Lucas College and Graduate School of Business San José State University

Commencement program

Friday, May 24, 2024 9:30 a.m. Provident Credit Union Event Center — at San José State University

  • Marketing and Business Analytics
  • Graduate School of Business
  • School of Management

Processional

Student Banner Bearers

  • Isabel Perez, ’24 Undergraduate of Business Administration, Human Resource Management
  • John Duarte, ’24 Graduate of Business Administration

Announcement of the Commencement

David Czerwinski, Associate Dean, Lucas College and Graduate School of Business

National Anthem

  • Jhony De Oliviera

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

Honorary Degree Recipient

The Honorable Rod Diridon, Sr.

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

Jhony De Oliviera

“Hail, Spartans, Hail”

Recessional

Rod Diridon, Sr.

Rodney “Rod” Diridon, Sr. graduated from San José State University in 1962 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and went on to earn an MBA in Business Administration in 1964. Rod Diridon, Sr. is known as the “father” of modern transit service in Silicon Valley and has chaired more than 100 international, national, state, and local programs, most related to transit and the environment. From 1993 to 2014, he was executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), a transportation policy research center created in 1991 by Congress. Today, Rod is still affiliated with the Institute as its Emeritus Executive Director. He frequently provides legislative testimony on sustainability.

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. She found inspiration for the design in both SJSU history and the paths students take to reach graduation.

Hail, Spartans, Hail!

Hail, Spartans, Hail! — Hail, gold, blue and white!
We pledge our hearts and hands to keep thy colors ever bright.
Forward we go! We will not fail!
Sing to our Alma Mater,
Hail! Hail! Hail!