 Good morning. Love it. The commencement ceremony for criminal justice, cyber security and networking, forensic science, legal studies, leadership and public administration programs of the School of Justice Studies will now be in order. Please be seated. Good morning scholars. I guess only a few of you were in my class. Good morning scholars. Recently I was informed that I would be speaking at this event so naturally being a good researcher I went ahead and looked up tips on how to give a proper commencement speech. Keeping in mind that Google is a search engine and not an answer engine. A plethora of tips popped up on what I'm supposed to do here today. For example, turning to our friends from the social sciences in an effort to feel more confident while I speak to you, I should strike a power pose. Next, I should dress in a way to feel comfortable. As I'm sure you can imagine this is something I wear whenever I'm trying to relax around the house. Another common tip is to practice in front of a mirror or in front of a few loved ones. My poor children have heard this speech seven times. Obviously I'm joking. They bailed halfway through the first run. Another common tip on how to give a commencement speech is for us to all consider the past. I read that I was supposed to encourage you to think about the growth that has occurred over the last four or so years. The events couldn't bad that have shaped you. Recall what has taken place during these times. Clearly your experiences while here at Roger Williams earning your degree were impacted by a little thing known as COVID-19. Your educational experiences have been dramatically different than anyone else who has received a degree prior to 2020. You spent time at home. You spent time on Zoom. You watched recorded lectures. We sent you messages through emails, bridges, and posts on our RWU web page regarding the changes to expect. And here's how we are going to live moving forward. Two years ago, the upper administration approached the deans and asked them to prepare videos on the expectations of reopening Roger. I'm sure you all remember watching me. I think there was like a 10% open rate on that video. As a side note, I did try and point out to them that some of us deans were better built for radio. In my message, I spoke to you about the word unprecedented. Unprecedented was being thrown around in 2020 to describe what we were experiencing. We would hear and read over and over that we were living in unprecedented times that you were experiencing an unprecedented phenomena. Well, today I'm here, I would like for you to consider the word persevere. According to the Oxford Dictionary, 2021, we always want to cite your work, right scholars? To persevere, which is a verb, means to continue on a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success. When we return to campus in the fall of 2020, there was still much that was unknown about the COVID-19 virus. I think we can all agree the unknown is a scary thing. This was just, this was not just an unknown of whether or not you were going to be able to pass a class. We're trying to figure out if you were going to get a particular job after graduation. The unknown we were dealing with was society going to make it. Were humans going to be able to survive? And in the face of this unknown, in the face of fear that we were all dealing with, you persevered. During these unprecedented times, you continued on a course of action in the face of difficulty and you succeeded. In the cynical world in which we live, negativity is loud. You can hear something, right? Hurry up, Dean Bronson. It receives attention. Negativity has tremendous power and reach in our society. All you have to do is look around and you'll see it on the news. Social media as we know thrives on it and negativity is something that is loud. On the other hand, positivity is quiet. At times even look down upon. Celebrating a positive outcome is often looked down upon. Society will say you need to be humble. Positivity is sprinkled throughout society like a spice that should not be overused. When you watch the evening news, nearly the full show is spent on awful phenomena with a 30-second piece on some kid that raised money for a charity by selling lemonade. I think we can all agree there's not enough positivity in this world. I would like to encourage you to celebrate the positivity in your life. This is without a doubt one of those times in your life that you should celebrate. Celebrate that you persevered. Celebrate that you succeeded by continuing on that course of action in the face of difficulty. Celebrate with those in attendance with you, your family and friends. Thank them now. Turn and look. Thank your parents, family, friends. Yeah, there you go. And how about thanking this wonderful faculty up here who persevered along with you because, trust me, they didn't sign up to teach that way either. So that wasn't the experiences they were looking for. In an effort to keep this short, one of the final tips for a proper commencement speech suggested that I read a quote, staying with the theme of persevering. I encourage you to wake up each morning and tell yourself we are going to attack the day with an enthusiasm unknown to humankind. Congratulations, scholars, you've done it. I would like to ask Professor Tricia Martlin to come forward for the presentation of the President's Core Value Medallion honorees. Thank you. 