Graduate Commencement Program May 2024
May 2024 Graduate Degree Candidates
Honorary Degree Doctor of Humane Letters
Chinary Ung
Chinary Ung is often associated with that group of Asian-born composers whose music incorporates aspects of eastern musical characteristics into a western classical music setting. Aside from specific cultural and generational distinctions, the principal difference between Ung’s work and theirs is that for many years he was prevented from engaging directly with the source of his cultural heritage as his native country was being torn apart by the scourge of the Khmer Rouge. Indeed, as the people and culture of Cambodia were being systematically destroyed, Ung took it upon himself to rescue some facet of the traditional music he had known as a child, reconstituting Cambodian musical traditions through his performances on the roneat-ek — the Cambodian xylophone. This project reflects the qualities of responsibility and of hopefulness that are so strongly a part of Ung’s personality.
Over the past 50 years Chinary Ung has developed a musical language that indicates an open ear toward the sounds of the East — Southeast Asia and his native Cambodia in particular — as well as the textures and instrumental practices of contemporary Western concert music. Ung’s music is characterized by a vivid sound world with an intense emotional trajectory, heard in the solo cello piece “Khse Buon,” the Grawemeyer Award-winning “Inner Voices” and the epic “Aura.”
Ung’s extensive orchestral catalog has been commissioned and performed by major orchestras throughout the United States and abroad, including those in Philadelphia, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Tokyo, Sydney, Basel, as well as the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the American Composers Orchestra. Boston Modern Orchestra Project released a recording of Ung’s orchestral music in 2015. His work has been commissioned by the Meet the Composer/Reader’s Digest Commissioning Program, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Ford, Koussevitsky, Joyce and Barlow Foundations. In 2014, he was given the John D. Rockefeller 3rd Award by the New York-based Asian Cultural Council. In 2020, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Ung’s activities as a cultural leader demonstrate a profound sense of responsibility to a broader cultural and societal context. He has worked with numerous institutions and individuals who share his dedication toward preserving Cambodian culture and forging cultural exchanges between Asia and the West, such as The Asian Cultural Council. He was president of the Khmer Studies Institute in the U.S.A. between 1980 and 1985, was an advisor for the Killing Fields Memorial and Cambodian Heritage Museum of Chicago, and a member of the Cambodian-Thai cultural committee.
Ung began his career as an educator at NIU, teaching from 1977 to 1979. He has taught courses in Southeast Asian music and he has instructed generations of young composers at several institutions in the United States and now, through a series of residencies, in Asia as well. He is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Music at UC San Diego. He and his wife Susan direct the Nirmita Composers Institute, with the goal of providing compositional direction and opportunity to musicians from Southeast Asia.
Chinary Ung’s compositions are published exclusively by Wise Music Classical, a division of Wise Music Group, and they are registered under BMI. His growing catalog of recordings can be found on Bridge, CRI, New World, Argo, CAMBRIA, Atoll, NAXOS and oodiscs. For more information, visit chinaryung.com.
-Adam Greene
Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award Recipient
Kerry Freedman, Coordinator of Doctoral Programs in Art and Design Education
Professor Kerry Freedman is the coordinator of doctoral programs in art and design education at Northern Illinois University, and her research has focused on questions concerning the relationship of curriculum to art, culture and learning. Recently, she has particularly focused on inquiries into student engagement with visual culture, creativity and community. Professor Freedman is the author of the book “Teaching Visual Culture”, and she co-authored “Postmodern Art Education: An Approach to Curriculum” and “Transforming Computer Technology”. She edited the book “Looking Back” and co-edited both “Curriculum, Culture, and Art Education” and “The International Encyclopedia of Art and Design Education”. Professor Freedman has published over 100 articles and book chapters, and her work has been translated into multiple languages.
Professor Freedman has provided leadership in various service roles, for example, as a past senior editor of Studies in Art Education and a world councilor of the International Society for Education through Art, a UNESCO affiliate. She has won numerous grants and awards such as the Manual Barkan Memorial Award, the Australian Leon Jackman Award, the Viktor Lowenfeld Lecture and the Edwin Ziegfeld Award. Professor Freedman is a past National Higher Art Educator of the Year and a distinguished fellow of the National Art Education Association.
May 2024 Graduate Degree Candidates
The list of graduate degree candidates was compiled from information received from the Graduate School as of February 2024, and should not be regarded as conclusive evidence of graduation.
Doctor of Philosophy
Kawthar Alfarhan (B.A., King Faisal University; M.A., Concordia University Chicago),
“International Graduate Student Self-Efficacy and Challenges When Studying in the United States.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Stephen Tonks, Ph.D.
Demy Alfonso (B.A., M.H.S., Johns Hopkins University; M.A., Northern Illinois University), “ADHD Symptoms as a Moderator for the Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment and Adolescent Delinquency.” Department of Psychology. Major Professor: Julia Ogg, Ph.D.
Anas Mansour Alhudib (B.A., University of Dammam; M.S.Ed., Temple University), “How Saudi Undergraduate Students Perceive Their Teachers’ Support, Basic Psychological Needs, and Academic Motivation.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Stephen Tonks, Ph.D.
William Robert Baker (B.S., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), “Theory of Ultrafast Spin Crossover in Divalent Iron Systems.” Department of Physics. Major Professor: Michel van Veenendaal, Ph.D.
Hend Abdullah Bamalan (B.A., M.A., King Abdulaziz University; M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University), “Examining Twitter As a Learning Tool on Saudi Female Undergraduate Student Achievement and Attitudes: A Mixed-Methods Study.” Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment. Major Professor: Ying Xie, Ph.D.
Marissa Renee Bamberger (B.A., North Central College; M.S., Northern Illinois University),
“Psychological Misconceptions and Expanded Refutation: Motivating and Informing Educational Practices to Elicit Conceptual Change One Misconception at a Time.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Lindsay Harris, Ph.D.
