E I G H T E E N T H A N N U A L FA L L

C OM M E N C E M E N TS T. M A R Y ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y • S A N A N T O N I O, T E X A S

Saturday, December 8, 2018

1:30 p.m.

Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center, Bill Greehey Arena

F A L L C O M M E N C E M E N T 2 0 1 8 1

T H E G R A D U AT E S ’ P R O C E S S I O N

Thank you for joining us to recognize and celebrate the hard work, dedication and sacrifice of our students and their families. St. Mary’s University is a community that believes in traditions — traditions of excellence, of values, of faith. Today, we celebrate a long-standing tradition in which our graduates pass through St. Louis Hall, the University’s first building, before processing into Commencement.

These students will, for the first time, walk across the University seal in the building’s foyer and out of the grand doors at the front of St. Louis Hall. They will process past what are likely some of their favorite places — Assumption Chapel, Barrett Memorial Bell Tower, University Center and Cotrell Learning Commons — giving them a final tour of their alma mater. For the graduates we celebrate today, this is a defining moment.

Please share in your graduates’ experience by watching their procession on the screen.

L E T T H E C O N V E R S AT I O N C O M M E N C E !

Folllow @StMarysU and use #StMUgrad18.

S T. M A R Y ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y2

P R O G R A M

Master of CeremoniesAaron Tyler, Ph.D.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Academic ProcessionalPomp and CircumstanceComposed by Sir Edward ElgarPerformed by San Antonio Brass

Bearer of the MaceAjaya Swain, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Quantitative Management

MarshalsJillian Pierucci, Ph.D. Associate Professor of PsychologyLeticia Hart Director of Retention InitiativesSheri King, Ph.D. Director of Student Life Nicholas A. Medina Assistant Registrar for Graduation Services

Posting of the ColorsThe St. Mary’s University Color Guard

The National AnthemNatalia Flores Music major

InvocationThe Rev. Timothy Eden, S.M., Ed.D. Rector and Vice President for Mission

President’s RemarksThomas M. Mengler, J.D.

Commencement AddressPaul S. Saenz, D.O. (B.A. ’79) Founding Partner, Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio and Team Physician, St. Mary’s University Athletics

Presentation of the Candidates for DegreesChristopher Frost, Ph.D. Dean, School of Humanities and Social SciencesTanuja Singh, D.B.A. Dean, Greehey School of BusinessWinston Erevelles, Ph.D. Dean, School of Science, Engineering and Technology

Conferring of DegreesThomas M. Mengler

Closing Remarks and Benediction

Alma MaterNatalia Flores Music major

RecessionalCanzonaComposed by Samuel ScheidtPerformed by San Antonio Brass

Please remain seated for the Recessional.

(Note: Names of degree candidates that appear in the Commencement program are of students deemed eligible or approved for graduation as of Oct. 1, 2018.)

F A L L C O M M E N C E M E N T 2 0 1 8 3

School of H U M A N I T I E S A N D S O C I A L S C I E N C E S

D O C T O R O F P H I L O S O P H Y

Sandy Guergues Aziz

Counselor Education and Supervision

“Religiosity and Attitudes Toward Psychological Health, Distress, and Help Seeking Among Coptic Orthodox Parishioners”

Dissertation Adviser: H. Ray Wooten, Ph.D.

Sun-kyung Chung

Counselor Education and Supervision

“The Effects of Using Expressive Modalities in Group Counseling on Acculturative Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among Korean Immigrant

Women in South and Central Texas: A Pilot Experimental Study”

Dissertation Adviser: Melanie Harper, Ph.D.

Christine Lopez

Marriage and Family Therapy

“The Relative Effects of Religion, Empathy, Anger and Apology on Forgiveness”

Dissertation Adviser: Dan Ratliff, Ph.D.

Gustavo Salazar II

Counselor Education and Supervision

“The Impact of Faculty Academic Mentoring on First-Generation Undergraduate Students: A Mixed-Method Design”

Dissertation Adviser: Dana Comstock-Benzick, Ph.D.

