 The commencement ceremony for the departments of Anthropology plus Sociology, Biology, Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Chemistry and Physics, Mathematics, Politics, International Relations, Psychology, and Public Health in the Feinstein School of Social and Natural Sciences is beginning. Good afternoon, everyone. It's a distinct pleasure to welcome all of you in person to the inaugural commencement ceremony for the Feinstein School of Social and Natural Sciences. My name is Ben Greenstein. I'm the dean, and I will emcee 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 RW events staff, administrative staff, and academic affairs, and members of the registrar's office for their hard work. Most especially, I'd like to thank the members of the Students School Commencement Committee. The committee was composed of student representatives from the departments in the School of Social and Natural Sciences. Rachel Barrows, Sydney Duquette, Cassandra Feria, Kate Gilbert, Caitlin Kelsey, Colby Peters, Santa Rogers, Elizabeth Sanford, and Emma Ivanovich, who all proceeded to provide guidance to me as we refine this afternoon's proceedings. Our meetings early on Tuesday mornings were honestly, honestly the highlight of my day. Thanks also to SSNS administrative assistant Kelly Meyer. Kelly staff, the committee, and kept me on task and in fact opened these proceedings so they would not literally have occurred had Kelly not been here to help. A very important group that made the celebration possible consists of the families of the students that we honor today. Especially during these last four years, the myriad ways in which our students have been supported by you have been invaluable. Thank you, parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family members for allowing the faculty and I the privilege of educating the class of 2022. Students, I invite you to stand if you are able, turn and thank members of your family who may be present. It always has been my honor and my privilege to be the dean of the faculty in the School of Social and Natural Sciences. It has further been a humbling experience these last four years as I witness this faculty's dedication to the students as manifested by their incredible efforts to engage new technologies and strategies to foster teaching and learning all while genuinely and actively caring for each and every one of you, both academically and your well-being beyond the classroom. I ask students, again, to rise and thank your faculty. They're seated directly behind you and thank them for their efforts. I would now like to ask senior associate dean Dr. Becky Spritz to come forward for the presentation of the President's Core Values Medallion. Thank you, Dean Grusson. The President's Core Values Medallion has been established to recognize graduating seniors who best reflect University Core Values through distinctive contributions, supporting the core purpose of a Roger Williams University education, to strengthen society through engaged teaching and learning. It is an honor to announce the Core Values Medallion recipients for the class of 2022. Kate Gilbert. Not yet, Kate. You don't get off that easily. Kate is a biochemistry and applied mathematics major whose accomplishments exemplify Roger Williams' values of academic success through experiential, engaged, and innovative learning in and out of the classroom. In her time at Roger Williams, Kate has demonstrated the ability to bridge complex theories in her fields of study in a myriad of ways. As a result of her dedicated research with faculty and fellow students and her awards in competitive summer research programs, Kate is a co-author on publications and esteemed professional journals, has presented at national conferences, and completed a senior honors thesis. It is Kate's generosity of spirit in the Roger Williams community, however, which sets her apart as a Core Medallion recipient. As the president of the RWU Science Alliance Club, Kate has been a leader in organizing events, developing alumni networks, and creating a supportive community of student scholars. She has served as one of the most dedicated and sought out tutors in our campus tutoring center. As an officer in the Hispanic and Latinx Student Association, she has collaborated to create a more inclusive Roger Williams community, which celebrates culture and diversity. If that were not enough, Kate's leadership extends into the world of performance, serving as the president of the Hawkeets Dance Team, planning logistics for the team's practices, showcases, and national competitions. We have been privileged to have Kate as a member of the RWU community, and we are so happy to award her this honor. Samuel Avila. Our second Core Medallion recipient is Samuel Avila. Sam embodies the president's core values as an exemplary student, leader, researcher, and social justice advocate. And like our first recipient, he has exhibited these values both inside and outside of RWU. Sam is a public health and political science double major who, in his own words, became enamored with the concept of health policy and what policies lawmakers can put in place to protect the communities they represent. Sam served to enhance our RWU community in his service as an intercultural leadership ambassador, a writing tutor, an orientation advisor, and a resident assistant, and as the RWU student