Marissa Ann Beldon (B.S., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; M.P.H., Northern Illinois University), “Disparities in Low Birthweight and the Influence of Access to Food, Maternity Care, and Medicaid Coverage of Doula Services.” College of Health and Human Sciences. Major Professor: Shondra Clay, Ph.D.
Katie Anne Coakley (B.S., Loyola University; M.S., Midwestern University), “Promoting Cultural Competence Through Clinical Education.” College of Health and Human Sciences. Major Professors: Kathryn Mazurek, Ph.D., and Jeanne Isabel, Ed.D.
Apoorva Shashank Dabholkar (B.S., University of Mumbai; M.S., Manipal University), “Role of the osaA Gene in Aspergillus Fumigatus Development, Secondary Metabolism and Virulence.” Department of Biological Sciences. Major Professors: Ana Calvo, Ph.D., and Sourabh Dhingra, Ph.D.
Suha Zuhair Dajani (B.S., Al-Quds University; M.S., Northeastern Illinois University), “Mixed Mechanism of Multi-Site Phosphorylation.” Department of Mathematical Sciences. Major Professor: Maya Mincheva, Ph.D.
Timothy James Draher (B.S., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; M.S., Northern Illinois University), “Design and Performance of Superconducting Switches for Nanowire Detectors in Magnetic Fields.” Department of Physics. Major Professors: Zhili Xiao, Ph.D., and Valentine Novosad, Ph.D.
Lingzhe Fang (B.S., Shenyang Aerospace University; M.S., Nanjing University of Science and Technology), “Applying Synchrotron SAXS and XAS to Study the Micro-Structure of Energy Conversion and Storage Materials.” Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Major Professors: Victor Ryzhov, Ph.D., and Tao Li, Ph.D.
Anthony J. Fanizza (B.S., University of Illinois Chicago), “Mass Spectrometry Studies of Ternary Metal Carboxylate Complexes.” Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Major Professor: Victor Ryzhov, Ph.D.
Titik Firawati (B.A., Gadjah Mada University; M.A., University of Notre Dame), Department of Political Science. Major Professor: Ches Thurber, Ph.D.
Benjamin Goka (B.Ed., University of Cape Coast; M.A., Ball State University), “Addition Reactions of Olefinic Heterocycles and 4-Hydroxycoumarins.” Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. Major Professor: Douglas Klumpp, Ph.D.
Lauren Elizabeth Hauck (B.S., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; M.A., Northern Illinois University), “A Comparison of Academic Achievement and Psychological Symptoms
in Homeschooled and Traditionally Schooled Children: Accounting for Demographic and Family Characteristics.” Department of Psychology. Major Professor: Laura Pittman, Ph.D.
Jennifer Ann Howard (B.A., M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University), “Enhancing Usability in Aviation Insights from User Experience Studies.” Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment. Major Professor: Cynthia York, Ph.D.
Brian Patrick Hurley (B.S., Illinois Institute of Technology; M.S., Capella University; M.S.Ed., Northwestern University), “Assessing the Relationship Between Neighborhood Inequality and STEM Employment for Underrepresented Minorities with STEM Degrees.” Department
of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Daryl Dugas, Ph.D.
Kelly Free Jackson (B.A., M.S., University of Alabama), “Measuring Interprofessional Practice Skills in Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students.” College of Health and Human Sciences. Major Professor: Sherrill Morris, Ph.D.
Raushanah Jackson (B.S., Ball State University; M.S., California State University, East Bay), “An Exploration of the Sense of Belonging for African American Women Licensed Clinicians in a Voluntary Professional Counseling Organization.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Melissa Fickling, Ph.D.
Shengse Ruth Jeong (B.A., Wheaton College; M.A., Northern Illinois University), “Defending Behavior in Bullying: Moral Disengagement, Defending Self-Efficacy, Student-Student
and Student-Teacher Relationship Quality.” Department of Psychology. Major Professor: Michelle Demaray, Ph.D.
Michael Kuran (B.S., Bogazici University; M.S.Ed., University of Dayton; M.S., Illinois Institute of Technology), “Online Education and Lessons Learning in a K-12 Urban School During the Pandemic Era: A Three-Article Study on Students’ Views, Principals’ Views, and Factors Impacting Student Achievement.” Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment. Major Professor: Jason Rhode, Ph.D.
Zane Russell LaCasse (B.S., Northern Illinois University), “Pathology and Diagnosis in Inflammatory-Related Diseases: COVID-19 and Age-Related Macular Degeneration.” Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Major Professor: Elizabeth Gaillard, Ph.D.
Kyla Ann-Marie Leonard (B.S., University of Miami; M.A., Northern Illinois University),
“Self-Compassion Intervention for Shame in Trauma-Exposed Gender and Sexual Minorities.” Department of Psychology. Major Professor: Michelle Lilly, Ph.D.
Lauren Therese McNeela (B.A., Saint Mary’s College; M.A., Northern Illinois University),
“Building from the Family Stress Model: Examining the Role of Maternal Impulsivity and Neighborhood Collective Efficacy on Adolescent Psychological Syptoms.” Department of Psychology. Major Professor: Laura Pittman, Ph.D.
Kellie Marie Menter (B.A., University of Nebraska Omaha; M.A., University of Central Florida; M.A., Northern Illinois University), “Examining the Relation Between Demands, Burnout, and Engagement: Work Recovery As a Moderator.” Department of Psychology. Major Professor: Julia Ogg, Ph.D.
Max Nicholas Molchan (B.A., Ohio State University; M.A., California State University Dominguez Hills), “The Acculturative False Dichotomy in Short Stories by Immigrant and Minority Authors.” Department of English. Major Professor: Ibis Gomez-Vega, Ph.D.
Ryan Tayman Orrison (B.S., M.S.P.T., Andrews University), “Clinical Reasoning Development: Exploring the Role of Instructor Feedback During Health Professionals’ Clinical Education Experiences.” College of Health and Human Sciences. Major Professor: Amanda McCarthy, Ed.D.