S T. M A R Y ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y4

M A S T E R O F A R T S

Afnan Alsharif English Literature and Language

Alexis Z. Alvarez English Literature and Language

Alison M. Ayala Catholic School Leadership

Darron P. Bazin International Relations Distinguished Graduate

Whitney Boeckmann Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Jeremy F. Boutwell International Relations Distinguished Graduate

Risha A. Casey Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Alecxia Ceballos Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Michelle Chong-Macias Clinical Mental Health Counseling Distinguished Graduate

Marjorie G. Dawson Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Pamela Drake Marriage and Family Therapy

Cigdem Erciyes International Relations

Melanie E. Gomez Clinical Mental Health Counseling Distinguished Graduate

Anastacia J. Granado Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Sydney E. Grossman International Relations

Bradley S. Hayes-Raugh International Relations

Ashley N. Jackson Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Stephanie A. Jasso Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Jeremy M. Lile International Relations

Monica E. Lopez Catholic School Leadership Distinguished Graduate

Abby L. Mangel English Literature and Language

Amanda Marbut International Relations

Deborah A. Martinez Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Juan J. Martinez Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Daniel Matthews Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Mallory E. Medellin Clinical Mental Health Counseling Distinguished Graduate

Delaney L. Mendoza International Relations

Saycha C. Mitchell Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Alexander F. Montero Clinical Mental Health Counseling Distinguished Graduate

Amanda T. Morales Communication Studies

Francisco J. Morazan Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Tritonya Murray Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Katherine E. Nikolaou Communication Studies

Faith A. Perez Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Bryan D. Philpott International Relations

Julian A. Rios International Relations Distinguished Graduate

Angelica Rodriguez Educational Leadership Distinguished Graduate

Asusena Rosas Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Matthieu A. Ruiz International Relations

Adam A. Saenz International Relations

Christine L. Sheppard Clinical Mental Health Counseling Distinguished Graduate

Elisabeth Simashkevich International Relations

Jherica L. Simental Theology

Mackenzie A. Thayer Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Marisa M. Vasquez Clinical Mental Health Counseling

F A L L C O M M E N C E M E N T 2 0 1 8 5

M A S T E R O F P U B L I C A D M I N I S T R AT I O N

Lauren N. Chavez

Hannah E. Garcia

Amber M. Martinez

Itzel Martinez Distinguished Graduate

Estephanie J. Muniz

Sri Lakshmi Durga Nimmalapudi

Gisell G. Orozco

Mercedes G. Salazar-Campirano

Raymundo Saldaña Distinguished Graduate

M A S T E R O F S C I E N C EIn Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Friederike K. Buettner

