College of Natural Sciences Commencement Program
140th Year of
COMMENCEMENT
Fall 2023
College of Natural Sciences Commencement
December 16, 2023
Order of Ceremony
Processional – Colorado State Brass Quintet
Commencement Emcee – Dr. Darrell Whitley
Presentation of the Colors – Air Force ROTC Wing Walker Honor Guard
National Anthem – Nathan Messina-Anderson
Introduction of Platform Party – Dr. Whitley
Dean’s Welcome and Introduction of Commencement Speaker – Interim Dean Simon Tavener
Commencement Address – Dr. Elaine Dorward-King
President Remarks and Presentation of Class for Conferral – President Amy Parsons
Conferral of Degrees – Betsy Markey
Diploma Distribution – Interim Dean Tavener and Department Chairs
Alumni Welcome – Dr. Lisa Dysleski
Closing Remarks – Interim Dean Tavener
Alma Mater – Nathan Messina-Anderson
Recessional – Colorado State Brass Quintet
Announcer: Dr. Jacob Roberts, Chair, Department of Physics
ASL Interpreters: Sara McHattie and Kylie Mosell
Marshals: Drs. Steve Benoit, Edward Delosh, Joseph DiVerdi, Martin Gelfand, Carlos Olivo-Delgado
On the Platform
FRONT ROW:
Dr. Melinda Smith, Chair, Faculty Council
Betsy Markey, Member, CSU System Board of Governors
Amy Parsons, J.D., President, Colorado State University
Dr. Elaine Dorward-King
Dr. Simon Tavener, Interim Dean
Dr. Darrell Whitley, Interim Associate Dean
Dr. Lisa Dysleski, Associate Dean
Dr. Shawn Bingham, Director, University Honors Program
SECOND ROW:
Dr. Laurie Stargell, Chair, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Dr. Deborah Garrity, Chair, Biology
Dr. Matthew Shores, Chair, Chemistry
Dr. Bruce Draper, Chair, Computer Science
Dr. Alexander Hulpke, Interim Chair, Mathematics
Dr. Jacob Roberts, Chair, Physics
Dr. Don Rojas, Chair, Psychology
Dr. Haonan Wang, Chair, Statistics
Dr. Meena Balgopal, Biology, University Distinguished Teaching Scholar
Dr. Debbie Crans, Chemistry, University Distinguished Professor
Dr. LeRoy Poff, Biology, University Distinguished Professor
Dr. Alan Knapp, Biology, University Distinguished Professor
Faculty Representatives
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Drs., Pui Shing Ho, Aaron Sholders, Olve Peersen, Eric Ross, Tim Stasevich
Biology: Drs. Tanya Dewey, Graham Peers, Daniel Sloan, Melinda Smith
Chemistry: Drs. Anna Allen, Delphine Farmer, Kerry MacFarland
Computer Science: Drs. Indrajit Ray, Indrakshi Ray
Mathematics: Drs. David Aristoff, Amit Patel, Renzo Cavalieri, Clay Shonkwiler, Emily King, Michael Kirby, James Liu, Wolfgang Bangerth
Physics: Drs. Norm Buchanan, Dylan Yost, Stuart Field, Emily Hardegreen-Ullman
Psychology: Drs. Patricia Aloise-Young, Silvia Sara Canetto, Deana Davalos, Emily Merz, Tracy Richards, Michael Thomas
Statistics: Drs. Stacey Edmondson, Yawen Guan
Dr. Elaine Dorward-King, Commencement Speaker
Dr. Elaine Dorward-King has spent her career working on sustainability and safety in the mining, chemical, agricultural, and engineering industries. As a well-known expert in the area of sustainable development, Dr. Dorward-King is a sought-after advisor for companies and organizations around the globe.
After completing her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry at Colorado State University in 1984, she quickly rose through the ranks at Monsanto in their research division. She went on to positions at several companies where she led company initiatives in environment and safety, including as the Executive Vice President for Environmental, Social, and Governance Strategy at Newmont Corporation.
She currently serves on numerous boards and has been recognized as a trail blazer through many awards including the Most Inspirational Woman in Mining in 2020.
Dr. Dorward-King will serve as the College of Natural Sciences Fall 2023 Commencement speaker.
College of Natural Sciences
Candidates for University Honors Scholar
Fall 2023
Brianna Alers, Psychology major and Chemistry minor with Mind, Brain and Behavior concentration. Thesis title: Synesthetic Influences on Perception and Interpretation of Heat Maps.
