Commencement2 May 2021

T H E G R A D U A T E S C H O O L

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A C A D E M I C P R O C E S S I O N

GROUP I Banner Bearer, Doctor of Philosophy

Harris Walpole Manning

Banner Bearer, Masters of Arts, Science, Fine Arts,

and Liberal Arts and Science

Kenya Collins

Banner Bearer, Master of Engineering

Matthew James Klooster

GROUP II Graduate School Office of the Dean

C. André Christie-Mizell, Vice Provost for Graduate Education; Dean of the Graduate School; Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs; Centennial Professor of Sociology

Don Brunson, Assistant Dean of the Graduate School; Director, Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education Program

Terrah Foster Akard, Chancellor Faculty Fellow; Associate Professor of Nursing and Medicine; Director of Graduate Studies, Ph.D. in Nursing Science Program

E. Duco Jansen, Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Faculty Affairs; Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Neurological Surgery

Tracey E. George, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; Charles B. Cox III and Lucy D. Cox Family Chair in Law and Liberty; Professor of Political Science

William H. Robinson, Vice Provost for Academic Advancement; Executive Director of the Provost’s Office for Inclusive Excellence; Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering

Walt Bieschke, Assistant Director, Graduate Admissions

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GROUP III Graduate Faculty Marshals

Stephen M. Camarata, Professor of Hearing and Speech Sciences

Steven D. Townsend, Assistant Professor of Chemistry

James P. Byrd Jr., Professor of American Religious History; Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research Chair, Graduate Department of Religion

Dana D. Nelson, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English; Chair, Department of English

Patrick Greiner, Assistant Professor of Sociology

Larry Isaac, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of Sociology; Chair, Department of Sociology

Amy Needham, Professor of Psychology and Human Development

Melissa Duff, Associate Professor of Hearing and Speech Sciences; Associate Director, Ph.D. in Hearing and Speech Sciences Program

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P R O G R A M

Welcome

Remarks to Graduates

Founder’s Medalist Recognition

Charge to the Graduates

Presentation of Candidates

Conferral of Master’s Degrees

Hooding of Ph.D. Graduates

Conferral of Ph.D. Degrees

Vice Provost/Dean C. André Christie-Mizell

Vice Provost/Dean C. André Christie-Mizell

Vice Provost/Dean C. André Christie-Mizell

Provost Susan R. Wente

Charles Heimermann

Vice Provost/Dean C. André Christie-Mizell

Vice Provost/Dean C. André Christie-Mizell

Vice Provost/Dean C. André Christie-Mizell

The Graduate School extends its gratitude to Charles Heimermann for his assistance announcing our graduates during the ceremony.

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C A N D I D A T E S F O R M A S T E R ’ S D E G R E E S 2 0 2 0

Expected to Participate in the Ceremony

Master of ArtsHana Bacaj—EconomicsAanchal Bagga—EconomicsAmber Musette Drew—SociologySagen Taylor Eatwell—Latin American StudiesCaleb Enrique Espinoza—EconomicsLarry Aaron Lee Ferguson—EconomicsKylie Madison Hardin—Medicine, Health, and SocietyMunib Inam—EconomicsMaya Bryn Krause—AnthropologyJiadai Li—EconomicsWilfred Paul Morse—Medicine, Health, and SocietyKhodadad Shoayb—EconomicsChristian Anthony Suarez—EconomicsNisreen Marwan Zaqout—Economics

Master of SciencePietra Taylor Bruni—PsychologyMatthew Prasad Burruss—Computer ScienceKenya Collins—Biomedical SciencesDavut Disci—Computer ScienceAlexander Christopher Dougherty—Computer ScienceMaria Gorchichko—Electrical EngineeringQuinton Douglas Hoffman—Computer ScienceDiego Manzanas Lopez—Electrical EngineeringEmily Markert—Computer ScienceCody Robert Marshall—Biomedical SciencesMelinda Rogers Morris—Leadership and Policy StudiesPatrick Musau—Electrical EngineeringNeelanjana Pal—Electrical Engineering

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Ayush Sangari—Computer ScienceShrey Shah—Electrical Engineering

Master of Fine ArtsJoshua Karunwi Moore—Creative Writing

Master of Liberal Arts and ScienceRoy Edwin Barker Jr.—Master of Liberal Arts and ScienceKortney Nicole Dunbar—Master of Liberal Arts and Science

Master of EngineeringKendale Jamal Johnson—Civil EngineeringMatthew James Klooster—Civil EngineeringAllison Witte—Civil Engineering

A complete list of the candidates for master’s degrees for 2020 can be found in the Vanderbilt Commencement Program.