Abida P. Dhanani

Saira J. Fazalbhai

Gilberto Gomez

Kalyn Large

Ryle D. Scribner Distinguished Graduate

Tanya P. Soto

Mariah S. Tamborella Distinguished Graduate

B A C H E L O R O F A R T S

Mona Lisa Adams Art Education

Cristina A. Anguiano Exercise and Sport Science Cum Laude

Roberto X. Cardoso Lara Psychology

Andy Carrera Psychology

Rosa E. Castillo Political Science

Marissa J. Ceballos English Cum Laude

Tommy V. Cirilo-Thorpe Sociology

Jacqueline M. Cosmas International Relations

Danielle Cramberg Criminology Magna Cum Laude

Xavier R. De La Cruz Criminology

Dominique Del Real Theology

Lilia A. Enriquez Criminal Justice

Megan G. Escalante Criminology

Marcos A. Faz Political Science Cum Laude

Alyssa A. Fuentes Communication Studies

Andi L. Garcia Exercise and Sport Science

Victoria C. Garcia Forensic Science

Cara E. Gobea English

Stephanie A. Gomez Psychology

Sheila R. Gonzales Criminology Cum Laude

Alyssa J. Hamilton Sociology

S T. M A R Y ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y6

Katarina A. Hernandez Criminology Summa Cum Laude Honors Program Scholar

Hayden R. Hibler Exercise and Sport Science

Marissa I. Holguin Art Education

Imani K. Hurst Psychology

Jonathan C. Jorcin Political Science

Natalie M. Juarez Political Science Magna Cum Laude

Megan E. Kelly Exercise and Sport Science

Amanda S. Lake Criminology

Alejandra Lara Psychology

Emily J. Lenhart Psychology Cum Laude Honors Program Scholar

Bethanie C. Lopez English

Arieana A. Martinez Political Science

Polet G. Martinez Criminology

Guadalupe Medrano Psychology Cum Laude

Diego Mendez Exercise and Sport Science

Estevan Mendiola Exercise and Sport Science Cum Laude

Jacqueline C. Miranda Criminology

Christian Molina Music Magna Cum Laude

Joshua Muñoz Exercise and Sport Science

Jessica L. Noyola English

Emily V. Paez Criminology

Edward Peña Exercise and Sport Science

Madison E. Perales Communication Studies

Jaycie S. Pluenneke Exercise and Sport Science

Jonathan R. Ramirez Criminal Justice Cum Laude

Jose A. Ramirez Economics

Rozalyna Ramirez Criminal Justice

Robert O. Rees Political Science

Mariah Roberts Exercise and Sport Science

Miriam Y. Robles International Relations Cum Laude

Elijah R. Rodriguez Exercise and Sport Science

Karley I. Rosales Exercise and Sport Science Summa Cum Laude

Allison M. Rose Exercise and Sport Science

Marilyn Saenz Sociology English

Jose A. Sanchez Political Science

Margarita Sandoval Criminal Justice

Michael L. Segura Music

Nadia N. Serna Forensic Science

Samantha V. Shelton International Relations

Mario A. Sosa History

Alexis A. Soto History

Maalik X. Stansbury Psychology

Dorian C. Sturdivant Criminal Justice

Karina L. Tobias International Relations

Kendall B. Traa Communication Studies Summa Cum Laude

Christian Valdez International Relations

Kristen H. Zamarripa Criminology

F A L L C O M M E N C E M E N T 2 0 1 8 7

GreeheyS C HO OL OF B U S I N E S S

M A S T E R O F B U S I N E S S A D M I N I S T R AT I O N

Arun J. Abraham

Ziad A. AlBassam

Badr M. Alsaif

Jeff Anderson

Mary K. Baum

Daniel W. Bryant

Friederike K. Buettner

William Buhrman Distinguished Graduate

Ashley K. Carpenter

Irene Chavez

Matthew J. Chavez

Kenny A. Cortez

Abida P. Dhanani

Jasmine R. Ellis

Reginald B. Ewesuedo Distinguished Graduate

Saira J. Fazalbhai

Jesse J. Fernandez Distinguished Graduate

Kelli L. Gohmert Distinguished Graduate

Gilberto Gomez

Jose R. Gonzalez Gonzalez

Oscar A. Gonzalez

Morgan L. Grace

Gary P. Guillory Distinguished Graduate

Andrew N. Hernandez

Gabriela Hernandez

Jasmyn N. Johnson

Hunter H. Kinyon

Kalyn Large

Thomas A. Leger

Carolina Mansour Distinguished Graduate

Enrique Mejia Distinguished Graduate

Eric Menesse

Lauren Michael Distinguished Graduate

Jasmin A. Olguin

Christina A. Pagette

Zeynep Peterson Distinguished Graduate

Quintin A. Pile Distinguished Graduate

Joshua K. Powell

Ashley N. Rivas

Jordan L. Saunders-Cabrera

Ryle D. Scribner Distinguished Graduate

Jason T. Shoup

Tanya P. Soto

Mariah S. Tamborella Distinguished Graduate

Nina Taylor

Stanislava Terzieva-Craig Distinguished Graduate

Paulina Torres

Ashleigh A. Wempe Distinguished Graduate

Madeleine G. Zemler

S T. M A R Y ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y8

B A C H E L O R O F B U S I N E S S A D M I N I S T R AT I O N

Aliana G. Aguilar Finance and Risk Management

Namara S. Alalmai Finance and Risk Management

Jackeline M. Amador Accounting Cum Laude

Habib Balarabe Accounting

Qiyan Chen Marketing

Destiny A. Enriquez Finance and Risk Management

Richard D. Flentie Finance and Risk Management

Escarlen M. Garcia Vaca Accounting and Data Analytics

Victor Garza Management

Jennifer Guerra International Business Finance and Risk Management

Benjamin Guzman Accounting and Data Analytics

Nathalie M. Handal Marketing International Business Summa Cum Laude Honors Program Scholar