body president. Outside of RWU, he served as a legislative intern for Senator Cynthia Mendez, an intern for the National Hispanic Medical Association, and a trainee at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, DC. His senior thesis compares political responses to the HIV and COVID-19 pandemics. And as noted by his recommenders, Sam's diligence, high standards of personal responsibility, academic abilities, compiled with his initiative, curiosity, and drive clearly demonstrate his merit for this award. Thus, I am pleased to award this core medallion to Samuel Avila. Jason Regan, last but certainly not least, our final core medallion recipient is Jay Regan, a member of the University Honors Program. Jay is a political science major with a minor in global communications. And as with our other medallion recipients, Jay's profound impact has been experienced both on and off campus. Jay has served as the chairman of the university's prestigious presidential student ambassadors, the vice president of the college Democrats, and a student Senate cabinet member on the elections committee. But notably, Jay has been a member of both the college Democrats and the college Republicans. And he played a central role in cultivating and coordinating the relationship between the two at a time when they had one of the worst relationships in their history. As someone who embodies what it means to be a true citizen, in his home community, he's involved in government voting. He co-chaired a local school campaign toward an astounding upset in a victory over a better funded incumbent. One of his recommenders notes, highly politically conscious, Jay strives to bridge the partisan divide to come to a more productive and inclusive dialogue. Indeed, one of Jay's recommenders, highly accomplished student in her own right, credits much of her own success to his support and considers themselves a better person for their friendship. I know we can all agree that we need more individuals, like Jay, in our world today. It is therefore a great pleasure that I award this core medallion to Jason Regan. These students have exemplified our core values through inclusive, innovative, engaged, experiential, and transformational academic and co-curricular activities throughout their four years. Congratulations to our recipients and their families, friends, and faculty. Thank you. This year's graduating class indicated their preference to hear from a member of the faculty as they prepare for their lives beyond our campus. Since she began teaching at RWU in 2013, Professor Annika Hagley has established herself as an extraordinary educator. An overarching theme arising from her students is that Professor Hagley's classes are transformational. Students appreciate that they are challenged to reflect deeply about important issues in Professor Hagley's classes. They further value the respectful way in which she engages them and the genuine care and support that Professor Hagley supplies. One student comment is particularly succinct, quote, the professor is awesome. And additional students clearly agree, as Professor Hagley has twice been awarded Professor of the semester in the school. Professor Hagley's current scholarship investigates how our society continues to resolve the tragedy of 9-11 through the lens of popular culture, political rhetoric, and decision making in Congress. In her 2021 book, Reborn of Crisis, 9-11 and the Resurgence Superhero, Professor Hagley describes the proliferation of the superhero film genre after 9-11 and explores the way the film show allow American society to process the trauma from the attacks through a variety of culture and political lenses. It's my pleasure to call Dr. Annika Hagley, Associate Professor of Politics, International Relations to the podium. Thank you, Dean Greenstein. That was quite the introduction. Hello, babies. What a few years. I know that you are sick to death of talking about COVID and I don't blame you. So I'm going to do what any good academic would do and skirt around the issue. In the time you have attended this school, so much has happened, so much has changed and so many people have become versions of themselves that they never knew existed. As my colleagues and some of my students know, I found out I was pregnant with my first child in March of 2020 during spring break. In between Zoom classes, I watched the test lines turn pink, panicked, then proceeded to teach while sometimes having to turn off the camera so I could vomit into a nearby trash can. I got COVID the week the baby was due and with his COVID-stricken father banned from the delivery room and all the breathing and birth classes usually do canceled in the months before, I completely freaked out, got it together and somehow bought Beau, my little Roger Williams graduate of 2040, into the world. Two days later, as the nation's capital burned, I called the nursing station and asked if what I was seeing on TV was real or was I just really high from the pain meds. And if that wasn't a perfect metaphor for what we were all going through one way or another, I don't know what is. A friend once said to me that when you become a parent, it connects you with all the other people in the world. You look out for each other's babies, you hope that they're happy and kind to each other, you try and make your kid one of the ones that will be a force for good in the