Department of English Celebrates Graduates in Diploma Ceremony
By Jessica Manack
The Department of English community gathered on Saturday, May 10 for the 2025 Commencement of both undergraduate and graduate students.
Dr. Andreea Ritivoi, William S. Dietrich Professor of English and Department Head, began the ceremony, extending gratitude to the assembled faculty, families, friends, and students present, who filled McConomy Auditorium to capacity.
The graduating Ph.D. students were then hooded—a symbolic gesture to recognize their accomplishments—by Associate Professor Marian Aguiar, who served on both of their dissertation committees. Eunji Jo and Benjamin Williams received their Ph.D.s in Literary and Cultural Studies. Yishan Wang also received their Ph.D. in Rhetoric.
The graduate student speaker, Ramsha Naveed, M.A. Rhetoric, then delivered her speech, making the audience laugh and think as she enumerated the benefits of having a degree in Rhetoric. She inspired the audience, explaining that “every action you take is a vote for the person you want to be.”
Kathy M. Newman, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in English, then called the names of the graduate students receiving diplomas. 34 students received the Master of Arts degree – six in Global Communication & Applied Translation, 14 in Literary & Cultural Studies, nine in Professional Writing, and five in Rhetoric.
The ceremony moved on to the undergraduate students, with Creative Writing major Jimmy Baracia delivering a moving speech honoring this year’s graduating class. In his speech, Jimmy spoke of the value of following one's own path, even circuitous ones, to one's ideal, and the importance of gaining true self-awareness in the process.
Professor Jane Bernstein called out the names of the undergraduate students receiving diplomas. 25 students received a Bachelor of Arts degree, one received a Bachelor of Science degree, and nine received a Bachelor of Humanities and Arts degree. 46 students received either an additional major or a minor from the department in one or more of the following: Creative Writing, Film and Visual Media, Literature and Culture, Professional Writing, Technical Writing, and Gender Studies.
Professor Ritivoi delivered the closing remarks. She advised the graduates: “Don’t look at the world only as a series of problems…remember that you are the ones with the imagination.” Thanking the graduates for “the honor of learning with you, class of 2025,” Ritivoi closed the ceremony, congratulating the students once more before bagpiper Betsy McFarland escorted the graduates out, and welcoming guests to a reception in the Schatz Dining Room.
Additional Links:
Program: Click here to view
Video: Click here to view
Speeches:
Jimmy Baracia
Ramsha Naveed