Class of
The Graduate School Ceremony
Remarks and Congratulations
Reverend Thomas J. Regan, S.J., PhD • Dean, The Graduate School; Dean, College of Arts & Sciences; Director, Jesuit First Studies Program
Student Speaker
Paige J. Gardner • Doctor of Philosophy, Higher Education
Faculty Member of the Year
Barbara Velsor-Friedrich, PhD, RN, FAAN • Professor, Director of the PhD Program, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing
Name Readers
Heather Sevener • Assistant Dean, Student Services, The Graduate School
Leanne L. Cribbs, PhD, • Associate Dean, Graduate Education, Stritch School of Medicine
Download the Program
Congratulations to the Class of 2020
Candidates will be recognized by degree group in alpha order in the same order as the program book. Candidates will have their name read followed by Lay Title (if applicable).
Dean’s Note
Dear members of the Class of 2020,
My warmest congratulations as you complete your studies in the Graduate School and become alumni/ae of Loyola University Chicago. The lives of our faculty and staff have been enriched by walking with you on this important stage of your academic journey. Hopefully, you will take away from your time at Loyola not only the understanding that we must be life-long learners, but also a genuine and sincere desire to become People for Others, in the highest sense of the Jesuit ideal.
Reverend Thomas J. Regan, S.J., PhD
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences; Dean, The Graduate School; Director, Jesuit First Studies Program
Dissertations of The Year
Biomedical and Sciences
Dr. James Grayczyk, Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Microbiology and Immunology
Dissertation: A Staphylococcus aureus Metabolic Factor That Suppresses Immune Responses
Humanities
Dr. Erica Chu, Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, English
Dissertation: Identity Positivity in Decolonial Worlds: Making Room for Gender and Sexual Possibility
Professional Schools
Dr. Lincoln Andreas Hill, Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling Psychology School of Education
Dissertation: Black Women College Students, Impostor Phenomenon, Stereotypes, and Mental Health: A Mixed-Methods Approach
Social Sciences
Phillip Thomas Whittington, Degree of Master of Arts, Criminal Justice and Criminology
Thesis: “Location, Location, Location”: How Where a Prisoner Is Housed Influences the Prison Disciplinary Process
A letter from Alumni Relations
Dear Graduate,
Congratulations on your graduation, and welcome to Loyola’s alumni community! It’s a great time to be a Rambler and an alumnus. We celebrate the students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends of Loyola who continue to make this University the special place it is.
While graduation signals a change in your status from student to alumnus, it also signals a new beginning. Commencement is the first step in your new relationship with Loyola. You join over 150,000 other proud alumni who have found a number of ways to stay connected to their alma mater.
Here are a few ways you can stay engaged:
Read full letterA letter from Alumni Relations
Dear Graduate,
Congratulations on your graduation, and welcome to Loyola’s alumni community! It’s a great time to be a Rambler and an alumnus. We celebrate the students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends of Loyola who continue to make this University the special place it is.
While graduation signals a change in your status from student to alumnus, it also signals a new beginning. Commencement is the first step in your new relationship with Loyola. You join over 150,000 other proud alumni who have found a number of ways to stay connected to their alma mater.
Here are a few ways you can stay engaged:
Attend Alumni Weekend. Join us virtually in October and experience Loyola as an alumnus/a. It’s a great time to reconnect and celebrate all the memories you’ve made the past few years. We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2020 this fall. Visit LUC.edu/alumni for more details.
Come to events. Join your fellow alumni in Chicago and nationwide for networking, career development, happy hours, volunteer opportunities, and sporting events. To register for and learn about future alumni events, visit LUC.edu/alumni/events.
Stay connected. As a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, you are a member of a global network of alumni. Become an active member of this network by joining the Loyola alumni group on LinkedIn, “liking” the Loyola alumni page on Facebook and Instagram, and creating your online alumni profile to connect with alumni all over the world. To create your profile, visit LUC.edu/alumni/directory, and keep us posted if you move or change jobs.
Volunteer. Alumni help plan reunions, participate in service opportunities, be on an volunteer board, organize regional events, provide career advice for students and other alumni, and much more. E-mail LUC-alum@LUC.edu to let us know about your volunteering interests.
Be an Ambassador. Help enhance Loyola’s reputation by promoting the University and keeping in touch. Recommend Loyola to a high school student. Let other alumni know about the good work you are doing in your community by submitting a class note. Give to scholarships that enable future Ramblers to set the world on fire. Hire a Loyolan. Share the news about Loyola with your family, friends, and neighbors. Wear Loyola gear, and show your Rambler pride!
We hope your Jesuit education serves you well and that you continue to be successful, caring people for others.
Congratulations!
Alumni Relations