world. You see every person as somebody's baby and your capacity for love grows. I now understand what went into each and every one of you to get you to this point. I know how many times your parents and caregivers felt lost, tired and out of their depth and how many times they kept going despite this. To get you mobile so you could walk across this stage. How many times they sounded out words on cards so you could read all the assigned material in the syllabus. How many times they patiently had you copy letters onto a piece of paper so you could craft those famous single spaced essays I like to assign. The list goes on. I know how many times they have read you the same bloody book over and over again and how many times they pretended they couldn't see you in a game of hide and seek. Babies are really bad hiders. They just wanted to see you laugh. I know how they've held you, cried for you, been so proud of you they could burst, helped you grow, feared for you and sent you out into this campus anyway. Parents and caregivers, handing off your babies to us is a great act of trust. Particularly in the last few years when things have been so hard, so exhausting and required so much good faith and acceptance of situations beyond our control. It's a responsibility that none of us took lightly and we're honoured by your trust. Students, you have been a generation that has faced something beyond the realms of our imaginations. You came here four years ago with interests and personalities and subjects and extracurriculars and ideas and energy. You were welcomed by this community with the promise of developing all those things. You did that and then some. We asked you for trust and faith and we took you into the unknown. You came with us. Sometimes you led us and at every turn you broke the mold. You have been selfless, courageous and steadfast. You have been indignant and angry in the face of injustices. You have been funny and kind. You have turned towards each other and developed bonds that will always be with you and you have pushed us to be better every day in the last four years. I have never cried as much as I have in the last four years, mostly from sleep deprivation. I have never been prouder, more raw, more worried about my students and more impressed by them than I have in the last four years. I have laughed harder in classes and felt the privilege of my passing influence in young people's lives more than I ever have in my whole teaching career as the months pass by and each one of you revealed another wonderful layer of who you are. You are unique graduates, our athletes, scholars, artists, dancers, scientists, mathematicians, politicians, our kind-hearted ones, our cynical ones, our funny ones, our grumpy ones. Our introverts and our extroverts, our ones that come to class faithfully on a Friday morning after drinking too much tonight before. Our ones that stay in bed. Our ones with terrible hangovers right now wondering how they're going to make it through the next hour. Above all, you have been a graduating class marked by the choice to love. At a time when the structures of power all around you chose conflict over leadership, you chose patience and humor. You chose to keep going, to pick each other up day after day in your fear and exhaustion, in your determination and your hope. That is what makes you the class of 2022. Not COVID, not grades, not the things that people usually care about, but the uniqueness, the resilience, the good-heartedness, the brilliant funniness of all of you. The ways in which you've looked out for your Roger Williams siblings and the ways in which you've helped your Roger Williams family through the last four years is who you are. The love you've shown each other, your professors, the administration, and everyone around you is your greatest strength. We are the proudest family. And like your parents and caregivers, we're kicking you out of the nest with love. With the love you've shown us, returned in full, big, huge, unashamed, spoken, expressed love. Roger Williams University Class of 2022, you have been magnificent. You have been magnificent and you have been loved. Thank you. Awesome. Indeed. Thank you, Professor Haydn. All right, it's time to do what we're here to do. Here's what everybody's here for. Candidates for the bachelor's degree wear a hood signifying their graduation, the degree and permanent connection to Roger Williams University community. These hoods bear the RW colors of white and light blue. Candidates for master's degrees today will be hooded by a member of the school faculty, our director of the psychology graduate program, as they process for their degrees. The formal hooding of students receiving advanced degrees is a century's old practice and signifies student achievements in their chosen field of study. Master students hoods include a wide velvet band and a color denoting their academic area in which the degree is held. Before I call students to the stage, I'd like to acknowledge those students who have the distinction of graduating with honors. Would all students graduating come loudly with a cumulative grade point average of 3.4, please stand if you are able. Cum Laude. Okay. Will all students graduating magna cum laude with a cumulative GPA of 3.6, please stand. Finally, will students graduating summa cum laude, grade point average of 3.8, your hard work and commitment to