Doctoral, Law, Medical Professional, Master’s, and Bachelor’s Degree Candidate Ceremony
Sunday, December 14, 2025 | Kohl Center
Welcome to the one hundred and seventy-second 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.
Looking for information to prepare for the ceremony and day of logistics? Click below to find details on arrival times, seating, carry-in policies, and more.
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 2025 degree candidates representing each of the schools and colleges with their respective flags.
The National Anthem
Elizabeth Anne Cantwell ’25, Bachelor of Music, Music Education
Presiding Officer
Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
John Zumbrunnen, PhD
Welcome from UW–Madison Chancellor
Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin, JD, PhD
Welcome from the UW System Board of Regents
Regent Jack Salzwedel
Charge to the Graduates
Keynote Speaker Grace Vanderhei ’23
Conferral of Academic Degrees
Graduate School
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Musical Arts
Dean William J. Karpus, PhD
Law School
Doctor of Law (Juris Doctor)
Master of Laws
Dean Daniel P. Tokaji, JD
School of Medicine and Public Health
Doctor of Medicine
Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Master of Public Health
Dean Nita Ahuja, MD, MBA, FACS
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
Jeeva Premkumar ’25, Bachelor of Science–Chemical Engineering
Welcome to Alumnihood
Sarah Schutt, Chief Alumni Engagement Officer (WFAA) and Executive Director (WAA)
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 Devesh Ranjan, MS’05, PhD’07
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
Dean Vallabh Sambamurthy, 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–Educational Policy 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
Interim Dean Susan Zahner, DrPH, RN, FNAP, FAAN
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
Speakers
Senior class officers
School and college flags
The school and college flags used in today’s ceremony were commissioned for commencement by Chancellor Emerita 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
Lucy Marie Wersinger, Bachelor of Science, Microbiology
College of Engineering
Sanghyun Nam, Bachelor of Science–Biomedical Engineering, Certificate in Biology in Engineering
College of Letters & Science
‡ Madeline Mary Hutnik, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Certificates in Educational Policy Studies and Public Policy
Graduate School
Dharani Suresh Babu, Doctor of Philosophy, Horticulture, Minor in Computer Sciences
Law School
◊ Jill Patzner, Doctor of Law (Juris Doctor)
School of Business
Yongze Cheng, Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance, Investment, and Banking
School of Education
Patrick Schroeder, Bachelor of Science–Education, Elementary Education
School of Human Ecology
Kaina Darina Martinez, Master of Science, Human Ecology, Certificate in Community-Engaged Scholarship
School of Medicine and Public Health
Ana Maria Jimenez-Diaz, Master of Public Health
School of Nursing
Joni Blau, Bachelor of Science–Nursing
School of Pharmacy
Yixin Wang, Doctor of Philosophy, Pharmaceutical Sciences
School of Veterinary Medicine
Emily Lien Tran, Doctor of Philosophy, Comparative Biomedical Sciences
‡ Candidate for Distinctive Scholastic Achievement
◊ Dean’s Academic Achievement Award
Academic colors and attire
During the ceremony, participating graduates will wear academic attire symbolizing level of degree earned, academic and scholastic achievement, and affiliations.