Grace Babcock, Psychology major and Global Studies minor with General Psychology concentration. Thesis title: Redesigning CSU’s Alcohol Education Program.
Meghan Bodman, Biological Science major with Biological Science concentration. Thesis title: Intelligently Designed or Naturally Derived? A Scientific Discourse on Matters of Creation and the Natural World.
Emma Bryer, Biological Science major with Biological Science concentration. Thesis title: The Shifting Perspective on the Severity of Plastic Pollution: A Look into the Internal Biological Response to Microplastic Invasion on a Global Scale.
James Gorder, Biochemistry major and Biomedical Sciences minor with Health and Medical Sciences concentration. Thesis title: Examining Medical Race Science from a Sociological and Biochemical Lens.
Ashlyn Hillyard, Computer Science major and Chemistry minor with Computer Science concentration. Thesis title: Developing a Website That Uses Previous Race Times to Calculate Equivalent Running Training Paces.
Cameron Leith, Psychology major with General Psychology concentration. Thesis title: Art and the LGBTQ+ Community.
Chieko Link, Biological Science major and Spanish minor with Biological Science concentration. Thesis title: A Children’s Book on Emotional Coping Mechanisms to Combat Binge Eating Disorder and to Prevent the Development of an Unhealthy Relationship with Food.
Cole Shepherd, Biochemistry major and Physics minor with American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology concentration. Thesis title: Colorimetric or Fluorometric Assay for DNA-Loaded Protein Crystals.
Maliek Swain, Biochemistry major with Health and Medical Sciences concentration. Thesis title: Phytomchemicals: A New Power for Chemoprevention.
Jack Thompson, Biological Science major with Biological Science concentration. Thesis title: Gross National Happiness: The Four Roads Not Taken.
Heather Tran, Psychology major with General Psychology concentration. Thesis title: Motivations and Attitudes Behind Student Athletes.
Dalia Vargas-Jurado, Biological Science major and Chemistry minor with Biological Science concentration. Thesis title: Coping and Learning Through Literature: A Creative Tool to Help Children Cope with Difficult Subjects.
College of Natural Sciences
Candidates for Baccalaureate Degrees
Fall 2023
College of Natural Sciences
Interim Dean Simon Tavener
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Applied Computing Technology
Larson, Lindsey Nicole
Biochemistry
Claus, Virginia Lou
Cordova Ramirez, Carlos
Glennon, Allaina Samantha *
Gorder, James * ^
Hernandez, Jason Aaron *
Kirchart, Emily E.
Nguyen, Niky K.
Robles, Walter David *
Rodriguez Perez, Oscar Fernando
Romero, Jocelyn Jae *
Shepherd, Cole Martin * #
Smith, Lauren Michelle * =
Swain, Maliek Anthony
Umoelin, Cortney A. * ^
Wilson, David R.
Biological Science
Alajoki, Ryan Matthew
Bodman, Meghan Foster
Bonfante, Emma *
Bryer, Emma Evelyn
Chalmers, Anne Logan
Chavez, Caleb R.
Christensen, Allie Kay
Faison, Taylor Ann
Fehringer, Hailey Morgan =
Giddens, Meredith Nichole
Gongaware, Charles H. *
Gorman, Nicholas *
Haberbosch, Megan *
Halsell, Dejanell A.
Hansen, Matthew James
Hauswirth, Maelan Janelle *
Herzberg, Tanna Jo *
Holguin Guevara, Jennifer *
Hoskinson, Aidan Riley
Johnson, Shelbie Franklyn *
Kalra, Arun Singh *
Kerns, Joshua S.
Kovacs, Honor Elizabeth *
Link, Chieko Link Juliet *
Lockman, Casey J. *
Martinez, J. *
Meraz-Solis, Alondra
Montgomery, Kennadi Alexis *
Paslay, Brooke Rachelle
Phelps, Hannah E. *
Pigg, Noa B. G.
Prashanth, Tanya
Reynolds, Julia Elizabeth
Rincon, Evelyn P. *
Schineller, Hannah E.
Seufer, Emma Sue ^
Spinden, Holly Marie * ^
Thompson, Jack H.
Van Ausdall, Parrish Noelle *
Vargas-Jurado, Dalia Getzabel *
Von Feldt, Cory Richard
Vowteras, Maximilian V.