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C A N D I D A T E S F O R T H E D E G R E E D O C T O R O F P H I L O S O P H Y 2 0 2 0

Expected to Participate in the Ceremony

Baig Abdullah Al Muhit—Civil EngineeringJordan Michael Anderson-Daniels—Microbe-Host InteractionsRebekah Ann Austin—Electrical EngineeringWilliam Walker Barbour—Civil EngineeringElizabeth Kathryn Barna—SociologyNathaniel Johnathan Barnes—Environmental EngineeringYogesh Damodar Barve—Computer ScienceMagaela Christina Bethune—Community Research and ActionDayi Bian—Electrical EngineeringStephanie Sue Ling Birnbaum—Biological SciencesKarin Janae Bosma—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsJessica Lynne Bratt—ReligionCasey Brock—Interdisciplinary Materials ScienceAndrew Wallace Brooks—Human GeneticsMackenzie Catron—NeuroscienceHung-Hsin Chen—EpidemiologyLing Chen—Biological SciencesKofi Shomari Shakir Christie—Environmental EngineeringFrank Andrew Ciarliero—EconomicsDouglas Huntington Brown Clark—ReligionIyaxel Cojti-Ren—AnthropologyThushara Krishanthi De Silva Manikkuwahandi—Environmental EngineeringKristen Leigh D’Onofrio—Hearing and Speech SciencesGeorge Duffy—Earth and Environmental SciencesGlenna Caitlin Dunn—AstrophysicsAndrew Michael Engelhardt—Political ScienceRachel Anne Fischer—PharmacologyMelanie Jeanne Forehand—SpanishNathaniel Johnson Freymeyer—ChemistryKeyada Briana Frye—Cell and Developmental Biology

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Mohit Ganguly—Biomedical EngineeringBenjamin William Gasser—Mechanical EngineeringBrandt Michael Gibson—Earth and Environmental SciencesHernan Francisco Gonzalez—Biomedical EngineeringSarah M. Gorman—PhilosophyYuanjun Guo—PharmacologyRichard Edwin Hagner—Political ScienceRachel Christine Harrington—Electrical EngineeringCaoimhe Marie Harrington Stack—PsychologyJamison Ramon Heard—Electrical EngineeringAlison Hessling—Hearing and Speech SciencesMason Alan Hickman—Civil EngineeringSavannah Renee Jacklin—AstrophysicsChristopher Brett Jaeger—PsychologyLara Louise Jasien—Learning, Teaching and DiversityShweta Prabhat Khare—Computer ScienceEmily Elizabeth Kimball—Hearing and Speech SciencesReece Jeffrey Knippel—Microbe-Host InteractionsJenna Weber Kramer—Leadership and Policy StudiesJames Michael Kretzer—Special EducationJessica Ruta Lawson-Adams—Learning, Teaching and DiversityHarris Walpole Manning—Chemical EngineeringHasina Akhtar Mohyuddin—Community Research and ActionSaramati Narasimhan—Biomedical EngineeringParomita Nath—Civil EngineeringKelsay Elizabeth Neely—Mechanical EngineeringCasey Paulasue Nielsen—Cell and Developmental BiologyPatrick Gerald O’Keefe—PsychologySalma Abuobieda Omer—NeuroscienceRichard Allan Paris Jr.—Computer ScienceSusan Kemper Patrick—Leadership and Policy StudiesTyler Landon Perfitt—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsAndrea Anne Perreault—Chemical and Physical Biology

