Commencement10 May 2019

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 PhilosophyChelsea Nicole Peters

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

Sahesha Upadhyay

Banner Bearer, Master of EngineeringAloys 0CBEP�Bugo

GROUP II Candidates for the DegreesDoctor of PhilosophyMaster of ArtsMaster of ScienceMaster of Fine ArtsMaster of Liberal Arts and ScienceMaster of Engineering

Graduate Faculty MarshalsDaniel H. Ashmead, Professor of Hearing and Speech SciencesJada Benn Torres, Associate Professor of AnthropologyJames P. Byrd, Associate Dean for Graduate Education and

Research; Chair, Graduate Department of Religion; Associate Professor of American Religious History

Stephen M. Camarata, Professor of Hearing and Speech SciencesSteven L. Goodbred Jr., Chair and Professor of Earth and

Environmental SciencesCynthia S. Gadd, Professor and Vice Chair for Educational

Affairs, Biomedical InformaticsJeannette Mancilla-Martinez, Associate Dean of Graduate

Education, Peabody College; Associate Professor of Literacy Instruction

Velma M. Murry, Betts Chair of Education and Human Development; Professor of Human and Organizational Development

Dana Nelson, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair in English; Professor of English

Steven D. Townsend, Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Members of the Graduate Faculty

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GROUP III Graduate School Office of the DeanWalt Bieschke, Assistant Director of AdmissionsAmanda King, Program AssistantDon C. Brunson, Assistant Dean and Director of Enhancing

Diversity in Graduate EducationMary Michael-Woolman, Assistant Dean for OperationsRuth Schemmer, Assistant Dean for Career DevelopmentClare M. McCabe, Associate Dean of Postdoctoral Affairs;

Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Chemistry

Richard L. Hoover, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology

Mark Wallace, Dean of the Graduate School; Louise B. McGavock Endowed Chair; Professor of Hearing and Speech Sciences,�1IBSNBDPMPHZ �1TZDIJBUSZ�BOE�#FIBWJPSBM�4DJFODFT �BOE Psychology

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P R O G R A M

Processional

Welcome

Remarks to Graduates

Presentation of Candidates

The Investiture

Awarding of Diplomas

Recessional

Rondeau Jean-Joseph Mouret

Dean Wallace

Dean Wallace

Associate Dean Hoover

Assistant Dean Brunson Associate Dean McCabe Members of the Faculty

Dean Wallace

“Hornpipe” from Water Music George Frideric Handel

8Please remain seated until the recessional has concluded.

Following the ceremony, there will be a light reception for the graduates and their guests.

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Instrumental music for today’s Commencement ceremony was arranged through the Blair School of Music and

features members of the Nashville Chamber Brass Society.

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Expected to Participate in the Ceremony

Master of ArtsJinho An—EconomicsErik Richard Henning Ander—Medicine, Health, and SocietyLillian Claire Boyle—History of ArtSummer Kimberly Brown—Medicine, Health, and SocietyDevin Dufey Burns—ReligionChulmin Choi—EconomicsMary Claire Dachille—Medicine, Health, and SocietyRoss Aaron Dingwall—EconomicsSamuel Sarfo Edwards—Medicine, Health, and SocietyMerna Wael El-Rifai—Medicine, Health, and SocietySahar Amani Fakhruddin—Medicine, Health, and SocietyBriana Nicole Gochett—Medicine, Health, and SocietyShatakshi Gupta—EconomicsMegan Lynette Jordan—SociologyDinesh Karki—EconomicsJiatong Li—EconomicsMingke Li—EconomicsYuzhi Lin—EconomicsMaggie Mang—Medicine, Health, and SocietyJeremy Mark Mani—Medicine, Health, and SocietyMoonki Min—EconomicsDemetrius Miles Murphy—Latin American StudiesLaura Elizabeth Nettuno—EconomicsShanren Pan—EconomicsRebecca Tannaz Rahimi—Medicine, Health, and SocietyHina Khan Sherwani—EconomicsLauren Alexis Taylor—Medicine, Health, and SocietySahesha Upadhyay—EconomicsJiaqi Wang—EconomicsElsa Merced Young—Medicine, Health, and Society