Walker, Ty Hayden
Walsh, Cameron James
Warner, Justin Christopher *
Welch, Marc Allen ^
Wettengel, Alexandra
Chemistry
Beck, Josianne Jennifer * ^
Gervais, Claire Y. *
Hagan, John Joseph
Holtorf, Genevieve Camille
Mejia, Marcos Ismael
Saunders, Clayton Scott
Spigel, Alden Gerald
Szymanski, Kenneth Michael
Tian, Bingxin
Computer Science
Amini, Persia
Anspach, Evan D. ^
Armstrong, Dylan John
Baloga Loufek, Spencer Tilka #
Barkie, Joseph Alan ^
Barney, Alizee Mari-Anne
Berna, Samuel Johnson
Bicknell, Raymond S.
Bremser, Julie A. *
Burford, Luke Andrew
Coburn, Jennifer A.
Cook, Bryson F.
Cucina Jr., Michael T.
Curtiss, Koby Dawson Simon
Daroui, Nika
Davis, Blake Charles * #
DeCalzadilla, Matthew
DeYoung, Grant Alexander
Dudas, Nicole M.
Dugas, Cole J.
Dunn, Lee Ann
Easton, Riley
Edelen, Hunter
Ellis, Joshua
Erickson, Joseph Tyler
Eto, Nicholas Nathanael
Eyob, Nael
Felix, Antonio Salvador
Finger, Kevin Charles
Fitt, Jasmine R.
Franke, Abigail Jane *
Frazier, James D.
Garcia, Aidan R.
Goodbee, Gabriel J. +
Hansell, Reid M.
Hansen, Paige M. =
Haro, Crispin
Harris, Cole T.
Hatch, Joshua R.
Hillyard, Ashlyn Lee-wei *
Hinterlong, Alexander Jordon *
Hoden, Hunter J.
Holcomb, Taylor J.
Hotra, Kenneth Martin #
Howard, Samuel Isaac *
Huang, Lingyuan
Hughes, Matthew L.
Hust, Bailey Anne *
Im, Juhyung N.
Jensen, Kaija
Jones, Wesley Ryan *
Kibbler, Austin Williams
Lamb, Zachariah P.
Lamichhane, Aayush
Laudadio, Eliana R.
Lazare, Kimeron
LeBlanc, Olivia M. + ^
Ledezma Olivares, Julio Cesar
Luebbert, Evan J. *
Luther, Yanye Joy * =
Mahoney, Kaden J.
McCumber, Lily Cornell
McKee, Bradley N.
Mione, Brayden Edward *
Morgan, Drake Everett
Mortensen, Benjamin
Moses, Cole Joseph
Munoz Molina, Jaime
Nats, Matthew James
Neira Piedrahita, Juan Felipe
O’Leary, Tyson Mitchell + =
Ramos Garcia, Oswaldo
Reekie, Christopher Alexander ^
Ritter, Nathan Giles ^
Rogers, Seth Shaffer
Shimpa, Zachary Alexander
Sinha, Ojaswi *
Smith, Allison T.
Smith, Joshua Jennings *
Stafford, Ethan Roger *
Stafford, Quinn Frank *
Sturgeon, Matthew R.
Swift, Caitlin Susan *
Weetman, Elijah
Wittich, Thomas Augustus
Wu, Tianyu
Zakett, Jonathan S.
Zupetz, Rudolph Thomas *
Data Science
Deere, Jack Thomas
Mayes IV, William E.
Mathematics
Bayuk, Berkeley Anne *
Beatty, Ryan Charles
Chollet, Jessica
DeNiro, Nikolaj M.
Gasca, Karina Monique
Hitchman, Lucy
Horstmeyer, Hayes T. ^
Karkos, Tia S. ^
Leftwich, Connor Harned
Slack, Emma Nicole * =
Wells, Mackenzie Faye ^
Natural Sciences
Kuettner, Addie Reid *
Psychology
Adams, Jarrett P.
Adams, Oliver Button
Ahern, William Riley
Alers, Brianna Catherine * #
Alimam, Aymen
Araujo, Alayza A. *
Bane, Greer Mckenna
Beck, Madisen A.
Briceno Toledo, Natalia Estefania
Brooks, Neil Edward
Bruning, Carter Dale *
Caesar, Jocelin Alexandria
Camp, Caleb
Cerna Sanchez, Jairo Azael
Clark, Colleen Catherine *
Clockston, Mark A.
Coward, Olivia M.
Dzhafarova, Kamila
Eaton, Nicole Jennifer
Elnasser, