Processional
Student Banner Bearers
- Katia Kandah, ’24 Business Administration, concentration in finance
- Jasmine Alvarado, ‘24 Business Administration, concentration in management information systems
Announcement of the Commencement
Elizabeth Grace, Chair, Accounting and Finance Department
National Anthem
Rebekah Burns, ’25 Vocal Performance
Welcome
Priya Kannan, ’05 MS Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Dean, Lucas College and Graduate School of Business
Presiding
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President
Congratulations from the SJSU Alumni Association
Wanda Hendrix, ’77 Sociology, ’94 MPA Member, Alumni Association Board of Directors
Commencement Speaker
John W. Baird
Presentation of Candidates
Marc D’Alarcao, Dean, College of Graduate Studies
Priya Kannan, ’05 MS Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Dean, Lucas College and Graduate School of Business
Conferring of Degrees
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President
Alma Mater
Rebekah Burns, ’25 Vocal Performance
“Hail, Spartans, Hail”
Recessional
John W. Baird, Ph.D.
John Baird is one of the premier executive coaches in Silicon Valley, and over the past twenty-five years he has worked with top leaders at start-up organizations as well as at Fortune 500 firms like Apple, Nike, and Twitter. He founded several companies, including ExecutivEdge, Edgeman Coaching, and the Velocity Group, and serves as a fellow at Sapphire Ventures and on various nonprofit boards. His recent book, “Leading with Heart: Five Conversations That Unlock Creativity, Purpose and Results” is a Wall Street Journal bestseller. His book was named as one of the top business books (#6) of the year for 2022 by The Next Big Idea Book Club. Baird is a popular presenter on podcasts, corporate keynotes and workshops helping leaders inspire their teams and organizations to high levels of performance.
He holds a Ph.D. in organizational communication and leadership from Purdue University. He spent 17 years on the faculty at San José State University in the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business, directed the MBA program, served as the director of the Institute for Teaching and Learning, and was named the university’s Outstanding Professor in 1989. Currently, Baird serves on the SJSU Tower Board.
Regalia
Commencement exercises like today’s ceremony date from the Middle Ages and the traditions of Europe’s first universities. Our graduates and members of the platform party are wearing regalia — robes, hoods and caps —that are likely adapted from the clothing of medieval priests or friars. Spot the differences in the gowns:
- Presidential gown is adorned with four bars, representing the Office of the President.
- Doctoral gown has velvet panels down the front and three velvet bars on each of the bell-shaped sleeves. The color of the velvet may indicate the academic discipline.
- Master’s gown may be worn open and has long sleeves with slits above the elbow.
- Bachelor’s gown has a closed front and long, pointed sleeves.
Draped over the shoulders, the hood evolved from a priest’s cowl and was often used to carry items — the first backpack, perhaps. The lining colors signify the college or university granting the degree. At San José State, the hood is gold, blue and white. The monk’s skullcap became the mortarboard cap or tam. Black is the accepted cap color in the United States, but many foreign universities have colorful headdresses.
Tassels vary in use and color. At SJSU, the color of tassels for bachelor’s degree candidates represent each college. The color for the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business is sapphire blue.
The Ceremonial Mace
An ornamental staff or scepter, the mace is carried by officials as part of formal parliamentary or academic ceremonies. A gift from the Tower Foundation of SJSU, the university’s ceremonial mace was designed and created by Art and Art History Lecturer Yvonne Escalante, ’13 MFA Spatial Arts (right photo). She found inspiration for the design in both SJSU history and the paths students take to reach graduation.