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Master of ScienceAndrew P. Berry—Computer ScienceFrancisco Agustin Calvache Meyer—PsychologySamat Irekovich Davletshin—Computer ScienceDaniel Ryan DeNeve—ChemistryRyan Robert Dyer—ChemistryGrant Fennessy—Computer ScienceMargaret Lorena Harvey—Microbe-Host InteractionsSaqib Hasan—Electrical EngineeringChristopher P. Haycook—Biomedical EngineeringMisha Nicole Inniss-Thompson—Community Research and ActionZhuangwei Kang—Computer ScienceYingqi Li—Computer ScienceThomas Christopher Marosz—Computer ScienceVenkataramana Nagarajan—Computer ScienceVeena Nalluri—Computer ScienceEden Pauline Paul—Chemical EngineeringRichard Malvern Penney IV—NeuroscienceKeren Eliz Rosario Ortiz—Hearing and Speech SciencesCara Christine Schornak—NeuroscienceDeirdre Marie Scully—Computer ScienceSri Harsha Seethalam—Computer SciencePiotr R. Slawinski—Mechanical EngineeringDevany A. Sweitzer—Mechanical EngineeringChengzhi Tian—Civil EngineeringAlec Bryant Walter—Biomedical EngineeringRuohan Wang—Computer ScienceMackenzie Grace Whitman—Civil EngineeringYunhua Zhao—Computer Science

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Master of Liberal Arts and ScienceJulie Dianna Akard—Master Liberal Arts and ScienceKiesha Lynette Bass—Master Liberal Arts and SciencePatricia Gail Baxter—Master Liberal Arts and ScienceJennifer Paige Bruce—Master Liberal Arts and ScienceLara Hughes Casey—Master Liberal Arts and ScienceAlison C. Coffey—Master Liberal Arts and ScienceBrenna A. Hansen—Master Liberal Arts and ScienceKaryn Jan Johnson—Master Liberal Arts and ScienceSean Vincent Patterson—Master Liberal Arts and Science

Master of EngineeringMajed Alshammari Sr.—Civil EngineeringDaniel Awogbemila—Civil EngineeringDonald Andrew Buchholz—Civil EngineeringAloys Obado Bugo—Civil EngineeringYe Chen—Civil EngineeringShauna DeAnn Harbison—Chemical EngineeringDevika Harshan—Civil EngineeringMinh Vu Nhat Nghiem—Civil EngineeringYezan Ahmad Swaies—Civil EngineeringMaolin Zong—Civil Engineering

A complete list of the candidates for master’s degrees for 2018–2019 can be found in the Vanderbilt Commencement Program.

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Expected to Participate in the Ceremony

Ghina Nakad Absi—Civil EngineeringMatthew Edward Albertolle—BiochemistryAlexandra Alekseyeva—PhilosophyGabriela Socorro Alvarado—Microbe-Host InteractionsErica Joan Pruett Anderson—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsAlex Andrews—Cell and Developmental BiologyDeann Valrae Armstrong—EnglishOscar Daniel Ayala—Biomedical EngineeringJennifer Bagneris—EnglishDanielle M. Bailey—Interdisciplinary Materials ScienceStephen Kent Bailey—NeuroscienceStephanie Nicole Bamberger—ChemistryAmrita Banerjee—Cell and Developmental BiologyKaleigh Joy Bangor—GermanShunxing Bao—Computer ScienceTheresa Leigh Barke—Microbe-Host InteractionsBrian Joseph Bender—PharmacologyAlexandra Hall Bettis—PsychologySean Benjamin Bortz—HistoryCole Dylan Brubaker—Civil EngineeringDenise Buenrostro—Cancer BiologyJennifer Lynn Bumble—Special EducationStephanie Kaye Carnes—Microbe-Host InteractionsSheridan Jared Seku Carrington—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsGeorge R. Castle—Hearing and Speech SciencesOscar Castorena—Political ScienceShikha Chaganti—Computer ScienceDiana Andrea Chavez—Biological SciencesYue Chen—Mechanical EngineeringAlex Chih-Ray Cheng—Biomedical InformaticsMerrida Ann Childress—Cancer BiologyAlberto Cisneros—Chemical and Physical BiologyMiranda Elise Clements—Cancer BiologyKelly Marie Craft—Chemistry

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Amy Elizabeth Creecy—Biomedical EngineeringTiffany Marie Crescentini—ChemistryDerrick Cameron Cumberbatch—Biological SciencesJennifer Elizabeth Cunningham—Special EducationBethany Lyn Dale—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsAaron William Daniel—ChemistryKazuyuki Dei—Biomedical EngineeringXuanli Deng—Chemical EngineeringKacie Dougherty—PsychologyAnna Elisabeth Douglas—Interdisciplinary Materials ScienceDeon Bryant Doxie—Cancer BiologyAllison Rae Eberly—Microbe-Host InteractionsAndrew Ekelem—Mechanical EngineeringMohamed Tarek El-Haddad—Biomedical EngineeringCarmelina Espantzay Serech—AnthropologyJoshua Stephen Fain—Electrical EngineeringTracy Lynne Fetterly—NeuroscienceMichael Ray Fisher Jr.—ReligionElizabeth Ashley Fuller—Special EducationNicoló Garbin—Mechanical EngineeringDaniel Noble Genkins—HistoryElizabeth Grace Gibson—PharmacologyLeslie Gillespie-Marthaler—Environmental EngineeringHuiqi Gong—Electrical EngineeringRaajaram Gowrishankar—NeuroscienceJyoti Gupta—Community Research and ActionAllison Elisabeth Hainline—BiostatisticsJames Maxwell Harrison—EconomicsSaqib Hasan—Electrical EngineeringJodi Heidlage—Special EducationEmma Lu Hendricks—Special EducationSarah Holliday—HistoryAngela Howard—Cell and Developmental BiologyRuize Hu—Civil EngineeringSeth Baxter Hunter—Leadership and Policy StudiesLorena Infante Lara— BiochemistryDaniel E. Jeffries—ChemistrySofia Renee Jimenez—Psychology