Adeolu Tolulope Ebenezer Oyebode (B.S., University of Lagos; M.S., Northern Illinois University), “A Qualitative Study Investigating Instructors’ Post-Pandemic Teaching Using Synchronous Online Learning and their Intention to Use Emotion Artificial Intelligence.” Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment. Major Professor: Jason Rhode, Ph.D.
Hira Jean-Byrne Paulin (B.S., M.S.Ed., Springfield College), “Beyond Combat: Moral Injury Exposure in Officer and Enlisted Marine Veterans with Diverse Deployment Histories and the Relationship with Posttraumatic Growth.” College of Health and Human Sciences. Major Professor: Daniel Boutin, Ph.D.
Abigail Elissa Pruitt (B.A., Illinois Wesleyan University; M.A., Northern Illinois University), “The Impact of Rater Training and MFRM on Rater Effects for Direct Behavior Ratings Over Time.” Department of Psychology. Major Professor: Kara Styck, Ph.D.
Torin Lee Quinlivan (B.A., Northwestern University), “Bayesian Applications for Dynamic Data.” Department of Mathematical Sciences. Major Professor: Duchwan Ryu, Ph.D.
Brian Ring (B.S., M.S., University of North Carolina - Charlotte), “Exploration of Associations Between Asthma and Depression in Older American Adults: A Pooled Cross-Sectional Analysis of Medicare Recipients.” College of Health and Human Sciences. Major Professor: Kathryn Mazurek, Ph.D.
Erin Grace Rowland-Schaefer (B.S., Concordia University Nebraska), “On the Ground and from Above: A Multi-Factor Analysis of the Direct and Indirect Drivers of Tallgrass Prairie Small Mammal Communities.” Department of Biological Sciences. Major Professors: Holly Jones, Ph.D., and Heather Bergan-Roller, Ph.D.
Rana Sanyal (B.A., M.A., University of Kalyani; M.A., M.S., Northern Illinois University),
“Perceptions of Lightboard Videos on Engineering Students’ Engagement for Learning: A Mixed-Methods Case Study.” Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment. Major Professor: Jason Rhode, Ph.D.
Ryan Lynch Smith (B.A., Columbia College; M.A., Northern Illinois University), “After the Collapse: Herman Melville’s and Friedrich Nietzsche’s Existentialism.” Department of English. Major Professor: Jeffrey Einboden, Ph.D.
Alexander Nicholas Sosenko (B.A., Benedictine University; M.A., University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign), “The Human Faces of Dissident Socialism: The Fight for Human Rights in Soviet Ukraine.” Department of History. Major Professor: Andy Bruno, Ph.D.
Scott Richard Stalcup (B.S., M.A., Indiana State University; M.A., Northern Illinois University), “Will the Real J.G. Ballard Please Stand Up?” Department of English. Major Professor: David Gorman, Ph.D.
Julie Marie Steranka (B.A., B.S., University of Pittsburgh; M.S., Northern Illinois University),
“Julia Limiting Directions of Quasiregular Maps.” Department of Mathematical Sciences. Major Professor: Alastair Fletcher, Ph.D.
Richard Tony Thompson (B.A., M.A., Northern Illinois University), “There Is No Substitute for a Lifetime: A Study of Metaphor and Linguistic Autonomy in the Lives and Works of Selected American Poets.” Department of English. Major Professor: Betty Birner, Ph.D.
Sabrina Doan Trang Ung (B.A., University of California, Irvine; M.A., Northern Illinois University), “Trajectory of Infant Emotion Regulation Strategies and Negative Affect and Associations with Toddler Externalizing Problems.” Department of Psychology. Major Professor: David Bridgett, Ph.D.
Felipe Valdez (B.S., M.S., Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador; M.S., University of Paris), “Housing Markets, Residential Preferences and Segregation: Unraveling Spatial Dynamics in Quito, Ecuador.” Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment. Major Professor: Xuwei Chen, Ph.D.
Jianxin Wang (B.S., University of Manitoba), “Modulating CO2 Electrocatalytic Conversion to Organics Pathway by Nanoconfinement Effects and the Catalytic Site Dimension.” Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Major Professor: Tao Xu, Ph.D.
Kristina Wiemer (B.S., Illinois State University; M.A., Northern Illinois University), “Developing a Novel Prosocial Teasing Measure for Adolescents.” Department of Psychology. Major Professor: Christine Malecki, Ph.D.
Flavia Vieira Xavier (B.S., M.S., Federal University of Vicosa), “Green Spaces and Socioeconomic Disparities in Sao Paulo City, Brazil: A Spatial Analysis Approach.” Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment. Major Professor: James Wilson, Ph.D.
Doctor of Education
Javier Aquino (B.A., Northeastern Illinois University; M.A., Concordia University Chicago), “A Case Study on First-Year Experience Programs and the Importance of Sense of Belonging for Latinx Students.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Jacqueline Mac, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Helene Babcock (B.S., M.B.A., Purdue University), “Lived Experiences of Latino/a/x Students at Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the Midwestern United States.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Jacqueline Mac, Ph.D.
Zachary Gordon Birch (B.A., Illinois Wesleyan University; M.S., Indiana State University), “Being a Leader: Exploring Generation Z Students’ Conceptualization of and Engagement in Leadership in College.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professors: Gudrun Nyunt, Ph.D., and Quortne Hutchings, Ph.D.
Jacquelyn Marie Bogan (B.A., Lake Forest College; M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University), “Examining Local Decision-Making Frameworks of School Finance Administrators (SFAs) to Understand Local Resource Allocation Across Illinois.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Benjamin Creed, Ph.D.
F. Michelle Bringas (B.S., M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University), “The Power of One: The Journey of an Asian Undocumented Student.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: LaVerne Gyant, Ph.D.
