UB-Arts-and-Sciences-Undergraduate-Commencement-Program-Book-2021

10 Letter from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences ...36 Letter from the UB Alumni Association President ...37 UB Alma Mater ...38 University Leadership ...39 Degree Conferral C

2021

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES UNDERGRADUATE

C O M M E N C E M E N T

Virtual Ceremony Saturday May 16, 2020

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Sunday May 16, 2021 Morning Ceremony 9:30 A.M

Arts, Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Programs

Afternoon Ceremony 3:00 P.M

Humanities and Social Sciences

UB Stadium North Campus

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This page has ben intentionaly left blank.

COMMENCEMENT 2021 3

2 COMMENCEMENT 2020 UB College of A&S Undergrad 20v7: 6/25/20 4:10 PM Page 2 Ceremony Program 4

SUNY Trustees and UB Officials 6

The Mace .8

About the College of Arts and Sciences .9

SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence 10

College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Senior Awards 10

Letter from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences 36

Letter from the UB Alumni Association President 37

UB Alma Mater 38

University Leadership 39

Degree Conferral Commencement exercises are divided into two ceremonies and will include undergraduate degree candidates from the College of Arts and Sciences College of Arts and Sciences Baccalaureate Degrees Contents Arts Art 20

Media Study 28

Music 28

Theatre and Dance 35

Natural Sciences and Mathematics Biological Sciences 20

Chemistry 22

Environment and Sustainability 25

Geology 26

Mathematics 27

Physics 28

Interdisciplinary Programs Social Sciences Interdisciplinary 32

Humanities Asian Studies 20

Classics 22

English 25

Global Gender and Sexuality Studies 26

History 26

Philosophy 28

Romance Languages and Literatures 32

Special Studies Special Studies 35

Social Sciences Anthropology 20

Communication 22

Communicative Disorders and Sciences 23

Economics 24

Geography 25

Linguistics 27

Political Science 29

Psychology 29

Sociology 34 Morning Program 9:30 A.M Afternoon Program 3:00 P.M

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Opening Declaration

Robert S Miletich

Mace Bearer, Chair Elect of the Faculty

Senate and Professor of Nuclear Medicine

and Neurology

Officiator

Graham L Hammill

Vice Provost for Educational Affairs and

Dean of the Graduate School

University President

Dean’s Remarks Robin G Schulze

Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

Outstanding Senior Awards

Conferral of Academic Degrees President Tripathi

Dean Schulze Alumni Welcome and Video Presentation

Share in the celebration!

Post your photos and messages using #UBClassOf2021

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Office of International Education

Student Commencement Marshals

The university gratefully acknowledges the assistance of these graduating seniors who march in and help lead the academic procession

Gianna Damico

Anthropology and Fine Arts

Stephanie Stewart-Hill

Psychology

Jeremy M Jacobs

Chairman of the University at Buffalo Council

Eunice Ashman Lewin

Member of the State University of New York

Board of Trustees

Satish K Tripathi

University President

SUNY Trustee and UB Officials

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An internationally distinguished researcher and higher education leader, Satish K Tripathi, PhD, is the University at Buffalo’s 15th president

Tripathi, who served as UB’s provost from 2004-2011, was dean of the Bourns College

of Engineering at the University of Riverside from 1997-2004 Previously, he spent

California-19 years as professor of computer science at the University of Maryland, including seven years as department chair

Tripathi graduated at the top of his class from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) He holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in computer science from the University of Toronto, as well as master’s degrees in statistics from the University of Alberta and BHU A fellow

of the IEEE and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he holds honorary doctorates from the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, and Brock University in Canada

A leader in the national higher education community, Tripathi serves as chair of the Mid-American Conference Council of Presidents and on the boards of the NCAA Division I, NCAA Board of Governors and College Football Playoff Board of Managers A member of Gov Andrew Cuomo’s Reimagine NY Commission,

he has served on the boards of the Association

of American Universities, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation In

Jeremy M Jacobs was appointed to the UB Council in 1997; in 1998, then-Gov George Pataki named him chairman

Jacobs is chairman of Delaware North, a global hospitality company with customers in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom The company’s operations include food and retail at airports and sports venues, sports facility ownership and management, operations of parks and major tourist attractions, hotel ownership and management, gaming operations and fine dining

Jacobs owns the Boston Bruins and serves as chairman of the National Hockey League’s Board of Governors In 2018, he received the sport’s highest honor when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame

An alumnus of UB’s School of Management and Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, Jacobs holds honorary doctorates in humane letters from

UB, Canisius College, Niagara University and Johnson & Wales University In 2015, his family donated $30 million to advance UB’s medical school, which was renamed the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Jacobs has served Western New York for more than four decades with his business expertise and philanthropic leadership, and Delaware North has received multiple awards for social responsibility, community

President and co-founder

of Impacto Consulting Associates, Eunice Ashman Lewin joined the SUNY Board of Trustees in February 2010 She helped reinstate the Student Life Committee, on which she is co-chair In that capacity, she spearheaded the creation of the Food

