Doctoral, Law, Medical Professional, Master’s, and Bachelor’s Degree Candidate Ceremony
Sunday, December 15, 2024 | Kohl Center
Welcome to the one hundred and seventy-first University of Wisconsin–Madison Commencement! Below is the commencement program featuring the ceremony agenda, speaker and senior class officer profiles, flag bearers, and attire details. Printed programs will be available at the ceremony.
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Ceremony agenda
Processional of the Official Party
“Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1”
Performed by the University Commencement Band,
Mead Witter School of Music
The audience is requested to rise as the procession of official party members enters led by Class of 2024 degree candidates representing each of the schools and colleges with their respective flags.
The National Anthem
Niha Patankar ’25, Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry,
Music Performance, and Political Science
Presiding Officer
Provost Charles Lee Isbell Jr., PhD
Welcome from UW–Madison Chancellor
Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin, JD, PhD
Welcome from the UW System Board
of Regents
Regent Vice President Kyle M. Weatherly ’04, MPA’06
Charge to the Graduates
Keynote Speaker Dan Jacobs
Conferral of Academic Degrees
Graduate School
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Musical Arts
Master of Fine Arts
Educational Specialist
Dean William J. Karpus, PhD
Law School
Doctor of Law (Juris Doctor)
Master of Laws
Master of Laws, Legal Institutions
Dean Daniel P. Tokaji, JD
School of Medicine and Public Health
Doctor of Medicine
Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Master of Public Health
Dean Robert N. Golden, MD
Conferral of Master’s Degrees
Graduate School
Master of Accountancy
Master of Arts
Master of Business Administration
Master of Engineering
Master of International Public Affairs
Master of Music
Master of Public Affairs
Master of Science
Master of Social Work
Dean William J. Karpus, PhD
Remarks on Behalf of the Graduates
‡ Sawyer Grey Getschman ’24, Bachelor of Arts, Asian Languages & Cultures, Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language
Welcome to Alumnihood Video
Recognition of Graduates with Honors and Distinction
Conferral of Baccalaureate Degrees
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science–Agricultural Business Management
Bachelor of Science–Biological Systems Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Nutrition and Dietetics
Dean Glenda E. Gillaspy, PhD
College of Engineering
Bachelor of Naval Science
Bachelor of Science–Biomedical Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Chemical Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Computer Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Electrical Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Engineering Mechanics
Bachelor of Science–Engineering Physics
Bachelor of Science–Environmental Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Geological Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Industrial Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Materials Science and Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Nuclear Engineering
Dean Ian M. Robertson, PhD
College of Letters & Science
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts–Journalism
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
Bachelor of Liberal Studies
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science–Applied Mathematics, Engineering, and Physics
Bachelor of Science–Journalism
Bachelor of Social Work
Dean Eric M. Wilcots, PhD
School of Business
Bachelor of Business Administration
Senior Associate Dean Nicholas C. Petruzzi, PhD
School of Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Science–Art
Bachelor of Science–Art Education
Bachelor of Science–Dance
Bachelor of Science–Education
Bachelor of Science–Education Studies
Bachelor of Science–Health Promotion and Health Equity
Bachelor of Science–Kinesiology
Bachelor of Science–Physical Education
Bachelor of Science–Rehabilitation Psychology
Bachelor of Science–Theatre and Drama
Dean Marcelle Haddix, PhD
School of Human Ecology
Bachelor of Science–Community and Organizational Development
Bachelor of Science–Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies
Bachelor of Science–Consumer Finance and Financial Planning
Bachelor of Science–Consumer Marketplace Studies
Bachelor of Science–Design, Innovation, and Society
Bachelor of Science–Human Development and Family Studies
Bachelor of Science–Human Ecology
Bachelor of Science–Interior Architecture
Bachelor of Science–Personal Finance
Bachelor of Science–Textiles and Fashion Design
Dean Soyeon Shim, PhD
School of Nursing
Bachelor of Science–Nursing
Dean Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN
School of Pharmacy
Bachelor of Science–Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dean Steven M. Swanson, PhD
Turning of the Tassel
Closing Remarks
Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin, JD, PhD
“Varsity”
Performed by the University Commencement Band, Mead Witter School of Music
Varsity! Varsity! U rah rah! Wisconsin,
Praise to thee we sing!
Praise to thee our Alma Mater,
U rah rah! Wisconsin!
Recessional of the Official Party
“Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4”
Performed by the University Commencement Band, Mead Witter School of Music
‡ Candidate for Distinctive Scholastic Achievement
Speakers
Senior class officers
School and college flags
The school and college flags used in today’s ceremony were commissioned for commencement by then-Chancellor Rebecca Blank in 2015. They are used in this and other similar ceremonies, including convocation for incoming students — the complementary celebration to commencement that begins students’ university careers.
The flags’ background wave design reflects the university’s location along Lake Mendota. Colors on each flag reflect the traditional academic colors for the courses of study within each school or college. The Graduate School, College of Letters & Science, and School of Education are multicolored, representing their varied disciplines. Flags also feature the year in which each school or college was founded, from 1848 for the Law School and School of Medicine and Public Health (authorized in the charter for the newly created university) to 1983 for the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Flag bearers in the opening procession were selected by the dean of each school and college to represent their fellow students.
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
London Taylor Bates, Bachelor of Science, Community and Environmental Sociology, Certificate in Sustainability
College of Engineering
‡ Jason Sinaga, Bachelor of Science Computer Engineering
College of Letters & Science
Sneha Sadia, Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Certificates in Digital Studies and Environmental Studies
Graduate School
Kyle A. Grawe, Master of Science, Applied Biotechnology
Law School
Kelsey Gunvalson, Juris Doctor
Quinn Rumler, Juris Doctor
School of Business
Caleb Kipchumba Ng’etich, Bachelor of Business Administration, Actuarial Science
School of Education
Hope Shira Goldsmith, Bachelor of Science Health Promotion and Health Equity, Certificate in Disability Rights and Services
School of Human Ecology
‡ Fiona Widodo, Bachelor of Science Interior Architecture, Certificates in Design Strategy and Graphic Design
School of Medicine and Public Health
Arissa Dawn Watkins, Master of Public Health and Master of Public Affairs
School of Nursing
Aleah Nicole Noll, Bachelor of Science Nursing
School of Pharmacy
Ejura Yetunde Salihu, Doctor of Philosophy, Health Services Research in Pharmacy
School of Veterinary Medicine
Portia Renaud Smith, Doctor of Philosophy, Comparative Biomedical Science
‡ Candidate for Distinctive Scholastic Achievement
Academic colors and attire
During the ceremony, participating graduates will wear academic attire symbolizing level of degree earned, academic and scholastic achievement, and affiliations.