Colleen Cook (B.A., Elmhurst College; M.Ed., Benedictine University; Ed.S., Northern Illinois University), “Administrator Burnout: Relationship of Personal and Organizational Characteristics.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Kelly Summers, Ph.D.
Maurice Louis Davis (B.A., Ed.S., Northern Illinois University; M.S.Ed., Grand Canyon University), “Learning to Lead with an Equity Lens: A Case Study of a Principal Residency Program.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Patrick Roberts, Ph.D.
Cynthia Ann Grobmeier (B.A., St. Xavier University; M.A., Governors State University), “Feeling at Home in the Basic Communication Course: A Qualitative Case Study of Faculty and Student Perceptions of a Connected Classroom Climate at One Midwestern University.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Gudrun Nyunt, Ph.D.
Taylor David Hartman (B.S., M.A., Northern Illinois University), “Exploring How Out-of-Class Student Engagement Shapes Undocumented Students’ Sense of Belonging.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Carrie Kortegast, Ph.D.
Maureen Therese Hatfield (B.A., Northern Illinois University; M.A., Olivet Nazarene University; Ed.S., National Louis University), “Implementing the Least Restrictive Environment Through Co-Teaching: The Role of Administrative Support.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Patrick Roberts, Ph.D.
Rachel Smith Horton (B.A., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; M.A., Loyola University; M.F.A., Columbia College), “In Order for My Voice to Be Heard, I Had to Create My Own Space: A Critical Narrative Analysis of Black College Student Success in Creative Majors.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Jacqueline Mac, Ph.D.
Jacqueline Kraus (B.A., Augustana College; M.S., Iowa State University), “Does Path Matter?: A Quantitative Study Examining the Effect of Mathematics Course-Taking Patterns on Degree or Transfer Attainment.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Gudrun Nyunt, Ph.D.
Lisa Renee Lawless (B.A., Marquette University; M.S.Ed., James Madison University), “‘It’s Hard to Be an Enemy of Student Success’: A Qualitative Case Study of a Cultural Shift Towards Student Success.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professors: Gudrun Nyunt, Ph.D., and Quortne Hutchings, Ph.D.
Andrew John Lobdell (B.S.Ed., University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; M.S.Ed., National Louis University; Ed.S., Northern Illinois University), “The Personal Is Political: School Board Members’ Motivation for School Governance.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Patrick Roberts, Ph.D.
Jennifer S. Mattingly (B.A., William Woods University; M.A., Regent University), “Faculty Perceptions and Integration of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in Programs Designed for Adult Learners.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Jacqueline Mac, Ph.D.
Gabriel Medina (B.A., Saint Xavier University; M.S.Ed., Northern Illinois University), “Examining Onboarding Practices in School Settings: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Benjamin Creed, Ph.D.
Amanda Joan Musacchio (B.A., National Louis University; M.S., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), “Community College Library Technical Assistant Students’ Experiences with Student-to-Student Engagement in Asynchronous Online Courses: A Qualitative Case Study.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Gudrun Nyunt, Ph.D.
Garrett Podgorski (B.A., Carthage College; M.A., Aurora University; Ed.S., Northern Illinois University), “SEL Walkthroughs: Promoting Practices That Foster Social and Emotional Learning.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Kelly Summers, Ph.D.
Renee Elizabeth Kocol Schott (B.A., Ed.S., Northern Illinois University; M.S.Ed., National Louis University), “Examining the Rockford Public Schools’ Master Scheduling Process As an Open System to Achieve Sustainability.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Patrick Roberts, Ph.D.
LeeAnn Denise Taylor (B.S., Illinois State University; M.S.Ed., National Louis University; M.S.Ed., Ed.S., Northern Illinois University), “An Analysis of K-8 School Transportation: Understanding the Need, Gauging the Effectiveness, and Defining Best Practice.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Patrick Roberts, Ph.D.
Julie M. Wiejak (B.A., Loyola University; M.A., DePaul University), “Latino Students’ Perceptions of Inclusion in the Recruitment Marketing Materials at an Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution.” Department of Counseling and Higher Education. Major Professor: Jacqueline Mac, Ph.D.
Douglas Joseph Wildes (B.A., Benedictine University; M.S.Ed., Ed.S., Northern Illinois University), “The Academic Impact of ESSER Relief Funds on Illinois High Schools.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Tiffany Puckett, Ph.D.
Matthew John Zediker (B.S., University of Iowa; M.S.Ed., Ed.S., Northern Illinois University), “Associations Amongst Basic Psychological Needs and Burnout Among Ilinois Principals.” Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations. Major Professor: Kelly Summers, Ph.D.