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 Wim's university education to strengthen society through engaged teaching and learning. It is truly an honor to announce the Core Values Medallion recipients of the Class of 2022. And may I just add, I saw one of them for the first time without a mask on this morning. How wonderful. May I introduce Amanda Neff to introduce our at-large recipient, Isaiah Berrientos. These students have exemplified our core values through inclusive, innovative, engaged, experiential, and transformational academic and co-curricular achievement throughout their years. Congratulations to our recipients and their families, friends, and faculty. Next, I would like to ask Ms. Madison Berri to the podium to deliver the 2022 School of Justice Studies Student Commencement Speech. Maddie? Good afternoon, family, friends, faculty, and fellow graduates. I'm honored to be standing here today as a reflector of what the School of Justice Studies Department has accomplished these past four years through all of our hard work, dedication, and commitment to better the university, the justice system, and overall society. I want to start off by recognizing the profound dedication every single student sitting here today has exhibited in completing their degrees. Personally, being a first-generation college student has allowed me to explore the many trials and tribulations that college has to offer. Even with the passing difficulties of trying to figure out what it means to be a college student, the School of Justice Studies has transformed my experience by educating me in a proper way. These experiences, whether personal or academic, have influenced the way I view my place in the system, and I am hopeful that every person sitting here today feels the same. I believe that every individual is here to better the justice system in the lives of those impacted by the system. Whether it's as a forensic scientist developing new ways to analyze DNA for exonerations, a police officer giving up their family lives to work overtime, a cybersecurity analyst protecting data and information important to the security of our country, an attorney protecting individuals' alienable rights, or even a victim advocate serving as a protector of victims within the justice system. Let's also not forget about the ROTC students that are headed out into the military where they will protect and serve our country so we have the freedom to live our lives. Shout out Lexi! The legal definition of justice says, justice is the fairness, moral rightness, and a schemer system of law in which every person receives his, her, its due from the system, including all rights, both natural and legal. Sorry, Bronson, I didn't cite this. Now, we must think to ourselves, what does justice mean to us as educated individuals? What is our role and responsibilities to ensure justice for those that do not have the capability or means to warrant justice for themselves? Throughout our academic journey here at Roger Williams University, we are now ready and able to apply these ethics and lessons that we have learned towards issues prevalent in our country's justice system. As the next upcoming generation of justice advocates, it is our job to use our learned knowledge and fix these issues for the better of our system as a whole. With the knowledge we have gained in regards to these ethics, it has also pressured us to address the gray areas within the field. It begs us to question the law in order to improve the justice system. While many people believe the law is black and white, I'm here to tell you it is not. Over the next few years, you all will encounter scenarios in which you will have an immense amount of discretion in order to control an issue. Eventually, you will all have to make decisions that you may be uncomfortable with. You will engage in conversations that you never thought you would have to be a part of. Therefore, I say this with confidence. Roger Williams University School of Justice Studies has provided us with the cognizance, knowledge and wisdom to approach the justice system with apprehension to progress towards a superior system that benefits all of those impacted by cell. Now, as I reflect on the stage in my life where my undergraduate degree has come to an end, I accept that I still don't know what I want to do. I do know that I am prepared to face the reality of the lessons that we have learned the past four years. I'm sure many of you would agree with me that this is the most difficult part of the college experience. We get told to go to college, but we rarely know what our next steps are. I'm here to say that it's okay not to know. With this degree, we will all explore different opportunities that the justice system has to offer. We will live and we will succeed. I want to end with a quote from Ruth Bader Ginsburg that emphasizes our part in the justice system as we continue to learn, change and progress towards our hopes of an exceptional society. We live in an age in which the fundamental principles to which we subscribe, liberty, equality and justice for all are encountering extraordinary challenges, but it is also an age in which we can join hands with others who hold to those principles and face similar challenges. With this being said, I would like to wish you all luck in your future endeavors. Congratulations to the 2022 class of justice studies. Thank you Maddie. I do want to point out though, when you got to that point in your speech where you said you still aren't sure what you want to do, you remember that part? I looked at your family and the total looks of terror. We now proceed to the chief purpose of these commencement exercises, the conferring of academic degrees upon the class of 2022. Our undergraduate students today wear a hood signifying their graduation with their bachelor's degree and permanent connection to Roger Williams University community. These hoods bear the RWU colors of white and light blue. Students receiving their master's degree today will be hooded by a member of the school faculty as they process for their degrees. The formal hooding of students receiving advanced degrees in a century's old practice and signifies students achievements in their chosen field of study. Master's students hoods include wide velvet bands in the color denoting the academic area in which their degree is held. We would like to also acknowledge those students who have the distinction of graduating with honors. Would all students graduating cum laude with a cumulative GPA of 3.4 please stand if you are able? Will all the students graduating magna cum laude with a cumulative GPA of 3.6 please stand if you are able to be acknowledged? Finally, will the students graduating summa cum laude with a cumulative GPA 3.8 please stand to be graduated? 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. Will the School of Justice Studies candidates please rise just like we practice? Great. I am pleased to certify that these candidates are eligible for the degrees appropriate to their course of study. By the 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 to th- thereto. Will the candidates please come forward? Stephanie Marie Jimenez, Master of Science Criminal Justice. Matthew David Thompson, Master of Science Criminal Justice 4 plus 1 program. Nicholas David Polinsky, Master of Science Criminal Justice 4 plus 1 program. Anya Gabrielle Bornstein, Master of Science Criminal Justice. Mia Salerno, Master of Science Criminal Justice 4 plus 1 program. Kelsey Lynn Poison, Master of Science Criminal Justice. Emily Batello, Master of Science Criminal Justice 4 plus 1. Samantha Marie Mancinelli, Master of Science Criminal Justice. Jonathan Warden, Master of Science Criminal Justice. Jennifer Delafred, Master of Science Criminal Justice. Austin James Cloutier, Master of Science Cyber Security. Sean Christopher Pulver, Master of Science Cyber Security. Elijah A. Kloizek, Master of Arts, Juris Doctor, Cyber Security. Casey A. Boseman, Master of Science Leadership. Bragg Lee S. Brown, Master of Science Leadership. Steven M. Lulibiti, Master of Science Leadership. Alexander Matthew Lucini, Master of Science Leadership. Mary Rosina Centuro, Master of Science Leadership. Tracy Michelle Pratt, Master of Science Leadership. Sia N. Kornger, Master of Public Administration. Price Philip Johnson, Master of Public Administration. R. M. Smith, Master of Public Administration. Paul Glenn Vario, Master of Public Administration. Christina G. Almeida, Master of Public Administration. Helena P. Montero Silva, Master of Public Administration. Janice L. Silver, Master of Public Administration. Wendy Hawk Vergadamo, Master of Public Administration. Heather Kinsey Trotman, Master of Public Administration. Kimberly May Tebow, Master of Public Administration. Now we're going to move on to our undergraduates. Madison Taylor Birdie, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Katherine Theresa Bossi, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, and Psychology. Nicole Julia Norton, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, and Psychology. Andrew Jared DeClement, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Abigail Maddon Smalley, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Katrina Genevieve Garrity, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, and Psychology. Madeline Holland Duggan, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Magna Cum Laude. Nathan Joshua Douglas, Bachelor of Science, Cyber Security and Networking. James Elliott Shapiro, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Cum Laude. Tyler LaMere, Bachelor of Science, Cyber Security and Networking, Magna Cum Laude. Grace Di Amato, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Summa Cum Laude. William Flanagan, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies, and Political Science, Summa Cum Laude. Casey Dean Litchford, Bachelor of Science, Cyber Security and Networking, Summa Cum Laude. Jake Joseph Malatesta, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Thomas Leo Myers, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Kayla Ann Ferrante, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Summa Cum Laude. Samantha Jane Pollan, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Cum Laude. Mark Anthony Brochu, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Cum Laude. David Manuel Marshall Jr., Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Magna Cum Laude. Edward John Gogan, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Katie Ann Devere, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies and Psychology, Cum Laude. Noah George Leolos, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies and Psychology. Zachary Collins, Bachelor of Science, Cyber Security and Networking. Peter Joseph Frost, Bachelor of Science, Cyber Security and Networking, Cum Laude. Stephen Anthony Fiume, Bachelor of Science, Cyber Security and Networking. Tyler John Bruehler, Bachelor of Science, Cyber Security and Networking. William Joseph Marta, Bachelor of Science, Cyber Security and Networking. Hai Van Lee, Bachelor of Science, Cyber Security and Networking, Summa Cum Laude. Allison Jean Coots, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude. Bethany R. Gartner, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Jacob Wright-Belsarini, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Magna Cum Laude. Daniel P. Griffiths, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Patrick James Nagel, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Jonathan John Walter Wittison, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies and Philosophy. Vincent Eric Ronda, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Jonathan T. Canney, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Andrew James Dawson, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Cassidy Lynn Donovan, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Zachary M. Domian, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies and Public Relations. Taken David Welch, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Leo Robert Kaiser, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Megan Colleen McNally, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Madison A. Medina, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Julia Grace