academic excellence are to be commended and we are proud of all of your accomplishments. We will now begin the conferral of degrees. Individual degree recipients will be recognized on stage after I have conferred the degrees on all of the candidates. Students will be asked to come forward to the platform by program. So will all candidates for degrees in the Feinstein School of Social and Natural Sciences please rise if you are able. All of you, stand up. I'm pleased to certify 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. Those of you that are in the seated area, please seat. Candidates for the degree of Master of Arts in Forensic Mental Health Counseling and candidates for the degree of Masters of Arts in Forensic and Legal Psychology come forward to the foot of the stairs at stage left. I ask Professor Judith Plotania, Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Psychology and Chair of the Department of Psychology to come to the podium to assist in hooding the candidates. Jocelyn Malave, Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Maura M. Logan, Master of Arts, Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Samantha Marion Sitarik, Master of Arts, Forensic Mental Health. Master of Arts, Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Deandra Ligori, Master of Arts, Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Reed, Master of Arts, Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Haley Lauren Nobilo, Master of Arts, Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Emma Brozier, Master of Arts, Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Makayla Kelmer, Master of Arts, Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Kaitlyn Elizabeth Doyen, Master of Arts, Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Diana Mary Inkova, Master of Arts, Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Sarah Renee Nadeau, Master of Arts, Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Kaylee Kowalski, Master of Arts, Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Carly Marie Rice, Master of Arts, Forensic and Legal Psychology. Silvana Nakataro, Master of Arts, Forensic and Legal Psychology. Alyssa Lee Freeman, Master of Arts, Forensic and Legal Psychology. And Alyssa, before you go away, I just want to mention that Alyssa was one of the awardors of the poster award in the graduate reception in April for her poster on sleep disorders and mental health symptoms among incarcerated adolescents. Julia Grace Wheeler, Master of Arts, and Julia can't go away either because she was co-author on the poster against sleep disorders and mental health symptoms amongst incarcerated adolescents. Congratulations. C. Marie Burns, Master of Arts, Forensic and Legal Psychology. Thank you. Congratulations to all of the master students. Will candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology plus Sociology come forward to the foot of the stairs at stage left? I ask Professor Jason Patch, Chair of the Department of Anthropology plus Sociology, to come to the podium. Joyce Palmer, Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology plus Sociology, Cum Laude, Margaret Veder, Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology plus Sociology, Magna Cum Laude, Chris Teresa Sender, Psychology and Political Science, Cum Laude, Rachel Louise Barrows, Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology plus Sociology and Criminal Justice, Cum Laude, Natalie Imperatrice Delgado, Bachelor of Arts, Gwenlyn E. Kinder, Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology plus Sociology, Cum Laude, Raquel Monet Lanche, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Anthropology plus Sociology, Sumo Cum Laude, thesis with distinction. Will candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Biology, Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Aquaculture and Aquarium Science and an individualized major in Biological Photography, please come to the foot of the platform. I ask Professor Brian Weiser, Chair of the Department, to come to the podium. Richard Padovich, Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Jordan Sterling, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Chemistry, Sumo Cum Laude, Duquette, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Chemistry, Sumo Cum Laude, Goldschneider, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Olivia Amaral White, Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Chris Griffin, Bachelor of Science, Marcia Honda, Gaby Whitworth, Bachelor of Arts, Aquaculture and Aquarium Science, Visual Arts, Bell Cruise, Bachelor of Science, Biology and Chemistry, Paul Stephen Palmer, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Anchele, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Sophia Matola, Bachelor of Science, Lindsay A. Dreher, Bachelor of Science, Marie Wells, Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Science, Mayna Cum Laude, Leah Marie Nosella, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Magna Cum Laude, Catherine Patrick McCormick-Param, Lucas Daniel Fink, Bachelor of Arts, Benjamin Ingersoll Spellman, Bachelor of Science, Jordan Elizabeth Murray, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Emma Grace Tussiani, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, E.E. Dalton, Bachelor of Arts, Carolyn Therese Davidson, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Christina