Processional
Student Banner Bearers
- Eman Allam, ’24 Business Analytics
- Nick Rodriguez, ’24 Accounting
Announcement of the Commencement
Tsu-Hong Yen, Chair, Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management Dept.
National Anthem
Lou Sullivan, ’25 Music Education
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
Janikke Klem, ’97 Health Science, President, Alumni Association Board of Directors
Commencement Speaker
Scott Daugherty, ’79 Accounting
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
Scott Daugherty
Scott Daugherty, ’79 Accounting, enjoyed a long and distinguished career in corporate real estate. During his three-decade tenure at commercial real estate brokerage firm Colliers International, he served as chairman, CFO, and executive vice president of the Occupiers Solutions division. In the latter role, Daugherty provided corporate real estate strategy and financial advisory services to a number of Silicon Valley’s most well-known financial services and technology firms.
His credentials include a BS in accounting from the Lucas College of Business, and a CPA and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He is an adjunct lecturer in real estate finance at Santa Clara University, a role he previously held at the Lucas College . His ambition is to educate and support the leaders of tomorrow, with the belief that they will continue the cycle of giving back.
Daugherty’s commitment to SJSU has been a lifelong passion. He was the president of the College of Business Alumni Association and has served as a member of the President’s Advisory Board and the Presidential Search Committee at SJSU. In his capacity as the university’s real estate advisor, he successfully negotiated the University’s joint venture with the City of San José for the 175,000 sq. ft Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr. Library on campus.
He is presently advocating for Dean Rangapriya Kannan in the development and execution of the school’s corporate and alumni engagement initiatives.
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.