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Commencement
Philip Merrill Collegeof Journalism
Thursday, May 19, 2016
9:00 a.m.
Ritchie Coliseum, University of Maryland, College Park
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Commencement Program
PROCEEDINGS
Lucy Dalglish
Dean of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Scott Van Pelt
Sportscaster and Talk Show Host, ESPN
RECOGNITION OF
PH.D. STUDENT
Dean Dalglish, assisted by Prof. Sarah Oates
RECOGNITION OF
MASTER’S STUDENTS
Dean Dalglish, assisted by
Associate Dean Rafael Lorente
RECOGNITION OF
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Dean Dalglish, assisted by
Associate Dean Olive Reid
STUDENT SPEAKER
Jessie Karangu
ANNOUNCER
David Ottalini
Mer
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Student Awards
SPJ Julie Galvan Outstanding Graduating Senior Award
Emily Cornelia Schweich
Outstanding Broadcast News Senior Award
Emily Cornelia Schweich
Outstanding Multimedia News Senior Award
Nathaniel Townsend Rabner
Kappa Tau Alpha Award for Outstanding Academic Accomplishment
Abigail Thea Burton
Nicole May Curtis
Alexandra Nichole Givan
Marissa Joy Laliberte
Annika Elizabeth Swanson McGinnis
Nathaniel Townsend Rabner
Emily Cornelia Schweich+
Tong Wu
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Award for Outstanding Service to Merrill
Amanda Elise Eisenberg
Marissa Mary Morris
Emily Cornelia Schweich
Outstanding Master’s Student Award
Rachel Bluth
Nathaniel Neil Kresh
+
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Kappa Tau Alpha Top Scholar
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Other Acknowledgements
Appreciation for Volunteer Service to Merrill
Jessica Leigh Blum
Ariana Castro Acuna
Nicole May Curtis
Melissa DeCandia
Marissa Lynne Horn
Alexandra Nichole Givan
Jessie Karangu
Anika Jean Reed
Erin Nicole Serpico
Iman N. Smith
Alex Nicole Stoller
Jamie Robyn Weissman
Mer
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The Graduates
Doctor of Philosophy
Tetyana “Tanya” Lokot
Augmented Dissent:The Affordances of ICTs for Citizen Protest (A Case
Study of the Ukraine Euromaidan Protests of 2013-2014)
Adviser: Professor Sarah Oates
Master of Journalism
Allene Abrahamian
Rachel Bluth
Alexander P. Evans
Connor Kane Glowacki
Micha Patrice Green
Felicia Houston
Troy De’Ron Jefferson
Nathaniel Neil Kresh
Auburn Andrew Mann
Keziah Christine Proctor
Joshua Gregory Rogers
Karen Kay Tang
John Michael Tart
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The Graduates
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
Olin Perri Akisoglu
Carlos Omar Alfaro Rodriguez
Jacob Myers Allegro
Maria Fernanda Andia
Joseph Tyler Antoshak
Daryoush Sebastien Ashtary-Yazdi
Ryan Jerome Baillargeon*
Jonathan Eric Banister
Lauren Bartley
Elena Theodora Baurkot
Alexandra Morgan Bayline
Matthew Chad Beinart
Jacob James Earl Bell
Jessica Leigh Blum
Daniella Dorelle Bozzini
Jordan Elizabeth Branch*
Alexis Ashley Brown
Abigail Thea Burton * KTA
Matthew Richard Bylis
Christopher Michael Calianno
Ariana Castro Acuna
Darcy Gail Costello
Alexa Esrell Cottman-Robinson
Nicole May Curtis * KTA
Eli Brett Davis
Margaret DeBlasis
Omar Jamison DeBrew
Melissa DeCandia
Nicole Ofosua Dei
Rachel Lynn DeSantis
Marina Antonia Di Marzo**