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Kalen John Petersen—Chemical and Physical BiologyBradley David Potteiger—Electrical EngineeringLaura A. Powell—Microbe-Host InteractionsMichael David Pridmore—Chemical and Physical BiologyEric Joseph Ritter—PhilosophyDaniel Joseph Ryan—ChemistryNorman Rudolph Saliba III—GermanAbigail Morgan Searfoss—Chemical and Physical BiologySaptarshi Sengupta—Electrical EngineeringCara Michelle Singer—Hearing and Speech SciencesPiotr R. Slawinski—Mechanical EngineeringRyan William Solava—MathematicsLei Su—Hearing and Speech SciencesJoshua James Thompson—Cancer BiologyJaime E. Tierney—Biomedical EngineeringMark Joseph Vander Roest—Biomedical EngineeringPeter Schuyler Vielehr—SociologyLaine Christine Walters Young—ReligionLi Wang—Environmental EngineeringMatthew Yandell—Mechanical EngineeringYou Zhou—Interdisciplinary Materials ScienceYuantee Zhu—Pharmacology

A complete list of candidates for the doctor of philosophy for 2020 can be found in the Vanderbilt Commencement Program.

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Founder’s Medal for First Honors is awarded for outstanding achievement in the graduating class. Cornelius Vanderbilt’s gifts to the university included endowment of this award, first given in 1877.

Thea J. Autry—English

Harold Stirling Vanderbilt Graduate Scholars are chosen at the time of admission from applicants showing exceptionally high promise in intellectual endeavor and commitment to excellence.

Julianne Adams—EnglishJuliet C. Larkin-Gilmore—HistoryLillian Tatiana Paz Lemus—Anthropology

University Graduate Fellowships are awarded on the basis of merit to entering students who display outstanding promise in research and academic excellence.

Jacob Abell—FrenchJulianne Adams—EnglishLaura Louise Adery—PsychologyGwendolyn Frances Sarah Arvidson—FrenchAnirban Bhattacharjee—Computer SciencePietra Taylor Bruni—PsychologyAudra Foshage Bryan—Cell and Developmental BiologyTristan Philip Call—AnthropologySari Lynn Carter—EnglishSelena Chacon Simon—Chemical and Physical BiologyYe Chen—Mechanical EngineeringBrandon Michael Chisholm—Environmental EngineeringAnthony Gerardo Contreras—FrenchCarla Isabella Diaz—Creative WritingSamuel Theodore Eppink—EconomicsNathan Frisch—AnthropologyAlina Frances Grabowski—Creative WritingYuanjun Guo—Pharmacology

H O N O R F E L L O W S A N D O T H E R D I S T I N C T I O N S

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Azadeh Hadadianpour—Molecular Pathology and ImmunologyAlese Erin Halvorson—BiostatisticsCaoimhe Marie Harrington Stack—PsychologyMason Alan Hickman—Civil EngineeringSarah Elizabeth Holliday—HistoryLara Louise Jasien—Learning, Teaching and DiversityZlatko Joveski—Computer ScienceJames Michael Kretzer—Special EducationSusannah Marie Larry—ReligionWyatt James McDonnell—Microbe-Host InteractionsMeghan Kristi McGinley—FrenchSalma Abuobieda Omer—NeuroscienceLaura A. Powell—Microbe-Host InteractionsJessica Lynn Raff—Earth and Environmental SciencesAbigail Morgan Searfoss—Chemical and Physical BiologyKatelyn Elizabeth Sheehan—EnglishSophia Stid—Creative WritingMonte Dawn Talley—AnthropologyLaine Christine Walters Young—ReligionPan Wang—Electrical Engineering

A small group of select students has been supported through a university-wide competitive fellowship program known as the Provost’s Graduate Fellowships.

Thea J. Autry—EnglishGillian Dora Beltz-Mohrmann—PhysicsHarris Walpole Manning—Chemical EngineeringMeghan Kristi McGinley—FrenchSavanna Rae Starko—PhysicsGlenn Mac Trujillo Jr.—Philosophy

The Center for Teaching Fellows mentors and trains graduate students for future teaching careers.

Terrance Dean—Religion

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Justin Wade Hubbard—HistoryKylie Jo Korsnack—EnglishAlexandra Louise Oxner—EnglishGregory James Smith—Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities awards a select group of Graduate School Ph.D. students in the humanities and qualitative sciences to support innovation and excellence in graduate student research.