Insecurity and the Mental Health task forces

Lewin serves on the board’s Executive

Committee and the committees for academic

affairs, communications and external affairs,

community colleges, and academic medical

centers and hospitals

A former commissioner of the Niagara

Frontier Transportation Authority, Lewin

was a founding member of the Roswell

Park Alliance and a board member of the

Buffalo Urban League and Hispanics United

of Buffalo She is a member of the Hispanic

Women’s League and the Greater Buffalo

Racial Equity Roundtable Earlier this year,

she was named to the Western New York

Health Equity Task Force to coordinate

vaccine distribution for the region’s counties

A retired bilingual social worker for the

Buffalo Board of Education, Lewin is a

champion for STEM education

Born in Guantanamo, Cuba, Lewin

immigrated to the U.S with her family in

1967 She holds a bachelor’s degree in

sociology from Marymount Manhattan

COMMENCEMENT 2021 7 COMMENCEMENT 2020 5

Joseph J Zambon, DDS, PhD

Dean SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor

As provost and executive vice president for academic affairs,

A Scott Weber, PhD, serves as the university’s chief academic officer, responsible for leading the development and implementation of the university’s academic vision Weber provides

leadership across the academic enterprise

including research, scholarship and creative

activities; undergraduate, graduate,

professional and international education;

faculty development; diversity and inclusion

initiatives; and university libraries

A member of UB’s faculty since 1983, Weber

is an innovative scholar and teacher and

former chair of UB’s Department of Civil,

Structural and Environmental Engineering,

where he helped establish UB’s

transportation engineering program and

oversaw the department’s significant rise in

national rankings among U.S civil

engineering programs Weber has held

progressively responsible administrative

roles at UB, including senior vice provost

and vice provost for academic affairs,

where he was instrumental in the creation

of the UB Curriculum and the nationally

recognized Finish in 4 program; and vice

president for student life, where he

focused on enhancing the student

experience on campus and promoting

overall student wellness

Weber’s research focuses on

biodegradation of chemicals in water and

soil and the reclamation of environmentally

impacted brownfield sites He earned

bachelor’s and master’s of science degrees

in civil engineering from Virginia

Polytechnical Institute and a PhD in civil

engineering from the University of

California, Davis

A Scott Weber

Provost and Executive Vice President

for Academic Affairs

Michael E Cain, MD, came

to the University at Buffalo

in 2006 from WashingtonUniversity School ofMedicine in St Louis, where

he was director of theCardiovascular Division andTobias and Hortense LewinProfessor of Medicine

Cain is a graduate of Gettysburg College and received his medical degree fromGeorge Washington University School ofMedicine and Health Sciences He completedtraining in internal medicine and cardiology

at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/WashingtonUniversity School of Medicine He was aclinical/research fellow in clinical cardiacelectrophysiology at the University ofPennsylvania School of Medicine

An internationally recognized scientist, Cain specializes in cardiacelectrophysiology, the examination of theheart’s electrical system He is a translationalresearcher, clinician and educator Hisresearch, funded by the National Institutes ofHealth, has been directed at the

physician-electrophysiological determinants ofventricular tachycardia and fibrillation in thesetting of healed myocardial infarction

Cain is a fellow of the American College ofCardiology, the American Heart Association andthe Heart Rhythm Society He is a past president

of the Association of Professors of Cardiologyand the Heart Rhythm Society, and past chair ofthe board of directors of The Sarnoff

Endowment for Cardiovascular Science

He has received the Hans-Peter KrayenbuehlMemorial Award for Research in CardiacFunction from the International Academy ofCardiology, the American Heart Association’sArthur E Strauss Award, the 2012 Resident/

Fellow Achievement Award from WashingtonUniversity School of Medicine and the 2013Leadership Buffalo Value Award for Inclusion

Michael E Cain

Vice President for Health Sciences Dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

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COMMENCEMENT 2020 5

Joseph J Zambon, DDS, PhD

Dean SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor

As provost and executive vice presidentfor academic affairs,

A Scott Weber, PhD,serves as the university’schief academic officer,responsible for leadingthe development andimplementation of theuniversity’s academic vision Weber provides

leadership across the academic enterprise

including research, scholarship and creative

activities; undergraduate, graduate,

professional and international education;

faculty development; diversity and inclusion

initiatives; and university libraries

A member of UB’s faculty since 1983, Weber

is an innovative scholar and teacher and

former chair of UB’s Department of Civil,

Structural and Environmental Engineering,

where he helped establish UB’s

transportation engineering program and

oversaw the department’s significant rise in

national rankings among U.S civil

engineering programs Weber has held

progressively responsible administrative

roles at UB, including senior vice provost

and vice provost for academic affairs,

where he was instrumental in the creation

of the UB Curriculum and the nationally

recognized Finish in 4 program; and vice

president for student life, where he

focused on enhancing the student

experience on campus and promoting

overall student wellness

Weber’s research focuses on

biodegradation of chemicals in water and

soil and the reclamation of environmentally

impacted brownfield sites He earned

bachelor’s and master’s of science degrees

in civil engineering from Virginia

Polytechnical Institute and a PhD in civil

engineering from the University of

California, Davis

A Scott Weber

Provost and Executive Vice President

for Academic Affairs

Michael E Cain, MD, came

to the University at Buffalo

in 2006 from WashingtonUniversity School ofMedicine in St Louis, where

he was director of theCardiovascular Division andTobias and Hortense LewinProfessor of Medicine

Cain is a graduate of Gettysburg College and received his medical degree fromGeorge Washington University School ofMedicine and Health Sciences He completedtraining in internal medicine and cardiology

at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/WashingtonUniversity School of Medicine He was aclinical/research fellow in clinical cardiacelectrophysiology at the University ofPennsylvania School of Medicine

An internationally recognized scientist, Cain specializes in cardiacelectrophysiology, the examination of theheart’s electrical system He is a translationalresearcher, clinician and educator Hisresearch, funded by the National Institutes ofHealth, has been directed at the

physician-electrophysiological determinants ofventricular tachycardia and fibrillation in thesetting of healed myocardial infarction

Cain is a fellow of the American College ofCardiology, the American Heart Association andthe Heart Rhythm Society He is a past president

of the Association of Professors of Cardiologyand the Heart Rhythm Society, and past chair ofthe board of directors of The Sarnoff

Endowment for Cardiovascular Science

He has received the Hans-Peter KrayenbuehlMemorial Award for Research in CardiacFunction from the International Academy ofCardiology, the American Heart Association’sArthur E Strauss Award, the 2012 Resident/

Fellow Achievement Award from WashingtonUniversity School of Medicine and the 2013Leadership Buffalo Value Award for Inclusion

Michael E Cain

Vice President for Health Sciences Dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

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Robin G Schulze

Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

As provost and executive vice presidentfor academic affairs,

A Scott Weber, PhD,serves as the university’schief academic officer,responsible for leadingthe development andimplementation of theuniversity’s academic vision Weber provides

leadership across the academic enterprise

including research, scholarship and creative

activities; undergraduate, graduate,

professional and international education;

faculty development; diversity and inclusion

initiatives; and university libraries

A member of UB’s faculty since 1983, Weber

is an innovative scholar and teacher and

former chair of UB’s Department of Civil,

Structural and Environmental Engineering,

where he helped establish UB’s

transportation engineering program and

oversaw the department’s significant rise in

national rankings among U.S civil

engineering programs Weber has held

progressively responsible administrative

roles at UB, including senior vice provost

and vice provost for academic affairs,

where he was instrumental in the creation

of the UB Curriculum and the nationally

recognized Finish in 4 program; and vice

president for student life, where he

focused on enhancing the student

experience on campus and promoting

overall student wellness

Weber’s research focuses on

biodegradation of chemicals in water and

soil and the reclamation of environmentally

impacted brownfield sites He earned

bachelor’s and master’s of science degrees

in civil engineering from Virginia

Polytechnical Institute and a PhD in civil

engineering from the University of

California, Davis

A Scott Weber

Provost and Executive Vice President

for Academic Affairs

COMMENCEMENT 2020 7

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Robin G Schulze, PhD, joined the University

at Buffalo in July 2016

as dean of the College

of Arts and Sciences and professor in the Department of English As leader of UB’s largest and most diverse academic unit, she drives UB’s commitment to prepare students to be active, knowledgeable, engaged citizens in

a dynamic global community

Over the last five years, Schulze has worked to keep the College strong She has increased research expenditure

in the College and has secured major investments to enhance the College’s disciplinary excellence, including funds

to support the College’s first two female SUNY Empire Innovation Professors While championing disciplinary excellence, she has also invested in programs that approach critical present problems from a variety of disciplinary vantage points The College’s new department of Environment and Sustainability is a testament to that approach She is also Co-principal Investigator on UB’s first-ever Mellon Foundation grant in support of the College’s new Department of Indigenous Studies which honors the university’s long-standing commitment to training generations of native scholars An advocate for the value

of experiential learning, she has raised funds to provide College students access to important career building, learn-by-doing opportunities

Schulze began her career at the University

of Kansas She moved to Penn State, where she became Head of the Department of English In 2012, she moved to the University

of Delaware and became the Associate Dean for the Humanities, a position she held until her move to UB

The Mace

Designed to tell the story of the university and the Niagara Frontier, the University at Buffalo mace was fashioned by silversmith Hudson Roysher of Arcadia, Calif It was used for the first time in the

1962 general commencement

The mace is silver with accents of lapis and howlite to represent the university’s colors It is topped by a miniature walled structure

representing the city of Buffalo Engraved atop the city are three arrows bound together, symbolizing the unity of UB and the city

A band of alternating jewels of lapis and howlite encircles the head of the mace and bears the founding dates of the 13 divisions that composed the university in 1962

The UB arms appear on the front of the head On the back are the arms of the United States, encircled by the name Millard Fillmore and the dates during which he was U.S president and UB chancellor

The discovery of Lake Erie in 1669 by Louis Joliet and early explorations by Robert de LaSalle are symbolized on the left side of the head A crest on the right side symbolizes the university’s role as a dynamic center of human growth and welfare The wild rose, the New York state flower, is depicted in a floral motif at the top and bottom of the mace’s head En circling the ends of the shaft are three wavy lines representing intellect and water, the latter a reference to the Niagara River and Great Lakes

The motto “University and City: Community” is lettered in Latin around the knob of the shaft Traditionally used in university ceremonies, the mace is a symbol of enlightened authority The mace bearer is the chair of the university’s

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COMMENCEMENT 2021 9

The Mace

Designed to tell the story of the university and the

Niagara Frontier, the University at Buffalo mace

was fashioned by silversmith Hudson Roysher of

Arcadia, Calif It was used for the first time in the

1962 general commencement

The mace is silver with accents of lapis and

howlite to represent the university’s colors It is

topped by a miniature walled structure

representing the city of Buffalo Engraved atop

the city are three arrows bound together,

symbolizing the unity of UB and the city

A band of alternating jewels of lapis and howlite

encircles the head of the mace and bears the

founding dates of the 13 divisions that composed

the university in 1962

The UB arms appear on the front of the head On

the back are the arms of the United States,

encircled by the name Millard Fillmore and the

dates during which he was U.S president and UB

chancellor

The discovery of Lake Erie in 1669 by Louis Joliet

and early explorations by Robert de LaSalle are

symbolized on the left side of the head A crest on

the right side symbolizes the university’s role as a

dynamic center of human growth and welfare

The wild rose, the New York state flower, is

depicted in a floral motif at the top and bottom of

the mace’s head En circling the ends of the shaft

are three wavy lines representing intellect and

water, the latter a reference to the Niagara River

and Great Lakes

The motto “University and City: Community” is

lettered in Latin around the knob of the shaft

Traditionally used in university ceremonies, the

mace is a symbol of enlightened authority The

mace bearer is the chair of the university’s

Faculty Senate

8 COMMENCEMENT 2020

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For over a century, the College of Arts and Sciences has served as the center of scholarly excellence and radical innovation at the heart of the University at Buffalo

Comprising 29 departments in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics, as well as 16 special programs and 23 centers and institutes, the College is not only the largest campus unit, but the one most likely to directly impact every UB student at some point in their educational career Our more than 420 dedicated faculty members, including 30 SUNY Distinguished Professors, prepare over 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students per year to become the critical thinkers and compassionate leaders so vital to our ever-evolving society

Students in the College of Arts and Sciences also benefit from UB’s status as a premier public research university, and the breadth of resources this status provides Internship, research, study abroad, and service-learning opportunities pull students out of the classroom and into the real world of hands-on problem-solving From advancements in targeted drug delivery and photonics; to complex understanding of climate challenges;

to creative achievements in theatre, contemporary music, poetics, and the arts, our students contribute regularly to the industries that will eventually employ them, and from which they will dispatch crucial and compelling solutions

“Liberal arts education is, in my view, the working definition of education,” says Robin Schulze, Dean of the College “The liberal arts grant students the skills to solve problems and the imagination and courage to make a better future Our faculty are leaders in their fields They challenge students to see complex issues from a variety of perspectives, and to think creatively and collaboratively about how to make a difference in the world The College really is a perfect place for students to find their passions and their purpose We can’t do this work without the support of our alumni and friends—the people who understand that a liberal arts education is critical to our collective good Our mission is to help our students become active, empathetic citizens

of a diverse and dynamic global community.”

This year’s graduating class joins nearly 110,000 College alumni, a massive network composed of internationally-recognized researchers, scientists, and educators;

pioneering business leaders; prominent writers and journalists; celebrated musicians and composers; and award-winning film directors, actors, artists, and designers These extraordinary men and women represent a tremendous legacy, one strengthened by the accomplishments of each additional class of College graduates

The College would like to thank the members of the Class of 2021 for their efforts over the past four years, and wish them the best of luck in their continued pursuit of knowledge and invention As they sit poised on the brink of future success, we hope they will remember their time in the College as a period of discovery and growth, stay actively connected to their alma mater, and help guide new generations of UB Bulls to build on their exemplary foundation

About the College of Arts and Sciences

Africana and American Studies - Aqeelah Croskery-Howard

Aqeelah Howard of Buffalo, N.Y., graduates cum laude with a bachelor of arts in African American studies and a minor in psychology Howard is a recipient of the Camille Arnold Scholarship and George E Smith Memorial Scholarship She is a member of the UB Black Council Organization,

a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (UB Sigma Alpha Pi), president of the student organization African American Studies Academic Association and a student ambassador for the Department

of Africana and American Studies Howard plans to pursue a degree

in nursing, participate in any local demands for social justice, and create a non-profit that will aid and give back to the people in her community Her ultimate goal is to be at service of people, while positively impacting people lives mentally, socially and physically while sharing happiness with everyone she encounters

College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Senior Awards

SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for

Student Excellence

This award honors State University of New York students who have

best demonstrated and been recognized for their integration

of academic excellence with other aspects of their lives, which

may include leadership, campus involvement, athletics, career

achievement, community service, or creative and performing arts

This award honors one graduating senior from each of our departments who has demonstrated exceptional diligence and promise during his or her time at the University at Buffalo These students’ efforts have distinguished them among their peers and set an inspiring example of academic and personal achievement

In recognition of their accomplishments, each student receives a certificate and an engraved medallion

Gianna Damico

Anthropology and Fine Arts

Gianna Damico of Victor, N.Y., graduates with a bachelor of arts in anthropology and a bachelor

of fine arts Damico is a graphic designer and the only student in her BFA year with a solo gallery show Gianna has worked for the Jacobs Institute since 2019, creating interactive 3D renderings

of patient-specific vasculature structures and developing branding guidelines for the company

She currently works as the designer and marketing strategist for the institute’s podcast “Journey into the Future of

Medicine with Bill Maggio.” Gianna has also held the role of

Blackstone LaunchPad and Techstars’ graphic designer for seven

semesters, shifting from creating marketing materials to managing

social media roll-out plans and supervising a group of student

interns

COMMENCEMENT 2021 11

Asian Studies – Yaling Lin

Yaling Lin of Queens, N.Y., graduates magna cum

laude with a bachelor of arts in Asian studies and

a minor in Korean In the coming fall, Lin plans to

pursue a master’s degree in statistics

Biological Sciences – Nicholas D Kagelmacher

Nicholas Kagelmacher of North Tonawanda, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in biological sciences Kagelmacher is a member of the Biological Sciences Honors Program and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society

He is the president of the UB Improv Club and works

as an undergraduate researcher in Professor Paul Meyer’s behavioral neuroscience lab studying addiction In the fall, Kagelmacher plans to pursue

a doctorate of dental surgery degree at the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine

Art – Jillian A Daniels

Jillian Daniels of Buffalo, N.Y., graduates cum laude with a bachelor of science in industrial design studies, special studies program, and

a bachelor of arts in studio art with a general studio concentration Daniels is a recipient of the Julius Bloom Memorial Scholarship and Cora P

Maloney Experiential Learning Scholarship She

is also a member of the Ronald E McNair Baccalaureate Achievement Program, where her research centered on using art and design to visualize information systems Daniels previously worked with the UB Art Galleries as the student assistant curator, Lockwood Memorial Library as a student assistant, and UB Center for Urban Studies as a research assistant on the East Side History Project Daniels is currently working in Western New York as a freelance designer and plans to continue her education

Post-in design, engPost-ineerPost-ing and sociology

Anthropology – Kevin P Klier

Kevin Klier of Orchard Park, N.Y., graduates magna

cum laude with a bachelor of arts in anthropology

Klier is currently pursuing the honors thesis program

in anthropology and conducting undergraduate

research on a geometric morphometric analysis

of the primate clavicle under Professor Noreen

von Cramon-Taubadel at the Buffalo Human

Evolutionary Morphology Lab In the fall, Klier plans

to pursue a master’s degree in anthropology with a

concentration in biological anthropology at the University at Buffalo

College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Senior Awards

Chemistry – Daniel R Morphet

Daniel Morphet of Rochester, N.Y., graduates magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in chemistry

Morphet is a College of Arts and Sciences student ambassador for the Department of Chemistry

He also works as an undergraduate researcher in Professor Timothy Cook’s lab In the fall, he plans to pursue a doctorate degree in chemistry

Communication – Austin C Robar

Austin Robar of Potsdam, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in communication and a minor in psychology Robar is a University Honors College Scholar He worked as an undergraduate researcher under Professor Michael Stefanone, culminating in a paper featured at the

2020 Conference on Social Media and Society He continues to work with the research team in hopes of publishing their findings in a journal later this year

After taking an exploratory year, Robar intends to pursue a master’s

degree in human resource development

Classics – Jake N Pawlush

Jake Pawlush of Rensselaerville, N.Y., graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in classics with a concentration in classical languages and literature Pawlush is a recipient of the University

at Buffalo Merit Scholarship and the deparment’s Neely Award, which helped fund his study abroad in Greece He is a graduate of the University Advanced Honors College program and served as a student ambassador for the Department of Classics and president of the UB Classics Club During his time at UB, Pawlush also volunteered in support of the department’s Tesserae Project In the Fall, he plans to pursue a doctorate degree in classics

Communicative Disorders and Sciences – Corrinn J Cincotta

Corrinn Cincotta of Penn Yan, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in speech and hearing science During her time at the University at Buffalo, Cincotta completed two undergraduate internships, working with speech-language pathologists in Buffalo Public Schools Cincotta plans to pursue a master’s degree in speech language pathology with New York State teacher certification

COMMENCEMENT 2021 13

Economics – Peter D Balogh

Peter Balogh of West Hempstead, N.Y., graduates

summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in

economics and a minor in media study Balogh is a

College of Arts and Sciences student ambassador

for the Department of Economics, helping incoming

students and their families find their place at the

university He is also an active member in the local

Hungarian Scouts chapter, helping young kids

learn their heritage while teaching basic survival

and scout skills He plans to pursue a master’s degree in business

administration in the U.S or Hungary

Environment and Sustainability – Meredith L Seibold

Meredith Seibold of East Aurora, N.Y., graduates

summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in

environmental studies and minors in biological

sciences and psychology Seibold is a University

Honors College Scholar and a recipient of the Grace

W Capen Academic Achievement Award She

works as a student assistant for the Environmental

Protection Bureau at the New York State Office of

the Attorney General Seibold plans to pursue a

master’s degree in environmental policy at either the University of

Michigan or the University of Washington

English – Alexis M Banaszak

Alexis Banaszak of Clarence Center, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in English and global gender studies Banaszak is a University Honors College Scholar and Department of English Honors Scholar She completed literary research for the Honors College titled “Marriage, Gender and Economic Advancement in the Works of Jane Austen” and conducted research for her English honors thesis critically analyzing patriarchal structures oppressing men and women in novels written by female authors from different eras Banaszak published a policy brief pertaining

to diversity, equity and inclusion for the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women A member of the Professional Law Fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta, in which she holds the position of Master of Rituals, she also serves as a student ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences Department of English In the fall, Banaszak will attend Albany Law School with a scholarship award to pursue a Juris Doctor degree concentrating in family and constitutional law

Geography – Matthew P Morris

Matthew Morris of Webster, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in geography with

a concentration in earth systems science Morris is

a recipient of the Charles H.V Ebert Scholarship

They are completing a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certification program and plan

to move abroad to the country of Georgia to teach internationally both online and in-person Morris plans to eventually volunteer in the Peace Corps

as an environmental scientist, working with local communities and organizations to increase global conservation efforts and awareness

Geology – Noah T Dobson

Noah Dobson of Horseheads, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in geological sciences Dobson is a transfer student who previously graduated from Corning Community College with a liberal arts associate’s degree in math and science He is a student ambassador for both the University at Buffalo and the Department

of Geology He is also a recipient of the Dorothea Duttweiler Award In the fall, Dobson plans to pursue

a master’s degree in geological sciences

History – Mariah O Agbonkpolo

Mariah Agbonkpolo of Montebello, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in history

Agbonkpolo is a recipient of the Grace W Capen Award, the Shannon Scholarship and the Julius W

Pratt Memorial Fund She is a member of Amnesty International, Advocates for Girls Education, a student engagement ambassador, and a College

of Arts and Sciences student ambassador She also worked as a part-time student employee and intern

at the Sexual Violence Prevention Unit on the University at Buffalo

South Campus Agbonkpolo plans to go to law school this fall to obtain

her Juris Doctor degree and a master’s degree in public policy

Global Gender and Sexuality Studies – Mosammet Asma

Mosammet Asma of Brooklyn, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in global gender studies and political science with a concentration in public law Asma is a participant

in the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s Congressional Leadership and Development Program, where she will intern with a congressperson this summer Asma wrote her senior thesis on “South Asian Immigrant Women and their Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence.” She also published an original policy brief on the 2018 Paid Family Leave Policy for the Erie County Commission on the Status

of Women She is a student ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences and served as an event planner and media manager of the Muslim Student Association Asma is a two-time first place winner for the Best Social Justice Campaign at the New York Muslim Student Association Showdown tournament Asma was also awarded the Community Engagement and Activism Award by the Department of Global Gender and Sexuality Studies Asma plans to prepare for law school and hopes to pursue a career in government

Jewish Thought - Anthony D Catanese

Anthony Catanese of Amherst, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in Jewish studies Catanese works as a consultant in UB’s Center for Excellence in Writing Catanese plans to pursue a master’s degree in Jewish thought

College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Senior Awards

COMMENCEMENT 2021 15

Linguistics – Kenn B Lewis

Kenn Lewis of Ruthven, Iowa, graduates summa

cum laude with a bachelor of arts in linguistics with

a concentration in language and cognition and

minors in Spanish, American Sign Language and

political science Lewis is a recipient of the Provost

Scholarship She is a member of the Asian-American

Student Union, Vietnamese Student Association, and

Filipino-American Student Association, and works as

a tutor, mostly focused in American Sign Language

and linguistics She was also an orientation leader for the Office of

Orientation, Transition and Parent Programs Lewis plans to pursue a

career teaching English as a second language abroad

Media Study – Cydney I Teeter

Cydney Teeter of Elba N.Y., graduates summa cum

laude with a bachelor of arts in political science and

media study with a concentration in production

Teeter plans to pursue a career in media arts

production after graduation

Mathematics – Cameron J Watt

Cameron Watt of Grand Island, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in mathematical physics Watt is a University Honors College Scholar and a recipient of the Bahethi Scholarship, Gehman Scholarship, and Montague Award He works as a tutor for the University at Buffalo through Campus Living and for other SUNY students as a Sharing Technology and Academic Resources New York tutor Additionally, he spent two semesters as a teaching assistant for mathematics classes He plans to continue his education in medical school

Music – Richard C Hoover

Richard Hoover of Grand Island, N.Y., graduates magna cum laude with a bachelor of music in music performance Hoover is the recipient of the Cameron Baird Fund and the WPHD Music Scholarship Throughout his time at the University at Buffalo, he gained professional experience playing

in jazz, blues and rock groups in over forty Buffalo venues including Buffalo RiverWorks, Babeville, the Lewiston Jazz Festival, PAUSA Art House and Buffalo Iron Works Hoover also gained professional experience playing in weddings, as well as teaching the guitar to students Throughout his bachelor’s degree, he worked as a worship director at Trinity United Methodist Church on Grand Island Hoover plans to pursue his career as a full time worship director at One Church in Akron, N.Y.,

In the future, Hoover plans to pursue his doctoral degree in music performance

Philosophy – Tiana N Gleason

Tiana Gleason of North Bay, Ontario, graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in philosophy and history and a minor in French

Gleason is a University Honors College Scholar and a member of the honors program for both the Department of History and the Department of Philosophy She is a study abroad ambassador and was a member of the university’s volleyball team

Gleason plans to pursue a master’s degree at King’s College London before achieving a law degree, ultimately becoming a

bar-certified lawyer

Political Science – Mia L Hanson

Mia Hanson of Big Flats, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in history and political science with a concentration in American politics and public affairs Hanson is a University Honors College Scholar, a member of the Department of History Honors Program and a recipient of the Grace W Capen Scholarship She

is also a member of the Phi Alpha Theta National History honor society, the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society and the Phi Beta Kappa honor society

She works as a resident advisor in Governors Residence Hall and was

an member of the LGBT Student Association’s executive board In the

fall, Hanson plans to pursue a master’s degree in Russian, Eastern

Physics – Hannah M Seppala

Hannah Seppala of Penn Yan, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in physics and mathematics with a concentration

in general study in mathematics Seppala is a University Honors College Scholar, a Presidential Scholar, an awardee of the Department of Physics’ Sekula and Bahethi Scholarships and a recipient

of the Barry M Goldwater Scholarship She works

as an undergraduate researcher in Professor Priya Banerjee’s lab and as a math tutor in the Math Place, as well

as serving as a student ambassador for the Department of Physics Seppala plans to pursue a doctorate in physical oceanography

Psychology – Cassondra M Lyman

Cassondra Lyman of Endicott, N.Y., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in psychology and a bachelor of arts in statistics Lyman is a Ronald E McNair Scholar, a University Advanced Honors College Scholar, a member

of the Psychology Honors Program and the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and recipient of the Barry M Goldwater Scholarship She works as an undergraduate researcher in Professor John Robert’s lab and serves as the UB Psi Chi chapter president as well as a student ambassador for the Department of Psychology In the fall, Lyman plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology

College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Senior Awards

COMMENCEMENT 2021 17

Romance Languages and Literatures – Serena E Strollo-DiCenso

Serena Strollo-DiCenso of Batavia, N.Y., graduates

magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts in

biological sciences and Italian Strollo-DiCenso

is a University Advanced Honors College Scholar,

president and co-founder of the Italian Student

Association and a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta

Health Pre-Professional Honor Society She is a

recipient of the President’s Circle Study Abroad

Scholarship, the Linda Rock Scholarship and the

George K Fraley Scholarship, among others During the Spring 2020

semester, Strollo-DiCenso studied abroad in Florence, Italy She also

participated in research as an undergraduate scientist in Roswell Park

Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Department of Pharmacology and

Therapeutics In the fall, Strollo-DiCenso plans to pursue a doctorate

degree in medicine

Sociology – Mia A Forney

Mia Forney of Lewiston, N.Y., graduates summa

cum laude with a bachelor of arts in psychology

and criminology and a minor in addiction studies

Forney is a member of the Psychology Honors

Program, a University Honors College Scholar, and

a department peer mentor She is a recipient of

the Sociology Scholarship for Study Abroad and

College of Arts and Sciences Experiential Learning

Fund Forney has studied abroad in London, England

through the sociology department and served as both a research

assistant and teaching assistant for Professor Stephen Tiffany, earning

her an authorship title on a publication In the fall, she will be pursuing

a dual degree in social work and law at UB with a focus on criminal

justice and mental health reform initiatives

Social Sciences Interdisciplinary – Clara E Cook

Clara Cook of Sharon, Mass., graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in social sciences interdisciplinary with a cognitive science concentration and a bachelor of arts in computer science with minors in psychology and Spanish

Cook is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Delta Pi and the University Honors College

She is a recipient of the Grace W Capen Award, the Provost Scholarship and the National Science Foundation’s Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship scholar certificate She works as a peer mentor for the Honors College and the social sciences interdisciplinary program, as a student ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences, as a teaching assistant for the systems programming and human computer interaction courses and as an artificial intelligence and data visualization specialist at Brookhaven National Lab Cook plans to get her master’s degree in human computer interaction and work on improving accessibility tools for health technology

Theatre and Dance – Homeria L Lubin

Homeria Lubin of Westtown, N.Y., graduates magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts in dance and psychology Lubin is the UB Dance senior class representative and a member of Zodiaque, UB’s resident dance company Lubin has worked on several UB productions including Choreolab, Emerging Choreographer Showcase and Dancer’s Workshop She is also a member of the Campus Living team since 2019 Lubin is a proud Haitian and is the first in her family to attend university Lubin plans to get a master’s degree in psychology and will continue to pursue a career in performance

Subject to the completion of all degree requirements, degrees will be conferred as indicated upon those individuals listed herein who were identified by April 12, 2021, and upon such others as may meet the requirements of their respective degrees Candidates are listed according to actual date of degree conferral (August 2020, February 2021 and June 2021)

In the following lists, candidates for a joint major (a major that combines subjects from two departments), or a double major (a degree encompassing two majors), are denoted by an asterisk ( * ) Candidates for a double degree (the award of two distinct degrees completed concurrently), or a combined degree (the award of an undergraduate and graduate degree completed concurrently), are denoted by two asterisks ( ** ) Candidates for a triple major (a degree encompassing three majors), are denoted by three asterisks ( ***) Candidates for a double major or joint major and a double degree or combined degree are denoted by a diamond ( ◊ )