Phoebe Jean Dinner
Rachel Catharine Dooley
Ashley Lynn Dorsey
Nicole S. Ebanks
Morgan Taylor Eichensehr*
Amanda Elise Eisenberg
Peter Pericles Eliopoulos
Hayley Moulton Fahey
Hayley Rachel Fixler
Joseph P. Franco
Danielle Frontin
Shannon Rose Gallagher
Poojah Ganesh
Verna Sara Gibson
Alexandra Nichole Givan * KTA
Emily Michelle Goldman
Sara Elane Goodwin
Rachel Hannah Greenwald
Natalie Nicole Griffin*
Alessia Dana Grunberger
Nicole Luisa Gutierrez
Bailey Nicole Hayek
Jenna Christine Hecker
Bethany Lynn Hooper
Andrew Christopher Horn
Marissa Lynne Horn
Elaine Cavanaugh Hunt
Brianna S. Hurwitz
Giovanni Enrique Insignares
Taylor Johnson
Jessie Karangu
Gabriel Bruce Katzman
Kai Orion Keefe
Alexander Scott Kirshner*
Renee Alyssa Klahr
Kathryn Juliette Klett
Bryan William Knill
Natalie Jeanne Koltun
Matthew Paul Kubisiak
Kevin Joseph LaFrancis
Marissa Joy Laliberte * KTA
Joelle Rachel Lang
Eric Marshall Lasser
Michelle Ilyse Leibowitz
Matthew Lichtenstadter
Tisha Claudia Lim
Danielle Roberta Ling
Alexus Gold March
Brian Patrick Marron
Mer
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Fidel Angel Martinez
Annika Elizabeth
Swanson McGinnis *** KTA
Alec Jay Milton
Alexia Dominique
Mingo-Smith
Miles David Moore
Marissa Mary Morris
Jennifer Munoz
Mojan Najmabadi
Joshua Stuart Needelman
Kristy D. Nguyen
Kaitlin Marie Nizolek
Daisy-Nelly Ngum Nji
Kathryn Lynn O’Hara
Helen Duobara
Okobokekeimei
Nicholas Pagliarulo
Alexandra Pamias Reichard
Charis Rose Pannell
Alexandra Paonetti
Jacob Evan Pargament
Matthew Joseph Present
Ryan Bret Queler
Nathaniel Townsend Rabner * KTA
Emily Elizabeth Rainey
Deepa Singh Ramudamu
Anika Jean Reed
Kevin Joseph Reilly
Mauricio Nehemias Rivera
Julianna Elizabeth Romaniuk
Jordan Tyler Rosenberg
Noelle Elizabeth Royer*
Daniel John Russo
Zoe Lenore Sagalow
Brandi Nicole Samuel
Alexis Chanel Saunders
Matthew Ryan Schnabel
Emily Cornelia Schweich *** KTA
Michael John Scialabba
Javier Lamar Scott
Melissa Gail Seitz
Erin Nicole Serpico
Karina Annette Shedrofsky
Catherine Michelle Sheffo**
Michael Scott Siegel
Clarice Scaler Silber
Max Joseph Siskind
Iman N. Smith
Jeremy Michael Snow
Jessica Lynn Stein
Samuel Joseph Tarantelli Stern
Alex Nicole Stoller
Phillip Suitts
Eric B. Sumner
Erik Jarel Swann
Nicole Suzanne Tapiero
Colleen Grace Toohey**
Leo A. Traub**
Erica Kailes Tropp
Alexandra Lucia Turcios-Cruz
Jaclyn Nicole Turner
Kierstin Marie Vermeulen
Maria Volkova
Taylor Carlisle Watford
Daniel Seth Weintraub
Jamie Robyn Weissman
Tong Wu * KTA
Joseph MacLeod Zimmermann
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* cum laude
** magna cum laude
*** summa cum laude
KTA
Kappa Tau Alpha/journalism
mass communication honor society
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Commencement Speakers
S
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SCOTT VAN PELT
cott Van Pelt grew up in Brookville, Md. and attended the
University of Maryland. A proud Terp, he often attends games as
a spectator when his schedule permits.
Van Pelt began his sports broadcasting career at WTTG-TV
(FOX) in Washington, D.C., in 1990. He worked in the WTTG
sports studio production department, contributing content for
the station’s 10:00 p.m. news, Sunday Night’s Sports Extra and
specials on the Washington Redskins.