Schmidt, Hogan, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice and Psychology. Alexander Renee Welch, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude. Sarah Rose Jammeros, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies and Psychology, Magna Cum Laude. Noah Timothy Allen Morbido, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Summa Cum Laude. Jaden Michael Joseph Baker-Decosta, Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science. Emily McKenzie-Marie, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Kaitlyn Ann Caboni, Bachelor of Science, Cyber Security and Networking. Stephanie Victoria Dos Santos-Borba, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Gianna Nickerson, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Jaya Mitchell, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Erica Taylor Short, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Savannah F. Bonofsky, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Summa Cum Laude. Haley Mendez, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Prashant Anand Kivali, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Megan Ellsworth, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Cum Laude. Madison Alexandria King, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Alexis Violet Field, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Cum Laude. Andrew Zapatella, Zampatella, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Louis John Fasaro III, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies and History, URA, Owen Peter Mousseau, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, Ashlyn Keaton-Whitty at Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science, Summa Cum Laude, Ryan Adam Burt, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Jack Gregory Lambrose, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Emily Simonin, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Natalie Marie Hinton, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Kirk Hanson-Schultz, Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science, Bridget Marie Mary Woods, Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science, Andrew J. Skemperis, Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science and Public Health, Cum Laude, Cameron James Quinn, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Emily Ruth DeVarquez, Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science, Cum Laude, Austin Batello-Cabral, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies and Political Science, Magna Cum Laude, Elena May-Vantine, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies and Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, Lauren Elizabeth Heider, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies and Political Science, Erica Marie Britell, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies and Political Science, Jordan Keating-Codus, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice Psychology, Magna Cum Laude, Daniel Joseph Martin, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Kara Bryn Garrett, Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science. Michelle Elise Caria, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Cum Laude. Priscilla Cristobal Marakwin, Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science, Cum Laude. Walter Monroe Friedrich, Bachelor of Science, Cyber Security and Networking. Jessica Ann Castello, Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science. Nico Nozaki, Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science. Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Cum Laude. Katerina Angelic Tidoccio, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Cum Laude. Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Theater, Summa Cum Laude. Sanchez, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies, English Literature, Magna Cum Laude. McClellan, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, foreign language cum laude. Kaitlyn Emily Wright, Bachelor of Science in Indigo Breaches, Bachelor of Political Science cum laude. John Manning, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice cum laude. Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies, Political Science summa cum laude. Marco Centonio Mazza, Jr., Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Roberto Sabatino Cucci, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies in Foreign Language. Michael N. Calandro, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Kayla E. Natalo, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, cum laude. Jiswalde, Jiswalde. Emma Jiswalde, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, magna cum laude. Jelica Chila, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science, cum Rocha. Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science. Alexis Sienna Ely, Bachelor of Science, Forensic Science, cum laude. Christian Thomas, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Trinity Marie Potter, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Selvamille Alfonso, Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies, English Literature, Magna Cum Laude. Zahiella Yanis, Hawi, Bachelor of Science, Legal. Tasha Jackson, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice. Congratulations, scholars. Just one little thing before we decide to head out, we have to make sure we take care of social media, right? For all of you who happen to be looking for a potential stitch on TikTok, if you find that little video of Amber, my dog was stung by a bee. Just remember, took your four years to get your degree. You're all set to go. All right, on behalf of the university, thank you all for joining us here today and celebrating commencement exercises. Please stand and remain at your seats until all the members of the recessional, including the graduates, have exited the tent. Congratulations once again. Thank you.