus. Graduates, the four years that have elapsed since you arrived have provided an exceptional and expanded opportunity for just that education. You've cared for each other, trusted each other, and learned to be respectful and resilient. These attributes are devoutly to be wished for in any global citizen, perhaps most especially now. In a baccalaureate address given to the graduates of the University of the South last weekend, author Margaret Rankle muses on what, if anything, a member of our generation, which, and I quote, wrecked so much that is precious, could offer today's graduates in the way of advice. She concluded, and I quote again, you will be prepared for whatever challenges may come your way if you remember only two things. The world is beautiful. People are good. RW Class of 2023, you have the tools to live that advice and impact society in meaningful ways. And in this spring season of renewal, this fact gives me great hope. We are proud of you. Keep in touch. On behalf of the university, thank you all for joining us here today and celebrating these commencement exercises. Please stand and remain at your seats until all members of the recessional, including our graduates, have exited the tent. I invite everyone to remain after the recessional to visit with school faculty and staff.