Commencement Program
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 1:30 p.m. Provident Credit Union Event Center — at San José State University
- Aerospace Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical and Materials Engineering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Interdisciplinary Engineering Program
- Mechanical Engineering
Processional
Student Banner Bearers
- Jose Luiz Sarabia Torres, ‘24 Mechanical Engineering
- Luz Azucena Ramos-Bautista, ‘24 Civil Engineering
Announcement of the Commencement
David Parent, Professor, Electrical Engineering
National Anthem
Rebekah Burns, ’25 Vocal Performance
Welcome
Sheryl Ehrman, Don Beall Dean, Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering
Presiding
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President
Congratulations from the SJSU Alumni Association
Amanda Abiera, ‘15 Biomedical Engineering, Member, Alumni Association Board of Directors
Commencement Address
Joubin Pakpour, ‘98 Civil Engineering
Outstanding Graduating Senior
Nikitha Fernandes, ‘24 Biomedical Engineering
Presentation of Candidates
Marc D’Alarcao, Dean, College of Graduate Programs
Sheryl Ehrman, Don Beall Dean, Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering
Conferring of Degrees
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President
Alma Mater
Rebekah Burns, ’25 Vocal Performance
“Hail, Spartans, Hail”
Recessional
Joubin Pakpour, ‘96 BS Civil Engineering, ‘98 MS Civil Engineering
Joubin Pakpour is a registered professional civil engineer with close to three decades of municipal engineering design and construction management experience. He is a graduate of San José State University with a bachelor’s (1996) and master’s (1998) in civil engineering. Throughout his career, he’s worked for both public agencies and private consulting firms.
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 Davidson College of Engineering is orange.
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. She found inspiration for the design in both SJSU history and the paths students take to reach graduation.