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By 1994, he was an anchor and reporter for the Golf Channel.
During his six years there, he was the co-host of studio programs such as “Golf Central,”
“Leaderboard Report” and an occasional host of Viewer’s Forum.
Van Pelt moved on to ESPN in early 2001 as the network’s lead golf reporter, shortly thereafter
becoming a “SportsCenter” anchor and later a co-host on ESPN Radio for “Tirico and Van
Pelt” each weekday afternoon.
In July 2009, “The Scott Van Pelt Show” made its debut on ESPN Radio and as a simulcast
on ESPN2. The show was re-named “SVP & Russillo” in October 2012, and ended in the
summer of 2015 when Van Pelt transitioned to the new midnight “SportsCenter.” Van Pelt also
contributed to “ESPN College GameDay” for several years with his “Bald Man on Campus”
feature.
Today, Scott Van Pelt is host of the midnight edition of ESPN’s SportsCenter, bringing his
unique perspective to the world of sports. The program showcases his passion for sports, his
self-deprecating wit and his disposition toward celebrating stars and storylines.
Van Pelt also contributes to ESPN’s telecasts of the Masters and The U.S. Open, two of
professional golf ’s majors, as both an anchor and hole announcer, and hosts “SportsCenter”
reports and specials from the events.
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essie Karangu is a senior at the University of
Maryland. He currently serves as the President of the
Maryland Association of Black Journalists as well as the
editor-in-chief and founder of Pulsefeedz, a college
news and entertainment website. Karangu has interned
at WUSA-TV and CNN and also served as operations
managers at WXSU-LP in Salisbury, MD. Karangu is
a Baltimore native with Kenyan roots and has on-air
aspirations in the future.
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JOURNALISM
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JESSIE KARANGU
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Faculty and Staff
Faculty
SANDRA BANISKY, J.D., University of Baltimore
SUE KOPEN KATCEF, B.S., University of Maryland
MAURINE H. BEASLEY, Ph.D., The George
Washington University, professor emerita
KEVIN KLOSE, B.A., Harvard University
THOMAS BETTAG, Eleanor Merrill Distinguished
Visting Fellow, M.S., Columbia University
KEVIN BLACKISTONE, Shirley Povich Chair
in Sports Journalism, M.A., Boston University
KALYANI CHADHA, Ph.D., University of Maryland
IRA CHINOY, Ph.D., University of Maryland
CASSANDRA CLAYTON, B.A., Spelman College
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RAFAEL LORENTE, M.A., University of Maryland
SUSAN D. MOELLER, Ph.D., Harvard University
SEAN MUSSENDEN, M.A., University of Maryland
DEBORAH NELSON, J.D., DePaul University
JOHN NEWHAGEN, Ph.D., Stanford
University, professor emeritus
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SARAH OATES, Ph.D., Emory University
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LUCY A. DALGLISH, J.D., Vanderbilt
University Law School
JOSHUA DAVIDSBURG B.A.,
University of Maryland
KAREN DENNY M.A., University of Maryland
NICHOLAS DIAKOPOULOS Ph.D.,
Georgia Institute of Technology
MARK FELDSTEIN, Richard Eaton
Chair in Broadcast Journalism, Ph.D.,
University of North Carolina
ADRIANNE FLYNN, B.A., Arizona State University
JON FRANKLIN, Philip Merrill Chair in
Journalism, Doctor of Humane Letters (Honorary),
University of Maryland at Baltimore County; B.S.,
University of Maryland, professor emeritus
DOUGLAS GOMERY, Ph.D., University
of Wisconsin, professor emeritus
CHRISTOPHER HANSON, Ph.D.,
University of North Carolina
CHRISTINE HARVEY, B.S., University of Maryland
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DANA PRIEST Knight Chair in Public Affairs
Journalism, B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz
EUGENE L. ROBERTS, JR., Doctor of Letters
