Order of Events Processional Welcome and Opening Remarks I John R. Finnegan, Jr., Ph.D. Dean, School of Public Health I Student Address Suzanne Sobotka School of Public Health Student Senate President Introduction of Commencement Speaker John Finnegan Commencement Address Vice Admiral Richard Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S. United States Surgeon General Presentation of the Candidates for the M.P.H. Degree William Riley, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Student Affairs ยท.~------------------------------------------------~ Presentation of the Candidates for the M.H.A., M.S. and Ph.D. Degrees Judith Garrard, Ph.D. Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research Conferring of Degrees The Honorable John Frobenius Regent, University of Minnesota Recitation of the Public Health Professionals Pledge SPH Student Senate Officers and Graduates Closing Remarks John Finnegan Recessional Reception All graduates, faculty, and guests are invited to the reception in the lobby immediately following the ceremony. Commencement Allison S. Heinzeller Officials Lea Nicole Howard Kachina Via Inman University of Minnesota - Karen Marie Kaphingst The Honorable John Frobenius, Brianna Claire Kopp Regent Heather Moore Academic Health Center - Sara Beth Mueller Nicholas L. Rabe Frank Cerra , M.D. , Laura M. Richardson Senior Vice President Jessica Seppala School of Public Health - Sarah A. Tramel John R. Finnegan Jr., Ph .D., Gizaw Tseha i Dean Loren Utter Wisniewski Judith Garrard , Ph .D. , Environmental Health Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affatrs and Research Bhavana Anand Debra Olson , M.P.H ., Elizabeth Boyle Associate Dean for Public Health Practice Education Matthew F. Duff William Riley, Ph .D., Dabrina Dutcher Associa te Dean for Student Affairs Leah Dvorak Naomi English Commencement Sing-Wei Ho Benjamin Lehmann Marshals Sue Mollner Emily Abbott Sriharsha Nagaraj Stephanie Ball Mary Navara Oluyemisi Aderonke Olubi Rachel Bosman Oriana Raabe Corbett Jackson Heidi Roeber Rice Dominique Lopez-Stickney Elizabeth Scherman Carmen Parrotta Scott Sibbel Graduates Kaia Ann Sjogren Megan Torgrude 2005-2006 Sabre T. Watkins Julia M. Weddell Master of Public Health (MPH) Epidemiology Community Health Education Pauline Amundson Alicia Allen Anders Christopher Boyd Debra Andrews Sancia Kim Ferguson Holly Ashmore Melanie Lynn Graham Heather M. Beach Alanna M. Gramenz . Elizabeth Brock Amy Hughes Ellen Rachel Church Sofia Husain Angela E. Fabbrini Jonetta Lesl ie Johnson Melanie Lynn Ferris Kristine Marie Kaus Rebecca C. Fitch Melissa M. Kemperman Ariela M. Freedman Neerja R. Khurana Anne Potts Grimmius Ann E. Hammer Madeline Emahiser Environmental Health Benjamin Exley Jennifer L. Austin Janelle Gilge Amanda Blasiak Christopher Hawley Jo Anne Brock Danielle Heffner Margaret Ann Bryne Rashi Hemnani Tricia Carmody Stuart Henry Rick Jansen Nicholas Johnson Phil Jensen Kun II Kim Ramona Johnson Brandon McBride Sarah Elizabeth Johnson Sara Medved Kelly Lewis Eric Meissner Perianan Periakaruppan Josephine Muigai Kristin L. Viger Kelly Ohman Health Services Research, Policy, Daniel Steffen and Administration Samuel Stone Mathew Cherian Melissa Symanski Tao Jin Daryl Thomas Anthony S. Kouba Gerrit VanBruggen Raymond Mierwald Master of Science (MS) Nancy A. Omondi I Biostatistics Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Qing Cao Biostatistics Colleen Curran Freda W. Cooner Tarek Haddad Jia Guo Brian P. Hobbs Yi He Qinlei Huang Haijun Ma Jonathan Johnson Guanghua Xiao Yi Peng Yang Xie Ying Qi Yan Zheng Hongyan Qiao Environmental Health Shweta Sharma Kathleen Ferguson Car lson Hua Tian Muree Larson-Bright Dan Wang Carrie Rigdon Kristen Ward Tracy Sides Melissa Warden Ann Thompson I Peng Wei Benhuai Xie Epidemiology Zang Xiong Shujun Gao Jared D. Sturgeon Xinyu Zhou Meghan Warren Yanni Zhu Rachel Widome Clinical Research Lu Wang Sharon Chen Health Services Research, Policy, and Antoinette Peters Administration Julia M. Steinke Mary Butler George M. Tadros Caroline Carlin 2006 Commencement Speaker Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona was sworn in as the 17th Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service on August 5, 2002. Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Carmona dropped out of high school and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967. While enlisted he received his Army General Equivalency Diploma, joined the Army's Special Forces, ultimately becoming a combat-decorated Vietnam veteran, and began his career in medicine. After leaving active duty, Dr. Carmona attended Bronx Community College, of the City University of New York, where he earned his associate of arts degree. He later attended and graduated from the University of California, San Francisco, with a bachelor of science degree (1977) and medical degree (1979). At the University of California Medical School, Dr. Carmona was awarded the prestigious gold headed cane as the top graduate. He has also earned a masters of public health from the University of Arizona (1998). Dr. Carmona has worked in various positions in the medical field including paramedic, registered nurse and physician. Dr. Carmona completed a surgical residency at the University of California, San Francisco, and a National Institutes of Health-sponsored fellowship in trauma, burns and critical care. Dr. Carmona is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is also certified in correctional health care and in quality assurance. Prior to being named Surgeon General, Dr. Carmona was the chairman of the State of Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System, a professor of surgery, public health and family and community medicine at the University of Arizona , and the Pima County Sheriff's Department surgeon and deputy sheriff. Dr. Carmona has also held progressive positions of responsibility as chief medical officer, hospital chief executive officer, public health officer, and finally chief executive officer of the Pima county health care system . He has also served as a medical director of police and fire departments and is a fully-qualified peace officer with expertise in special operations and emer- gency preparedness, including weapons of mass destruction . Dr. Carmona has published extensively and received numerous awards, decorations, and local and national recognition for his achievements. A strong supporter of community service , he has served on community and national boards and provided leadership to many diverse organizations. Academic Regalia The hood worn by graduates displays the colors of the institution and discipline. The lining colors of maroon and gold identify the University of Minnesota. The border color of salmon identifies public health (M.P.H. and M.H.A.), gold identifies science (M.S.), and dark blue identifies philosophy (Ph.D.). Graduates wear black gowns; those earning a Ph.D. are distinguished with bell sleeves and velvet chevrons. Faculty members wear gowns and hoods identifying the institution and field in which they earned their highest degree. Faculty in the School of Public Health have backgrounds in many different areas of study including green for medicine, dark blue for philosophy, and purple for law. Public Health Professionals Pledge As a public health professional dedicated to enhancing the health status and well being of individuals and communities, I pledge to hold the public interest and health of populations as my highest professional goals.