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Nergis Kara—Biological SciencesAdam Kho—Leadership and Policy StudiesKristina Elizabeth Kitko—Interdisciplinary Materials ScienceSarah Karoline Koellner—GermanHannah Marie Krimm—Hearing and Speech SciencesSarah Kathryn Krowka—Special EducationEmily Marie Kuntz—Special EducationMark Joseph Lachowicz—PsychologyCheryl Lynn Law—BiochemistryEmily Christine Lawler—EconomicsKatherine Shreve Lazo—HistorySara Jane Mota Leshen—MathematicsMengya Li—Mechanical EngineeringMuqun Li—Computer Science Wenjun Liao—Electrical EngineeringBritney Nola Lizama—NeuroscienceRoxana Loperena Cortes—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsAllyson Parsons Mallya—NeuroscienceHarris Walpole Manning Jr.—Chemical EngineeringChristopher David Mapes—HistoryChristian Randal Marks—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsChristopher Russell Marsicano—Leadership and Policy StudiesRobert Andrew Marx—Community Research and ActionJena Christine McDaniel—Hearing and Speech SciencesMaria Paula Machado Mello—Special EducationKirsten Noelle Mendoza—EnglishSanjay Mishra—Chemical and Physical BiologyJin-Sil Mock—Learning, Teaching & DiversityTeresa Antoinette Monsue—PhysicsStephanie Nicole Moore—PharmacologyTravis Michael Moore—Hearing and Speech SciencesCaleb Bryce Morris—ChemistryNitin Muralidharan—Interdisciplinary Materials ScienceAlexandra Kathleen Timmins Murphy—PsychologyBrett Myers—InterdisciplinaryTeofanes Quintos Natavio Jr.—Nursing ScienceLeif Richard Neitzel—Cell and Developmental BiologyAaron Ross Nidiffer—Hearing and Speech Sciences

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Brian James O’Grady Jr.—Interdisciplinary Materials ScienceYu-Chuan Ou —Chemical EngineeringOleg Sergeevich Ovchinnikov—PhysicsPrasanna Parvathaneni—Electrical EngineeringEvan Thomas Perry—BiochemistryNicole Anna Perry-Hauser—PharmacologyChelsea Nicole Peters—Environmental EngineeringKristin Rose Peterson—PharmacologyJames Phelan—EnglishDanielle Renae Picard—HistoryMegan Elizabeth Poorman—Biomedical EngineeringDevon J. Powers—Chemical EngineeringMeagan Anne Quinlan—PharmacologyEmily Dayle Quinn—Special EducationJonathan David Redding—ReligionKemar Reid—Interdisciplinary Materials ScienceCarlie Renee Rhoads—Special EducationJason Douglas Rights—PsychologyJacob Gordon Robinson—ReligionLuis Alberto Rodriguez—Leadership and Policy StudiesChristopher J. Ryan Jr.—Leadership and Policy StudiesLeshana Saint-Jean—Cell and Developmental BiologyChristi Therese Salisbury-Ruf—Cell and Developmental BiologyVaishali Chintamani Satpute—NeuroscienceDavid Jeffrey Schlueter—BiostatisticsCarl Andrew Sedgeman—BiochemistryLeslie Roteta Sedgeman—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsAlexander Mario Sevy—Chemical and Physical BiologyDaniel Shae—Chemical EngineeringRobin Lynn Shafer—NeuroscienceJoseph Thomas Sharick—Biomedical EngineeringAparna Shekar—PharmacologyShashank Shekhar—Computer ScienceErin Michelle Shockley—Chemical and Physical BiologyRachel Elizabeth Skaggs—SociologyMicah Ann Skeens—Nursing ScienceJason Michael Smith—ReligionJulia Martin Steed—Nursing Science