Doctor of Audiology
Jessica Marie Tremper
Krupa P Patel
Katelin Marie Van Lanen
Shelby Fay Pupp
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Karolee Marie Fill
Mary Kate Carroll
Nancy Kaoma
Kristine Anne Doligosa
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Samantha Rasmussen
Hammad Syed Ahmed
Adam James Nash
Ricardo Torres
Jessica Alexandra Ortega
Jule Elizabeth Jaquish
Kira Lynn Mickelson
Ariana Ninetta Filippelli
Catherine Grace Biddle
John Ray Ronda Cuartero
Ismael Lopez Munoz
Gwendolyn Theresa Bauer
Kaitlyn Michelle White
Andrew Victor Kovachevich
Jerramy Tsang
Alejandra L, Alonso Hernandez
Jayson Podschweit
William Malysa
Katie Alice Phillips
Lauren Maya Ballestro
Stephanie Kaufmann
Abigail Eileen Christensen
Giovanni Antonio Regalado
Sean Ryan Dunphy
Educational Specialist
Jonathon Robert Miquelon
Master of Arts
Peter Alexander
Maria Jesus Alonso
Emma Apicella
Chela Marie Aufderheide
Fiona Christina Ball
Chloe S. Bankel
Brianna Isabel Banks
Candelaria Barrientos Jimenez
Kayla Lynn Beck
Haleigh Broucher
Nomun Bukh-Ochir
Daniel Mayer Cappell
Jacob Paul Carlson
Sean Carter
Yessenia Chavez
Anna Nicole Chitwood
Finley Hayes Cowlishaw
Emily Ann Cowman
Julia Kay Diedrich
Esther Abla Dorgbefu
Chynna Michelle Dubuclet
Robert Louis Durbin
Larry Eissler III
Alexander D. Engelhardt
Casey Mackenzie Farmer
Kristen Anne Feigel
Faith Elizabeth Fransen
Lily Eileen Frantzis
Rebecca Lynn Frenk
Louisa Rosalinn Frost-Smith
Sarah Katherine Hands
Christine Marie Holloway
Callianne Marie Isley
Tiffany Sunny Jacob
Hannibal Kanjee
Grace Elisabeth Klonoski
Emily Ann Knudson-Vilaseca
Samantha Michelle Lahey
Alicia Marie LaRouech
Brooke Celeste Lavite
Denise Victoria Lee
Haiying Li
Lauren Francesca Luchetti
Angela Marcelino
Rachel Ann Martin
Caitlyn Paige Merkel
Eman Jalal Mohammad
Yakubu Naporo
Pierce Neal
Berkeley Alexander Sanxay Neuman
Menghieng Ngov
Megan Nicole Nordstrom
Vianca Alea Ocampo
Janet Lucky Ochieng
Muritala Olayemi Ogunsiji
Henry Olree
Amaka Peace Onebunne
Lady Aileen Ambion Orsal
Hallie Outsen
Max Polishchuk
Xuan Qian
Orlando Damian Reyes
Mitchell John Rigert
Ruby Maria Rivera
Bailey Alexis Rzewuski
Rebekah Salazar
Damian Rafal Samsonowicz
Hope Schmult
Adeline Schultz
Joshua Adam Seidman-Zager
Rothsethamony Seng
Sheikh Daiyan Siddiqui
Donald Glenn Smith
Lorraine Kennedy Smith
Nicholas Aaron Smith
Renee Waverly Sonntag
Virginia Anaid Sotelo
Gracie Marie Strohm
Sarah Ann Suttman
Hannah Leath Tarleton
Kayla Taylor
Cameron Thomas
Alexandria Susanne Tintlemann
Pheanusa Satra Ty
Maeve Rose Wallace
Jiawen Wang
Courtney Anne Weaver
Sydney Wilson
Vix Wojtowicz
Melanie Camille Wozniak
Zixuan Wu
Siqi Yang
Bowen Zheng
Olivia Marie Zimmermann
Sophie Kathryn Zolinski
Master of Science
Udaykiran Aakula
Jennifer Rebecca Abel
Jeanette Tourtelot Ackland
Arafat Ayodeji Adeowu
Victor H. Aguado
Karthik Akula Vinod
Sushma Akumalla
Mansour Salem Alamri
DeAndre Alexander
Rateeba Turki Y Algoufi
Mohammed Nafea Alharbi
Maha Awni Alkarzon
Devin Derek Allison
Nora Sultan Alrashed
Venkata Rajesh Ambati
Gabriel Amegatcher
Sai Vamshi Andole
Navya Sri Ankireddy
Pavan Raghav Aratakatla
Anum Aslam
Md Badruddaza
Vaishnavi Bairampally
Logan Daniel Baisden
Pavan Kumar Bandarupalli
Sai Dinesh Reddy Bandi
Sharmila Sonal Bandi
Saiteja Bandlamudi
Brittany Jean Bankord
Siddarth Bantula
Sai Vamsi Battineni
Sophia Elisa Beard
Maura Barbara Beattie
Lance Scott Bemis
Claire Edith Simone Benton
Michal Ignacy Bereszczuk
Rachael Summins Berkover
Matthew James Bikun
Marlene Vivian Bimm
Abhishek Reddy Biradar
Tyrone Boles
Reethika Bollaboyana
Siddhesh Laxman Borhade
Ashley Christine Bosch
Kamalnath Boyanapalli
Michael Broughton
Jermal Brown
Santosh Buddha
Christopher Scott Bump
Billie Frances Callahan
Daniel Shaun Carlock
Miguel Andres Castellanos
Erica Jean Castro
Mounika Chalichalamala
Janani Chamarthi Ravi