Gabriel E. Irias Finance and Risk Management

Rachel S. Jasso Finance and Risk Management

Elizabeth A. Kuentz Accounting

Christopher G. Lozano Management

Mathew McStravic Finance and Risk Management

Savannah I. Monterrey Accounting Cum Laude Honors Program Scholar

Angela L. Muller Management

Mia M. Muniz Marketing

Dalia H. Omar Finance and Risk Management

Leslie Ortiz Marketing

Austin A. Preiss Management

Ahmed H. Rabaan Finance and Risk Management Cum Laude

Barrett W. Royalty Accounting

Samantha V. Shelton Finance and Risk Management

Joe A. Sierra International Business

Quinton K. Smithwick Marketing Summa Cum Laude

Marianna B. Vargas Marketing

Paul L. Winters Finance and Risk Management

F A L L C O M M E N C E M E N T 2 0 1 8 9

School of SCI E NCE , E NGI N EER I NG A N D T ECH NOLOG Y

M A S T E R O F S C I E N C E

Sarah Aljabri Computer Information Systems

Naif M. Almalki Cybersecurity

Basil M. AlShamali Industrial Engineering

Atchaya Arivalagan Computer Engineering

Ehtesham Athar Cybersecurity

Kayla A. Berger Software Engineering Distinguished Graduate

Pradipsinh A. Chavda Industrial Engineering

Daniel L. Cyrus Cybersecurity

Jayanaga Venkata Anantha Tarun Kumar Desu Computer Science

Diana L. Gonzalez Industrial Engineering

Tarik Gulbas Industrial Engineering

Scott Hansen Industrial Engineering

Edrey C. Oliveira Software Engineering

Linhe Ouyang Computer Science

Ronish M. Panjwani Computer Science

Naga Nikitha Peddi Computer Information Systems

David Peña Industrial Engineering

Mayur R. Rane Electrical Engineering

Paul M. Rojas Software Engineering

Kenil B. Shah Electrical Engineering

Sadique Sherali Computer Information Systems

Michelle Vergara Engineering Systems Management

S T. M A R Y ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y10

B A C H E L O R O F S C I E N C E

Ali R. Alamer Industrial Engineering

Abdulmajeed Alghamdi Industrial Engineering

Loiy S. Alherz Industrial Engineering

Jawad Alramis Industrial Engineering

Rosa L. Antunez Industrial Engineering

Julian G. De La Rosa Software Engineering

Cassandra V. Dominguez Engineering Management

Jeffrey R. Eakle Applied Physics

Lydia E. Garza Biology

Jenna M. Hopwood Biology

Andrea L. Magana Industrial Engineering

Ariadne I. Martinez Biology Magna Cum Laude

Geoffrey S. Miller Physics

Claudia Moreno-Romero Biology Cum Laude

Evadne Romero Environmental Science

Jose E. Torres Mechanical Engineering

Harrison Toudouze Forensic Science

Sean M. Villasana Forensic Science

B A C H E L O R O F A R T S

Ali Alasfoor Environmental Science

Ernest S. Elizondo Mathematics

Mayra Leija Chemistry

Victoria E. Martins Chemistry

Jonnatan J. Montes Coyt Mathematics

Abigail Nevarez Reyes Biology

Ryan E. Paniagua-Garcia Mathematics

R E S E R V E O F F I C E R T R A I N I N G C O R P S

St. Mary’s University is proud to recognize its graduates who received commission as second lieutenants in the United States Army on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018.

Cadet Geoffrey Miller Signal Corps National Guard

Cadet Jose Torres Air Defense Artillery Active Army

F A L L C O M M E N C E M E N T 2 0 1 8 11

C O M M E N C E M E N T S PE A K E R

PA U L S . S A E N Z , D.O. (B . A . ’ 7 9) Founding Partner, Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio and Team Physician, St. Mary’s University Athletics

Paul S. Saenz, D.O., earned his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from St. Mary’s University in 1979, and then his medical education from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth. He completed family practice training in Phoenix, followed by a sports medicine fellowship in Seattle. He returned to San Antonio in 1988 and established himself as the city’s first primary care sports medicine specialist.