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Lina Mahmoud Sulieman—Biomedical InformaticsAndrew Zachary Summers—Chemical EngineeringAlexandra Clare Sundermann—EpidemiologyMichael Christian Tackenberg—NeuroscienceAddisu Zerihun Taddese—Electrical EngineeringMehmet Takar—Biological SciencesAileen Tatiana Teague—HistoryEkaputra Tupamahu—ReligionBrandon David Turner—NeuroscienceGokhan Unlu—Cell and Developmental BiologyJennifer Nicole Vega—NeuroscienceSamantha Lillian Viano—Leadership and Policy StudiesCristobal Villalobos Guillen—MathematicsLong Wang—Mechanical EngineeringXiaowen Wang—Electrical EngineeringZhangxin Wang—Environmental EngineeringBenjamin Charles Ward—EconomicsJennifer Ann Werthman—Nursing ScienceAllison Paige Whitten—Hearing and Speech SciencesCarrie Beth Wiese—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsIan Williams—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsChristopher Scott Wilson—Microbe-Host InteractionsMegan Joanne Wongkamalasai—Learning, Teaching and DiversityJohn Wright—Special EducationTung-Lin Wu—Biomedical EngineeringYan Xia—Chemical and Physical BiologyLin Yang—Mechanical EngineeringJanet M. Yarboi—PsychologyCheng Ye—Computer ScienceChristopher Jason Zachary—PhysicsDongqing Zhang—Electrical EngineeringPeng Zhang—Computer ScienceYing Zheng—EconomicsZhihua Zhu—Electrical Engineering

A complete list of candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree for 2018–2019 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.

Ian Williams—Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

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.

Peng Zhang—Computer Science

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

Alexandra Alekseyeva—PhilosophyAlexandra Hall Bettis—PsychologyFrancisco Agustin Calvache Meyer—PsychologyShikha Chaganti—Computer ScienceSarah Karoline Koellner—GermanHannah Marie Krimm—Hearing & Speech SciencesJena Christine McDaniel—Hearing and Speech SciencesAlexandra Kathleen Timmins Murphy—PsychologyJames Phelan—English

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

Kaleigh Joy Bangor—GermanDiana Andrea Chavez—Biological SciencesAlberto Cisneros—Chemical and Physical BiologyAndrew Ekelem—Mechanical EngineeringMichael Ray Fisher Jr.—ReligionJyoti Gupta—Community Research and ActionMisha Nicole Inniss-Thompson—Community Research and& ActionSofia Renee Jimenez—PsychologyMaria Paula Machado Mello—Special EducationKirsten Noelle Mendoza—English

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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Devon J. Powers—Chemical EngineeringLuis Alberto Rodriguez—Leadership and Policy StudiesChristopher J. Ryan Jr.—Leadership and Policy StudiesAileen Tatiana Teague—HistoryJanet M. Yarboi—Psychology

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

Robert Andrew Marx—Community Research and Action

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.

James Phelan—English

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.

Danielle M. Bailey—Interdisciplinary Materials ScienceOscar Castorena—Political ScienceJoshua Stephen Fain—Electrical EngineeringSofia Renee Jimenez—PsychologyChelsea Nicole Peters—Environmental EngineeringJoseph Thomas Sharick—Biomedical EngineeringPiotr R. Slawinski—Mechanical EngineeringMichael Christian Tackenberg—NeuroscienceAddisu Zerihun Taddese—Electrical EngineeringCarrie Beth Wiese—Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

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.

Matthew Edward Albertolle—BiochemistryGabriela Socorro Alvarado—Microbe-Host Interactions

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Stephen Kent Bailey—NeuroscienceTheresa Leigh Barke—Microbe-Host InteractionsStephanie Kaye Carnes—Microbe-Host InteractionsOscar Castorena—Political ScienceMerrida Ann Childress—Cancer BiologyRoxana Loperena Cortes—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsChristian Randal Marks—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsAlexandra Clare Sundermann—EpidemiologyMichael Christian Tackenberg—NeuroscienceIan Williams—Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

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, physics) to enhance and improve global cardiovascular health.

Matthew Edward Albertolle—#JPDIFNJTUSZBethany Lyn Dale—Molecular Physiology and BiophysicsBritney Nola Lizama—NeuroscienceNicole Anna Perry-Hauser—PharmacologyAparna Shekar—Pharmacology

Fulbright research grants provide funding for a year abroad to enable students to pursue projects that will assist them in completing theses and dissertations. Candidates for these degrees must be fluent in the language of the host country and have made prior connections with researchers, archives, and organizations as evidence that they will be able to conduct the projects they have defined.

Lina Mahmoud Sulieman—Biomedical Informatics

The Lai Sulin Scholarship is awarded to a Graduate School PhD degree candidate to recognize excellence in research in an area related to cancer.

Nicole Anna Perry-Hauser—Pharmacology

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Cole Dylan Brubaker—Civil 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.

Oscar Daniel Ayala—Biomedical Engineering

Student marshals for commencement are selected based on their contributions to graduate life at Vanderbilt through leadership and service. They are identified by ribbons pinned to their left shoulders.

Oscar Daniel Ayala—Biomedical EngineeringMegan Lynette Jordan—SociologyHannah Marie Krimm—Hearing and Speech Sciences��Rachel Elizabeth Skaggs—Sociology

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