Komal Vilas Chaudhari
Vividha Vilas Chaudhari
Ujjaval Dahyabhai Chaudhary
Deekshitha Chegondi
Srujana Chennamallaiahgari
Ramya Bhargavi Chinthapalli
Prathyusha Chittajallu
Keigan Clark
Matthew Allen Coyle
Marc Jacob Crowell
Sri Lakshmi Pravallika Daka
Tejas Dilipkumar Dalvi
Lara Daniels
Destinee Doraldine Dankemeyer
Luke Hampton Davis
Caleb Theron Denton
Rasika Pramod Deshpande
Antra Devulapalli
Sai Akhil Dhulipalla
Paul Robin Diamzon
Delilah Diaz
Monika Anna Dobek
Mitchell Thomas Dutczak
Alyssa Elizabeth Edwards
Jenn Ellinghausen
Christopher Allen English
Obinna Franklin Ezeibekwe
Isabel Guadalupe Faivre
Ashley Ferrero Fernandez
Marissa Nicole Fetters
Jasmine Diaz Flores
Laura Rossana Fracica Gonzalez
Santino Michael Frisella-Bryant
Apeksha Gopalrao Fule
Mohan Gopi Gadde
Sai Bala Swathi Navya Gade
Veera Lakshmi Gadhamsetti
Mounika Gadipudi
Shanmukha Sai Gadwala
Rahul Gandi
Surya Vamsi Garapati
Yaswanth Venkata Sai Garikipati
Mackenzie Elyse Garza
Hana Ghaneei
Taylor Gladson
Ajay Golla
Prasanth Sai Kumar Gontla
Jazmin Aura Gonzalez
Veeranjaneyulu Gorijivolu
Amber Anne Griffith
Anna Elise Grimenstein
Sreeja Gudibandi
Ajay Kumar Gudivada
Kaushik Gunda
Gowtham Krishna Gutta
Sara Marie Haapala
Morgan Haga
Nada Mubarak Hamad
Vi Saufi Bin Hamidi
Angel Latrice Hannah
Anna Grace Hansen
Aaron Harper
Michael Hasler
Jade Renee Haywood
Christopher William Herbig
Jair Herrera
Cindy Hoang
Diana Marie Holland
Danielle M. Hoske
A S M Shahadat Hossain
Andrea Grace Hunter
Syed Shahrukh Hyder
Adegoke Ismail Ibrahim
FNU Inzimam Imtiazuddin
Tyler Lorenzo Jackson
Ruchika Jain
Simran K. Jain
Ruchith Jarubula
Ajith Kalyan Chowdary Jarugula
Bradley Jelinek
Sungmin Jeong
Kevin Robert Joly
Ashutosh Joshi
Gopika Kadiyala
Harshini Kadiyala
Alexis Elizabeth Kahn
Hema Sai Akhil Kalicheti
Winnie Kamukama
Dhanya Naga Sree Kanagala
Venkata Sai Pratheeksha Kanakamedala
Sathvik Chowdary Kandimalla
Ajay Kumar Reddy Kandula
Prashanth Kankala
Uma Maheswari Karanam
Koushik Kasi
Sai Shashank Kasturi
Vamsi Krishna Kasula
Abhiram Katla
Jeremy Edward Katsogianos Adrowski
Sandeep Reddy Keesari
Mohammed Abdul Hameed Khan
Mohammed Abdul Lateef Khan
Mohammed Muqtar Ahmed Khan
Uzma Amzad Khan
Ziyad Ali Khan
Jordyn King
Joshua P. Kirkham
Raymond Mawuli Kisseih
Robin Moses Kolakaluri
Praveen Kolla
Anisha Kollati
Kalyan Babu Kommu
Koushik Kumar Kondamola
Stephanie Ann Konopka
Nikitha Koradala
Harsha Vardhan Kosuru
Naga Jyothi Kota
Venkata Reddy Kothapeta
Angel Prathyusha Koyi
Suraj Ravindra Kumbhare
Manvitha Kuncham
Katarzyna Julia Kwasnik
Rami Issac Lake
Garrett Lane
Sirisha Lanke
Katherine Marley Lavoie
Tommy Tai Le
Jenna Renae Lewey
Mengyuan Li
Deepika Likki
Emily Ann Marie Lindel
Kaitlynn Elizabeth Long
Laura May Ludwick
Jiahao Ma
Evan William Mackey
Chandrika Rani Madala
Midhun Mallela
Srilakshmi Umamaheswari Mantena
Sai Chand Maruri
Bharath Matlapudi
Kathryn Elizabeth McCabe
Janell McCann
Delaney McDonald
Samantha Lynn McKee
Tarun Sai Meda
Neal Michalik
Jona Cherae Mitchell
Josemaria Lopez Mitra
Tejaswini Pradip Mode
Tanveeruddin Mohammad
Khatereh Mohammadi
Abdul Mannan Mohammed
Abdul Mubasheer Mohammed
Anas Ashfaq Mohammed
Fayaq Hussain Mohammed
Tajuddin Farooqui Mohammed
FNU Mohammed Fahaduddin
Mazin Mohammed Majid
Wahabuddin Mohd
Cassandra Ashley Mohr
Mubbashir Moizullah
Sudheer Kumar Reddy Mothkuri
Arjun Goud Muddam
Kashif Muhammed Abdul
Phillips Robert Murathoti
Alin Muresan
Nikhileswara Reddy Musani
Mohith Muthu
Joseph Mwachullah
Sai Abhishiktha Nadakuditi
Nikhil Nalamasu
Hema Bhuvana Nalluri
Sai Praneeth Reddy Narala
Aparna Narayana
Bala Gowtham Narisetty
Gowtham Kumar Narra
Fatemeh Nazaritiji
Michael Nebor
Randi Needham
Satya Prasant Shouri Nekkanti
Sandeep Nepal
Abhiram Reddy Nevuri
Vishal Ningonda
Scott Michael Novy
Renuka Nukala
Gopinath Nukavarapu
Russell Gerard O’Brien
Fatima Kofoworola Olaitan
