Processional
Student Banner Bearers
- Safa Ahmed, ’25 Business Administration
- Nam Tran, ’25 Business Administration
Announcement of the Commencement
Rangapriya (Priya) Kannan, Dean, Lucas College and Graduate School of Business
National Anthem
Mark Gomez
Welcome
Rangapriya (Priya) Kannan, Dean, Lucas College and Graduate School of Business
Presiding
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, SJSU President
Commencement Speaker
René Siegel, ’87 Public Relations
Presentation of Candidates
Vincent J. Del Casino Jr., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Presentation of Candidates
Vincent J. Del Casino Jr., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Conferring of Degrees
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, SJSU President
Alma Mater
Mark Gomez
“Hail, Spartans, Hail”
Recessional
René Siegel, ’87 Public Relations
René Siegel is a lifelong connector and communications leader who has spent her career helping people find their voice—and their next opportunity. She is the founder and former CEO of Connext, a Silicon Valley marketing consultancy that supported world-class brands including Cisco, Google, Intuit, Kaiser, LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Tesla. After leading Connext for more than two decades, René guided the company through its successful acquisition by Armanino, where she continued her impact as a Growth Office Partner for the Top 20 consulting firm. René has taught Strategic Communications as an adjunct professor at San José State and continues to champion students as a member of the Lucas College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board. She is known for mentoring leaders, elevating women in business, and helping professionals navigate their careers with clarity and confidence. Rene's work and perspectives have been featured in Forbes, Inc., and The Wall Street Journal, but her proudest achievement is raising three extraordinary humans.
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.