Skye Galt-Lincourt, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Abigail Camere, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Cassandra Ramirez, Kelly Lynn Roper, Bats Marie Charling, Aquaculture and Aquarium Science, Colby Carrington Peters, Bams Langmuir, Bachelor of Arts, Marine Biology, Colin Jeffrey Glasser, Bachelor of Science, Benjamin Otis Allen, Bachelor of Science, Coulter and Aquarium Science, Magna Cum Laude, Charles Frederick Heider V, Bachelor of Science, Chad Raposa, Bachelor of Arts, Lani Laney, Laney, Mary Pizzitola, Bachelor of Lynn Gross, Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science, Kristin Ann Savasano, Bachelor of Science, Alexia Brooke Wagner, Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science, Cum Laude, John Keelan, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology and Public Health, Benjamin Cummings-Donaldson, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Prucaccini, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Magna Cum Laude, Daniel Stewart Long, Bachelor of Arts, Environmental, Koalzik, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Coulter and Aquarium Science, Photo Journalism, Emma Elizabeth Yvanovich, Victoria Ashley Coulom, Priya Strock, Victoria Teresa Ranzini, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Madison Ann Fox, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Cum Laude, Joshua Ari Simmons, Bachelor of Science, Brianna DiPiallo, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Makayla Brooke Patterson, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Kali Jennifer Warnum, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Lothrup, Bachelor of Arts, Individualized Major in Biological Photography, Isaac Thompson Pava, Bachelor of Arts, Marine Biology, Paul Amil Schnadig, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Magna Cum Laude, Luis Zikari, Bachelor of Arts, Marine Biology, Jenna Rose Kingway-Dixon, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Alexa Ann Larson, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology and Environmental Science, Michael Grafton Briggs, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Magna Cum Laude, Alexia Leigh DeRoschers, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Summa Cum Laude, Anna Thompson Cameron, Samantha M. Terrell, Bachelor of Science, Caitlin Jane Flood, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Ligair, Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Lian Joy Pappas, Bachelor of Science, Cassandra Elaine Feria, Nicole Quinlan, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Magna Cum Laude, Ann Elizabeth Apersoll, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Eliana Luisa Trevino, Bachelor of Science, Makayla Ann DeCesar, Bachelor of Science, Julia C. Dwyer, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Morgan Ashley Tunnell, Bachelor of Arts, Marine Biology, Harley Elizabeth Opalka, Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Science, Danielle Marie Anastasia, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Kelly Rose Yadoff, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Morgan Lee Makuchen, Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology, Ashley Rachelle Patricio, Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Goodrow, Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Magna Cum Laude, Elizabeth Sullivan, Bachelor of Science, Biology, Cum Laude, Emily Rose Marshall, Bachelor of Arts, Biology. Will candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, or Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Pharmacy, please come to the left of the podium. I call Professor Lauren Rossi, Chair of the Department of the podium. Kate Elizabeth Gilbert, Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, and Applied Mathematics, Elise Elizabeth Pepinella, Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Magna Cum Laude, Michael Joseph Leon, Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Devlin Thomas Welch, Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Cum Laude, Emma Catherine Gilmatt, Bachelor of Science, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Cum Laude, Elizabeth Rose Sanford, Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Magna Cum Laude, Olson, Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Biology, Summa Cum Laude, congratulations. Will candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Mathematics or Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics, come forward to the foot of the stairs and stage left? I ask Professor Yajini Warnapala, Chair of the Department of Mathematics to come to the podium. We have anybody? Hello? They're on the list. All right. Apparently there's a strike in math. I don't know what's going on. Okay. Political Science, will the candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science or International Relations come to forward to the foot of the stairs, right over here? I ask Professor June Speekman of the Department of Politics International Relations to come to the podium. Jason R. Regan, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Magna Cum Laude, Olivia Sarah Wenerad, Bachelor of Arts, Ewell Grimes, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Joshua Aaron, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Cum Laude, National Relations, Foreign