Antonio Enrique Palacios
Jaswanth Chowdary Paladugu
Shivani Palle
Kaylyn Lee Palmer
Sai Kiran Palukurti
Varun Pamu
Zhenghao Pan
Joseph Anthony Panzica
Jayadeep Reddy Pappu
Prakash Parajuli
Renuka Reddy Pasam
Brianna Angelica Pasillas
Aishwarya Pasula
Mohan Krishna Pasupuleti
Arjun Patel
Jill Raman Patel
Akash Prakash Patil
Gavin Brock Patrick
Diamzon Paulin
Grace Pekar
Naga Prudhvi Penujuri
Rebecca Brittany Nicole Petit
Catherine Pfeifer-Lawler
Jennifer Phanord
Chloe Lee Pimentel
Emma Louisa Planck
Abhishek Poddar
Sai Venkata Sruthi Pothakamuri
Ranjith Kumar Potlabathini
Christopher Ryan Pott
Jami Lee Puga
Narendranath Puli
Aditya Vardhan Rachakonda
Akshaya Rajarajan
Mahesh Raju
Niharika Rakonda
Christina Michelle Ramos
Sejal Rani
Nagashri Umesh Rao
Ellaine M. Ray
Krishna Swetha Rayipati
Susan Dzubera Reese
Angel Rodriguez
Rocio A. Rodriguez
Mary Rounce
John William Russo
Sameh Mohamed Ezzat Mohamed Mahmoud Saad
Nihal Sanjay
Bryan Scarbeary
David Henry James Schmidt
Jordann Kianna Scott
Teja Seeramdasu
John Paolo Sespeñe
Dhaval Shah
Aman Sharma
Jahleel Desmond Shepherd
Morgan Rose Sherwin
Harshith Shubhakar
Bollaboyana Venkata Sidhartha
Maria Shakhawat Sofia
Mohammad Faizan Sohail
Rochelle Lauren Sowa
Colin Michael Stark
Chad Michael Stewart
Cassandra Stovall
Evelyn Rose Strohm
Raymond Silvano Suarez
Bhanu Kedhaar Nath Sunku
Vishnu Sai Teja Swarna
Fahad Ahmed Syed
Nasir Ali Hussaini Syed
Tauseef Ahmed Syed
Hussaini Syed Sabihullah
Michael Frederick Taccona
Sai Prathyusha Tavva
Sarmista Thalapaneni
Yuva Krishna Thanneru
Akhil Thiruveedula
Venkata Sai Pranit Thotakura
Bryce Randall Thurston
Ksenija Tihomirova
Venkata Lakshmi Bhavani Timididhapati
Hemanth Chowdary Tipirneni
Nazariy Tishchenko
Thomas Jorge Torrez
Amelevi V. Tossou
Rithika Trichunapalli
Srikruthi Tripuraneni
Nitish Reddy Tummala
Sai Padmasree Tummala
Prem Sai Tupalle
Kristy Amber Tutak
Mohammed Sohaib Uddin
Mohd Aleem Uddin
Jagan Mohan Rao Vakkalagadda
Ashwitha Vallapureddy
Mani Krishna Vallepu
Osiris Valverde Nunez
Yaswanth Raj Varikunta
Vikramaditya Reddy Varkala
Jyosna Vasili
Lakshmi Kanth Reddy Veeramreddy
Bhavya Vegesna
Gopala Raju Vegesna
Keshav Varma Vegesna
Naga Rajesh Vema
Maurya Reddy Vennapusa
Teri Ann Vignola
Andrew Todd Vikre
Kaela Michele Villafania
Madeleine Vinz
Tina Vongsouvanh
Nischal Vooda
Christopher Michael Vukmir
Zachary James Waller
Jayla Marleigh Walls
Akshay Preetam Wasaikar
De’Jah Weathersby
Austin Westbrook
Kennedy Simone Westbrook
Lily Abigail Wetzel
Connor Alexander Whiteside
Charlese Denise Williams
Natalie Woodward
Ozair Ahmed Yakoob
Manoj Kumar Reddy Yathapu
Harshavardhan Reddy Yelugoti
Khalen Elijah Young
Master of Accountancy
Jennifer Ashley Bell
Maribel Hernandez
Pamela L. W. Maison
Diana Papuciu
Pamela Scott
Ivette Carolina Vega
Master of Accounting Science
Steve Andrade
Jillian Alice Barnes
Mark Andrew Behna
Devin Lewis Borchsenius
Elizabeth-Joyce Santander Cruz
Jesus Alejandro Cuevas
Matthew Thomas Freitag
Diego Alberto Garcia
Alexis Nicole Garza
Anthony Robert Guarino
Kaosara Akorede Ibrahim
Jordan Richard Kempa
Kyle Andrew Macgregor
Jacob Martin
Leslie Samantha Medellin
Vincent Anthony Padula
Samantha Lynn Penna
Jose Perez Jr.
Zachary J. Pergrossi
Jonathan Quintero
Ava Victoria Siano
Samantha Erin Smith
Leland Stratman
Wei Sun
Kristen Nicole Terlep
Dan Toolsie
Andrew Robert Williams
Master of Arts in Teaching
Francesca Nicole Collebrusco
Gia Jornae Hamp
James Heinze
Marcelo Hernandez
Master of Business Administration
Daniel Agudelo Norena
Tahreem Ahmed
Camila Andrea Arango Nieto
Andres Felipe Arcila Navarro
Angie Ailin Arias Aponte
David James Battaglia
Scott A. Baylor
Alberto Briones Salazar
Brix Byers
Kadeja Campbell
Christion Carter
Jorge Federico Castro
William Alberto Cediel Espitia
Ssu-Yu Chen
Po-Ya Chiang
Ryahn Dabney
Angie Viviana David Baracaldo
Jeffrey Michael Donohue Jr.