Emma Lillian Banks—AnthropologyIyaxel Ixkan Cojti Ren—AnthropologyCydnee Devereaux—Creative WritingSarah M. Gorman—PhilosophyBonnie Marie Griffin—FrenchKatherine Rose McKenna—HistoryLauren Mitchell—EnglishScotti Michelle Norman—Anthropology

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees.

Sean K. Bedingfield—Biomedical EngineeringKofi Shomari Shakir Christie—Environmental EngineeringIsrael Flores—PsychologyMeredith Allyn Jackson—Biomedical EngineeringKameron V. Kilchrist—Biomedical EngineeringKathleen Elizabeth Moyer—Interdisciplinary Materials ScienceEmma Hollmann Neal—Chemical EngineeringAbigail Morgan Searfoss—Chemical and Physical BiologyPiotr R. Slawinski—Mechanical EngineeringMackenzie Ann Sunday—PsychologyMonte Dawn Talley—AnthropologyMelodie Yen—Hearing and Speech Sciences

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National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards are given to a diverse pool of highly trained scientists in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs.

Maria Lucia-Karwoski Agostini—Microbe-Host InteractionsAudra Foshage Bryan—Cell and Developmental BiologyMiles Richard Bryan—NeuroscienceGabriella Elizabeth DiCarlo—NeuroscienceAndrew Tully Hale—BiochemistryDavid J. Marcus—NeuroscienceSean Patrick Moran—NeuroscienceAimee Danielle Potter—Microbe-Host InteractionsNicole Elizabeth Putnam—Microbe-Host InteractionsRachel Lauren Zelkowitz—Psychology

American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowships are awarded to highly trained scientists, with women and underrepresented minorities highly encouraged, in a wide array of academic disciplines (including biology, chemistry, mathematics, technology, and physics), to enhance and improve global cardiovascular health.

Roshani Naresh Bulkunde—EconomicsHung-Hsin Chen—EpidemiologyTyler Landon Perfitt—Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

The IBM Ph.D. Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who have an interest in solving problems that are important to IBM and fundamental to innovation in many academic disciplines and areas of study.

Chad Duane Carpenter—Mechanical EngineeringKofi Shomari Shakir Christie—Environmental EngineeringAndres Martinez Guerra—Mechanical EngineeringMason Alan Hickman—Civil EngineeringPiotr R. Slawinski—Mechanical Engineering

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As a means of increasing the number of U.S. citizens and nationals trained in science and engineering disciplines of military importance, the Department of Defense funds the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship, a highly competitive program supporting students who pursue a doctoral degree in one of fifteen supported disciplines at the institution of their choosing.

Nathaniel Paul Hamilton—Electrical Engineering

The Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) awards fellowships to students pursuing degrees in transportation-related disciplines.

William Walker Barbour—Civil Engineering

Autism Speaks established the Dennis Weatherstone Predoctoral Fellowship Program in 2008 with a generous grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The program honors the late financier Sir Dennis Weatherstone and his commitment to the education of early career scientists pursuing autism research.

Rachael Anne Muscatello—Neuroscience

The Free University of Berlin maintains a partnership with Vanderbilt University for a direct exchange for selected students to study abroad.

Eric Joseph Ritter—Philosophy

The Andrew W. Mellon Digital Humanities Fellowship trains graduate students in the humanities to integrate digital technologies into innovative research programs.

Melanie Jeanne Forehand—SpanishJuliet C. Larkin-Gilmore—HistoryLaura Anna Strombergsson—German

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The NASA National Space Grant College and Fellowship Project, also known as Space Grant, is a national network of colleges and universities working to expand opportunities for Americans to understand and participate in NASA’s aeronautics and space projects by supporting and enhancing science and engineering education, research, and public outreach efforts.

George Duffy—Earth and Environmental SciencesKelsay Elizabeth Neely—Mechanical Engineering

The PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships help promising students advance their careers by providing up to two years of stipend funding to support full-time Ph.D. candidates.

Loran Elizabeth Kelly—Psychology

The National Institute of Justice Graduate Research Fellowship program has supported doctoral students whose research is relevant to criminal justice.

Christopher Scott Sundby—Neuroscience

Student marshals for Commencement are selected based on their contributions to graduate life at Vanderbilt through leadership and service.

Emma Lillian Banks—AnthropologyAbigail Morgan Searfoss—Chemical and Physical Biology

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