Language, Khan William Glenn, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Economics, Alexander George Johnson, Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations and Foreign Language, Zabella Rogers, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations and Foreign Language, Summa Cum Laude, MHH Bolin, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Alton A. Souza, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, Armstrong Sophia Stout, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Brandon Daniel Menjiver, Julia Adeline Angadi, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies and Political Science, Brooke Sullivan Petrangelo, Eben T. Kiesau, Bachelor of Science, Margaret Connolly McKinnon, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Communication and Media Studies, Magna Cum Laude, congratulations. Can I have Sam? Will the candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Psychology come forward to the foot of the stairs? I ask Professor Erin Thule, incoming chair of the Department of Psychology, to come to the podium. Christina Giovannina Garcia, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Olivia Lynn Gagliardo, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude, Ruby LaPierre, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Victoria Ann Furtado, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude, Christina Graham, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Elle Marie Antonitis, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Elise Marie Antonino, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Amber Flavin, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Emery Vegan, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, and Dance, Summa Cum Laude, Alexander Robert Johnson, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Catherine Hope Jones, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude, Taylor Alexa Zimajewski, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and Cultural Studies, Summa Cum Laude. Maxine Marie Michaels, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude. Brianna Lynn Bailey, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Amelia Anna O'Brien, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Augusto Luis Gardell, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Elie R. Kuoka, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and Educational Studies. Nathaniel R. Jones, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Emma Rose Smith, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude. Ciara Kira, McDonough, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Gianna Ann Vecchio, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude. Thank you. Thank you. Samantha Taylor Jost, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Cum Laude. Zane Proprietier, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude. Mackenzie Jane Maitland, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude. Alyssa Christina Dorty, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Hazy Lini Mahia, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Armani Alan Dotson, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Emma Phipps, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Sophie Rae Gamash, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude, Cleo Patra, Geo GA, Cleo Patra, tell me. Georgia Addis. Georgia Addis, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Orgetta's, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Hennigan Clevenger, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Kelly Rose Kendall, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, and Eames Robert Richardson, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Deepasqually, Latino Louise Putz, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Nicholas J. Annabelle, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Rachel E. Brown, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Nicole Donovan, Arkansas, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, R. Weiss, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Brigham Fleming, Vanessa Doris Surridge, Bachelor of Arts, Arcangelo, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Hansfield, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Lily Victoria Albert, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Summa Cum Laude, Holland James O'Leary, Bachelor of Arts, Catherine Peterson, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Madison J. Holland, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology. Will candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Public Health please come forward to the foot of the stairs? I ask Professor Jacqueline Cottle, Chair of the Department of Public Health, to come to the podium. Samuel Avila, Bachelor of Arts, Publicly Eileen Lane, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health, Keyfield, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health, Magna Cum Laude, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health, Cum Laude, Natalie Chasi, Chasi, Chasi, Bachelor of Science, Public Health, Chase Alexander Waxman, Bachelor of Science, Public Health, Emma Kate Barton, Bachelor of Science, Benjamin Christopher Ortell, Bachelor of Arts, Nathan Miata Norman, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health, Ni Mae