Muhammad Fahad
Musa Abbas Faris
Kentrice RuLinn Frison
Yaneli Garcia
Veronica M. Garza
DaRon Alton Gilbert
Klaus Henrik Goebel Jaramillo
Liset Paola Gonzalez Sierra
Travis R. Gotchie
Fernanda Granada
Timothy Wayne Graves
Allyson Marie Griffith
Nathan Charles Grobe
Robert Guzman
Stephen John Hansen
Andrew James Hietpas
Kimone Anita Hines
Ya-Hsuan Ho
Arman Hyder
Anas Jaber
Jeffrey Bernard Jamrok
John Kehoe
Rachel Rebecca Lapidus
Yu-Wen Lee
Jayson Lippe
Jasmine Ly
Ramakrishnan Iyer Mahadevan
Randall Moellenkamp
Oscar Javier Molano Lopez
James Augusto Moreno
Sydney Naro
Matthew Robert Newman
Luis Guillermo Novoa Cortes
Shelby Parks
Anjna Patel
Juan Pablo Patino
Pablo Alexander Penaloza
Isabelle Marie Percoco
Erik Andrew Poulsen
Santiago Prada
Moriah N. Prewitt
Ahmed Quadri
Sovannak Ra
Samuel Daniel Ramirez Niño
Beth Anne Reiter
Scott Joseph Rescigno
Alejandra Reyes Reina
Frank Rodriguez
Daniela Romero
Jake Matthew Schulman
Christian Paul Seegers
Isabel Renea Shafer
Blake Richard Arlo Shallenbarger
Kimberly Barber Smith
Alyssa Marie Strebel
Jayde Christine VanHyfte
Mikael Vollbach
Chiu-Yen Wang
Michael Adam Wisnios
Andrew Wood
Sahara Zingano
Master of Fine Arts
Eric Brockmeier
Elias Dennis
Arman Eshtiaghi
Dean Paul Krueger
Matthew Cleofas Mata
Dilara Miller
Janelle O’Malley
Veronica Louise Storc
Raevenne Sherrodae Zackery
Master of Music
Christian Baugher
Yu-Yu Chang
Tzu-Yun Chiu
Ethan Cowburn
Benjamin Crino
David Alexander Czechut
Owen Garcia Cantu
Alexa Ramony Garza
Emma Rose Hinkle
Chih I. Hsiao
Hyounkyoung Kim
Andrea LaFranzo
Wonseok Lee
Stefan Andreas Lenthe
Yuchen Lin
Fernando Marroquin Mendoza
Christopher E Mendez
Savion Akil Nicholls
Luis Emmanuel Ortiz
Ethan Herrick Patterson
Jonah Payne
Joseph Akwetey Quaynor
Brandon Isaac Rittenour
Rhiannon Michelle Robinson
Emily Elizabeth Smeenge
Abigail Julia Hughes Stoner
Gabriel Lawrence Wade
Ting-Yun Wu
Chang Xu
Wenyan Xu
Shuai Zhang
Master of Public Administration
Cecilia Ashley Anderson
Zahra A. Antar
Stanley Peter Anukwuocha
Justice Arthur
Erin Frances Cronin
Lauren Ewan
Paola Aylin Garcia
Ruth Marie Hahn
Jacob Linn Hobson
Megan Marie Iozzo
Daniel Arno Langguth
Aaron Clayton Lloyd
Megan Marie Lord
Russell Yates McLaughlin
Aung Htet Moe
William Nick Palmer
Cheyanne Autumn Pincsak
Noah Hiram Rife
Timothy James Sloth
Joseph Vincent Viso
Muhammad Yahya
Master of Public Health
Wala Awad Abdallah
Casey Marie Bailey
Holly Nicole Bowers
Natalie Diana Bullen
Chinenye Chukwuebuka Egwuonwu
Bolaji Bosede Elutilo
Nicole Marie Holmes
Janiel Johnson
Elizabeth Kim
Sindhuja Kota Venkata
Shannon Leary
Elva Patricia Lozano
Mario Victor Mendez
Pooja Ravindrakumar Patel
Ashley Kimberly Poore
Master of Science in Education
Alea Jade Akers
Bethany E. Akers
Katherine Albano
Layla Sulaiman A Alharbi
Omar Alshuredah
Oladapo Muees Ameen
Jake William Barber
Kristin Mary Barr
Mary Catherine Bauer
Herbert Bradford
Dominic Bruno
Kimberly Ann Butler
Kiana Yvonne Campbell
Deneve La’Toya Carter
Norma Isela Castro
Charles A. Crum
Katie Dedic
Neyda Diaz
Meghan Dowling
Nicholas Duka
Cindy Gabriela Duran
Razan Eltayeb
Kristen Fanella
Butool Fardha
Mary Katherine Flaherty
Katelyn Elizabeth Friel
Joseph Groff
Alejandra Guzman
Linda Marta Guzman
Rebecca Handler
Madiha Haroon
Christine Marie Hartman
Carolina Hernandez
Katherine Mary Hutto
Christopher Luke Judkins
Christina Marie Keferlis
Janet Shephon King
Freda Akuyo Kpodo
Marissa Licea
Susanne Michelle Logsdon
Rylie Catherine Loux
Cecilia Jeanette Lucente
Lindsey Martinelli
Keegan Matthew McChristian
Monica Mesenbrink
Kenneth Bryan Moitui`
Sandra Monroy
Brooke Montavon
Yasmin Gisselle Montenegro
Harriet Nakiwujjo
Kathryn Newton
Joseph Jeremiah O’Brien
Joe Owen
Julie Lynn Pahr
Lam Duy Phan
Rebecca Pharr
Cassandra Kay Pilcher
Kayla Lynn Potsic
Kellee Erin Conquest Prisco
Kelsey Therese Punzio
Omar Ramirez
Phoebe Maurine Regnery
Carly Marie Rhodes
Austin Robinson
Patricia S. Mannion Rowe
Matthew Israel Russey
Quinn Kathleen Shereck
Anna Michelle Shukis
Amy Marie Simpson
Kamal Singh
Olga Malgorzata Smirnow
Raven Sharmain Stepter
Madeleine Wiens Stucky
Claire Elizabeth Taylor
Ama Tetteh
Janelle May Townley
Christy Tran
Jenna Elizabeth Wallace
Emmett Jamison Yost
Abigail Lynn Young
Shaoyu Yu
Michael Lee Zinga
Performer’s Certificate
Gianna Vincenza Capobianco
Daniela Escobar Oyola
Gina Marie Stonikas
Omar David Tlatelpa Nieto
Specialist in School Psychology
Quinn Galindo
Bailey Nicole Schejbal
Commencement Program
This commencement program lists the names of individuals who have applied for graduation on the presumption that all the requirements have been, or will have been, met by the end of the semester. To be listed in this program, individuals were required to apply for graduation by the respective posted dates at the Graduate School or at the Office of Registration and Records. The fact that a candidate’s name is listed in this program does not indicate that they will in fact qualify for graduation.
Photographs
A professional photograph of each graduate will be taken during the ceremony by Grad Images. To ensure that all graduates and their families and friends can view and enjoy the ceremony, we ask that guests be considerate of one another when taking photographs.
Nondisclosure of Directory Information
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, students who have chosen not to release directory information to public disclosure (which includes, but is not limited to, degrees conferred) will not appear in this program.
Contact Us
Convocation Center1525 West Lincoln Highway
DeKalb, IL 60115815-752-6800
commencement@niu.edu