Processional
Student Banner Bearers
- Lasya Reddy Kotha, ’25 Business Administration, Management Information Systems
- Charvi Choudhary, ’25 Business Administration, Management Information Systems
Announcement of the Commencement
Ginny Grace, Department Chair, Accounting and Finance
National Anthem
Rachel Nelson, ’25 Vocal Performance, Music Education
Welcome
Priya Kannan, ’05 MS Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Dean, Lucas College and Graduate School of Business
Presiding
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, SJSU President
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters
Constance B. Moore, ’77 Business Administration
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, President
Alma Mater
Lou Sullivan, ’25 Music Education
“Hail, Spartans, Hail”
Recessional
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters
Constance B. Moore, ’77 Business Administration
Constance B. Moore, ’77 Business Administration, launched her career in real estate at BRE Properties six months before graduating from San José State. A UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA graduate, Moore dedicated 40 years to real estate organizations before serving as CEO and president of BRE Properties from 2005-2014. A first-generation college student, Moore has served on the San José State University Tower Foundation Board; the Board of Directors of the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley; and trustee and governor of the Urban Land Institute, among other roles. The San Francisco Business Times named her one of the most influential women in the San Francisco business community, and in 2010 the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business at San José State awarded her the Distinguished Alumna Award.
Outstanding Graduating Senior
Shambhavi Sisodiya, ’25 Business Administration
Shambhavi Sisodiya is a graduating senior earning a B.S. in Business Management with a minor in Engineering. Graduating Summa Cum Laude and recognized with over a dozen university and national awards, Shambhavi is a dynamic leader, innovator, and community advocate. Throughout her time at SJSU, she has collaborated with organizations including U.S. Bank, Adobe, the County of Santa Clara, and Goldman Sachs, where she has led large-scale strategic initiatives at the intersection of product innovation, equity, and sustainability.
On campus, Shambhavi has championed inclusion through leadership roles in the Solidarity Network, LILAC, Women in Business, the Humanities Honors Program, and more—while also mentoring historically underserved students through multiple university programs. A design thinker and strategic problem solver, she brings together backgrounds in technology, business, and social impact with an unwavering dedication to equity and excellence.
Her impact reflects an unrelenting pursuit of purpose-driven leadership—and a future devoted to building systems that are more just, accessible, and human-centered.
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.