(Honorary), University of Maryland; Doctor of Laws
(Honorary), University of Michigan; B.A.,
University of North Carolina, professor emeritus
GEORGE SOLOMON., B.S., University of Florida
LINDA STEINER, Ph.D., University
of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
BETHANY SWAIN, B.A., Ithaca College
LESLIE WALKER, M.A., University of Virginia
RONALD A.YAROS, Ph.D.,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
and
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CARL SESSIONS STEPP JR., M.A.,
University of South Carolina
Academic Deans
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Administration
LUCY A. DALGLISH, Dean
RAFAEL LORENTE Associate Dean, Academic
Affairs and Director of Master’s Program
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OLIVE REID, Associate Dean, Director of
Undergraduate Programs and Equity Officer
EMILY HARTZ, Assistant Dean for Business Operations
LELE ASHWORTH, Assistant Dean, External Relations
BILL PARKER, Chief Engineer - UMTV
AL PERRY, Student Newsroom Supervisor
RACHEL PLEATMAN, Undergraduate Academic Advisor
DAVID WATSON, Assistant Director, Graduate Studies
CLINT BUCCO, Director of Computer Services
NATALIE COSNER, Dean’s Office Coordinator
ADRIANNE FLYNN, Director of
Internships and Career Development
CHRISTINE HARVEY, Director of Assessments
and Graduate Multimedia Certificate Program
JOSHUA MADDEN, Director of Student Services
Affiliate Program Directors
ANDREW NYNKA, Executive Director,
Society for Features Journalism
DARRYL R. MATTHEWS, SR., Executive
Director, National Association of Black Journalists
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BETH MECHUM, Assistant Director, Shirley
Povich Center for Sports Journalism
HOPE MOOKIM, Program Management Specialist
KAYLA NEWTON, Development Coordinator
VANESSA NICHOLS-HOLMES, Business Manager
SARAH OATES, Director of Doctoral Programs
MARISA OSORIO, Deputy Director, Hubert H.
Humphrey Fellowship Program and Lecturer
SUSAN D. MOELLER, Director, International
Cemter for Media and the Public Agenda
SERAP RADA Director, Hubert H.
Humphrey Fellowship Program
GEORGE SOLOMON, Director, Shirley
Povich Center for Sports Journalism
DAVID OTTALINI, Senior Communications Manager
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Board of Visitors
Chairman:
CATHERINE MERRILL WILLIAMS,
President and Publisher,The Washingtonian
JANE HEALY ‘71, Editor and Columnist
(retired Orlando Sentinel)
THOMAS BADEN ‘80, Editor,The Daily Record
GERALD HROBLAK, President,
Richard Eaton Foundation
BONNIE BERNSTEIN ‘92, Vice President,
Content & Brand Development, Campus Insiders
JOHN JENKINS ‘72, President and
Publisher Emeritus, CQ Press
RALPH CROSBY ‘56, Chairman and
CEO, Crosby Marketing Communications
JAY KERNIS ‘74, Producer, NBC News
RICHARD DAVIS, MA ‘84, Executive Vice
President, News Standards and Practices, CNN
ROBERT DOHERTY ‘79, General
Manager, U.S. Reuters
PAULA LYNN ELLIS ‘76, President,
Paula Ellis & Associates
CONSTANCE MITCHELL FORD
‘77, Global Real Estate and Property
Bureau Chief,The Wall Street Journal
CHRIS FRATES ’02, Investigative
Correspondent, CNN
SANDRA LONG WEAVER ’74,
Communications Coordinator, Imagine No
Malaria, United Methodist Church
ADAM OSTROW ‘04, Chief Strategy Officer, Mashable
ROY SCHWARTZ ’98, MBA ‘01,
Chief Revenue Officer, Politico
JOHN SENG ‘79, President, Spectrum
Science Communications
SCOTT VAN PELT, Anchor/Reporter, ESPN
EUN YANG ‘95, Anchor/Reporter, NBC4 Washington
GEOFFREY GONELLA ‘90, President,
Cornerstone Government Affairs
HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS:
CONNIE CHUNG ’69, Journalist and News Anchor, Board Member 2009-2015
ELEANOR MERRILL, Chairman,The Washingtonian, Board Member 1983-2007 and Chairman 1995-2007
MARION K. POYNTER, Times Publishing Co., Board Member 1990-2005
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