Latin Honors

Subject to completion of all degree requirements and satisfaction of the following minimum criteria, Latin honors may be conferred as indicated upon the individuals listed herein and upon such others as may meet the requirements To qualify for Latin honors, students must present a minimum of 60 credit hours of UB undergraduate coursework, at least 54 of which must be graded credits (i.e., not satisfactory or unsatisfactory [grades of ‘S’ or ‘U’]) The UB GPA must be a minimum of 3.2 (to 3.499) for cum laude, 3.5 (to 3.749) for magna cum laude and 3.75 (to 4.0) for summa cum laude

To receive the Latin honors designation in the printed 2021 commencement programs, candidates for the June 2021 degree conferral date must qualify based upon their UB cumulative GPA through the Winter 2021 session and total number of UB credit hours projected through the Spring

2021 semester Standings for Latin honors MAY change once final grades are posted or degrees conferred

Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa is a national honor society that recognizes superior academic achievement in undergraduate work in the liberal arts and sciences

Legend

Cum laude is denoted by a dagger ( †)

Magna cum laude is denoted by a double dagger ( ‡)

Summa cum laude is denoted by two daggers ( ††)

Phi Beta Kappa is denoted by ( P)

College of Arts and Sciences

COMMENCEMENT 2021 19

The Blue and Gold Cord

This cord was received by graduating

members of Delta Alpha Pi, an international

academic honor society for college/

university students with disabilities

The Blue and White Cord

This cord was presented to graduating

College Ambassadors, student leaders who

serve as representatives of the College of

Arts and Sciences

The Gold Cord

This cord is awarded to students who are

graduating with Latin honors

The Grey and Red Stole This stole was received by students who are University Honors College graduates

The SUNY Chancellor’s Medallion This medallion was presented to recipients

of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence They were selected for this award based on their academic excellence and extracurricular involvement

The WNY Prosperity Fellowship Medallion

This medallion was received by graduating WNY Prosperity Fellows They were selected for this fellowship based on their commitment and demonstrated potential

to positively impact WNY’s economic development and sustainability

Non-Academic, University-Wide Recognition Items

The Kente Stole This stole was received by students who participated in UB’s ALANA Celebration of Achievement which historically has honored graduating African, Latino/a, Asian and Native American students

The Rainbow Tassel This tassel was received by students who participated in the Lavender Reception, celebrating achievements of graduating students who identify with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender

and Queer community at UB

The Red, White and Blue Cord This cord is being worn by graduating UB students who are reservists, members of the National Guard, newly commissioned officers or veterans of the United States armed forces

Academic Recognition Items

Department of Africana

and American Studies

African - American Studies

Bachelor of Arts

June 2021

Aqeelah Howard †

Aliyah Rashawn McCord *

Dale Edward Render

Shawn Michael Bouchard

Kennedy Lillian Burns ** ‡

Emma Helen Peirick

Ryan Matthew Poloncarz

February 2021

Justyce Victoria Clay

Allison Marie Delano

Caroline Elizabeth Gass ††

Austin Haas

Doriana Williams *

June 2021

Jacob Thomas Albert

Jordan Margaret Anthony ††

Madeleine Ann Bartz ** ‡

Bachelor of Arts June 2021 Christine Ashley Faust Fine Art

Bachelor of Fine Arts February 2021 Kayde Airius Griffin ‡ Brooke Erin Ridgeway † Fanfan Yuan †

Fengting Zhao ‡ June 2021 Steven Michael Burns Douglas Baer Connard † Gianna Damico ** †† P Bryan Alexander Foote † Cody Khounnachack Maria Root ** ‡ Megan M Shortt ††

Hyorim Choi Jillian Daniels ** † Morgan Elizabeth DiMaria James Lane Durrant Mackenzie Brooke Ellingson ††

Aya Fakih Darryl Arthur Gaines Jr Miya Tyre-Jordan Hancock Samantha Hoaglin † Grace Hu †

Mohamed Kaba Isabel C Luthringer ** † David James Territo Johnathan Thus † Adriana Sofia Torres-Trinidad † June 2021

Connor Beaty William Dmitriy Bergeman Jacob Tyler Betyn Taylor Kayley Cranford Erik Carl Dahlgren Alexis Renee Diner † Mckenna Catherine Dziemian † Noah Fence * †† P

William Robert Horvatits * ‡ Jaden Mata’toa Janes Adam Christopher Klein Sarah Litwin †

Jacob Evan Lokken Nicholas Ryan Meurer ‡ Kayvon Mingo

Amani Minter Hannah M Mitchell † Taylor Elizabeth Morgis † Ethan Douglas Orejuela Emily Jordyn Quartley ††

Asian Studies Program Asian Studies

Bachelor of Arts August 2020

Yu Jing Weng February 2021 Kendra Harbison ‡ P June 2021

Lulin Cao Yidian Dong Paige Kristen Guinnane * ‡ Yaling Lin ‡

Department of Biological Sciences

Biological Sciences Bachelor of Arts August 2020 Oretha Pokuaah Adofo Nicholas Hart Belsito Abdul-Basit Bukhari Yena Chae

Estephany Guzman Collado Michael Minh Khoi Ho Kevin Leung † Sheikh Mohsin Oghenetega Odjegba Oyshi Rahman Serena Anita Roberts Alat O Siam Rios Thapa Magar David Wang Dana Yuan **

February 2021