He is the founding partner of Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio, which is recognized as the pre-eminent provider of orthopedic and athletic medicine services. Saenz is board certified in both Family Practice and Sports Medicine and is an Associate Clinical Professor at UT Health San Antonio and the University of North Texas Health Science Center. He also is an adjunct faculty member of the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Saenz serves as team physician for the NBA San Antonio Spurs, the San Antonio Missions Baseball Club, St. Mary’s University and several San Antonio area high schools. He was appointed to the medical staff for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and for the 1998 Goodwill Games in New York City. He served as team physician for USA Pentathlon at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

In 2010, Saenz was selected as a St. Mary’s University Distinguished Alumnus and voted as one of Texas’ “Top Docs” by Texas Monthly magazine. In 2012, he served as team physician for USA Track and Field at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, and was also appointed National Team Physician for USA Basketball. In that role, he accompanied the gold-medal-winning team as they participated in pre-Olympic competitions in Manchester, England, and Barcelona, Spain.

In August 2015, Saenz was inducted into the National Hispanic Heritage Hall of Honor for his record of achievement and excellence in the area of Athletics and Education. Saenz remains active in the education of medical professionals by speaking regionally and nationally on a variety of sports medicine topics.

S T. M A R Y ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y12

B O A R D O F T R U S T E E S

The Rev. Oscar Vasquez, S.M., Chancellor

Michael A. Schott (B.B.A. ’68), Chairman

Leticia Contreras (B.A. ’89), Vice Chairperson

Christopher R. Martinez (B.B.A. ’00), Vice Chairperson

The Rev. Dennis Arechiga

Martin D. Beirne Jr. (J.D. ’69)

Brother Reinaldo Berrios, S.M., Ed.D.

David W. Biegler (B.S. ’68)

Brother Edward Brink, S.M.

Raymond R. Carvajal, R.Ph. (CL ’68)

David Dickson (B.B.A. ’68)

Walter D. Downing Jr.

Lynda M. Ellis (B.A.S. ’81)

Kelley Frost (M.A. ’07, Ph.D. ’12)

Brother Thomas F. Giardino, S.M.

Gisela Girard (B.A. ’79)

Paula Gold-Williams (B.B.A. ’84)

George Hernandez Jr. (B.A. ’74)

David S. Herrmann (B.B.A. ’88, J.D. ’90)

Peter E. Hosey (J.D. ’79)

Steven D. Jansma (B.B.A. ’89)

Sister Laura Leming, F.M.I., Ph.D. (B.A. ’79)

Lauro Lopez Jr. (B.B.A. ’76)

Ellen Manzullo, M.D. (B.S. ’82)

Michael T. Martin (B.B.A. ’81)

Michael J. Martinez (B.A. ’85)

Thomas M. Mengler, J.D.

Brother Ronald Overman, S.M.

Brother Bernard Ploeger, S.M.

Kenneth S. Saks (B.B.A. ’86, J.D. ’89, LL.M. ’03)

Gaston M. Sosa de la Torre (B.A. ’92)

The Rev. John Thompson, S.M.

John M. Vaught (J.D. ’78)

Sylvia Fernandez Villarreal, M.D. (B.A. ’72)

O F F I C E R S O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y

Thomas M. Mengler, J.D., PresidentAaron Tyler, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic AffairsRebeckah Day, Interim Vice President for FinanceThe Rev. Timothy Eden, S.M., Ed.D., Rector and Vice President for MissionRichard D. Kimbrough II, Vice President for University AdvancementCurtis White, Vice President for Information Services

M I S S I O N

St. Mary’s University as a Catholic Marianist University,

fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community, integrated liberal arts

and professional education, and academic excellence.

The Catholic and Marianist University

A L M A M AT E R

The Bells of St. Mary’s Ah! Hear they are ringing

They sing out the bright hope Of hearts firm and true.

And while they are ringing Our young hearts are singing

The praises of, the glory of The Gold and Blue!