Krull, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health, Cum Laude, Hannah Victoria Hendricks, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health, Ashley Hutchinson, Bachelor of Science, Public Health, Summa Cum Laude, Andrea Claire Edwards, Bachelor of Arts, Public Health, Summa Cum Laude. All right, do we miss anybody? Good. We have two faculty members of the school have chosen to retire, so I wanna spend just a few minutes to honor each of them. First, I'd like to call Professor Erin Tully to the stand, to the podium first, to begin our, I know, she's not retired. She's not retired. She's gonna help me to honor somebody that is. Come on, come on, come on. I will keep this brief because we have some celebrating to do, but on behalf of the Psychology Department, I would like to present Dr. Judith Plattania with a clap, above and beyond the call of duty to all of her students, her colleagues, the department, and the university. Professor Judith Plattania, you are an exemplar of the teacher-scholar model for undergraduate and graduate education at Roger Williams University. In the 17 years you have served on the faculty of the Department of Psychology, you have connected research and practice and allowed students to conceptualize real-world issues in terms of why rather than what. Students readily accept the challenge you should present to them in your classes, and often in hindsight, appreciate the rigor of your approach. As a student in research methods last fall put it, Dr. P could be a bit intimidating, but I feel really lucky to have taken this course with her because I feel like I'm coming out of this feeling academically stimulated and invigorated in terms of my passion for research. You have maintained an active and productive research programming program, publishing 22 peer-reviewed papers in collaboration with department colleagues, graduate and undergraduate students. You and student co-authors have given twice that number of oral and twice that number of poster presentations at national and international conferences and established Roger Williams University as a leader in the field of forensic and legal psychology. Your departmental colleagues recognize you as the galvanizing force behind the psychology program at RWU. With greater than 260 undergraduate majors, psychology is the largest major in the school of social and natural sciences. Your administrative leadership as department chair these last three years and concurrently as coordinator of the graduate program this past year has been remarkable. Professor Plotini, your extraordinary passion for your discipline, students, and colleagues is inspiring. It's been set the stage for a very bright programmatic future. In recognition of your achievements and service to the university and by action of the Board of Trustees, it is my distinct pleasure to award you the rank of Professor Psychology Emeritus. We will find it difficult to fill the space you leave behind. Although she is unable to join us this afternoon, I wish also to recognize another member of the School of Social and Natural Sciences Faculty, Professor Roxana Smolowitz, DVM, who's retiring this year after holding appointments since 2009 at Roger Williams University. Professor Smolowitz is taught in the Department of Biology, Marine Biology, and Environmental Science and serves the public health program. As a nationally recognized expert in bivalve anatomy and diseases, Professor Smolowitz established the Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory in the Center for Economic and Environmental Development and has served as its director since its inception. The laboratory is unique in the region and Professor Smolowitz's leadership quite literally put the Center for Environmental Economic Development on the map as a provider of molecular and histopathological services to the aquaculture community, generating revenue in excess of $100,000 per year. These funds are used to support two full-time technicians and provide research opportunities for RWU students, many of whom are women. In addition to her duties running the ADL and teaching, Professor Smolowitz has been awarded 19 grants, published 30 peer-reviewed papers, and written nine book chapters since her appointment as assistant professor in 2014. Accordingly, hers has been an appreciable presence in the Marine and Natural Sciences building and beyond. In recognition of her remarkable accomplishments and contributions and by action of the Board of Trustees, it is my distinct pleasure to award Roxanna Smolowitz honorary retiree status from the university. As Dean, I have 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 have cared for each other, trusted each other, and learned not to take anything for granted. These attributes are devoutly to be wished for in any global citizen, perhaps most especially now. You have the tools to impact society in meaningful ways. All of us at Roger Williams University look forward to learning of the ways you have done so. Keep in touch. On behalf of the university, thank you for joining us here today in celebrating these commencement exercises. Please stand and remain at your seats until all members of the recessional, including our graduates, vexes of the tent. I invite everyone to remain after the recensional to stand out in the sun and visit with us for a little while. We'll now begin the recessional. Cue the music.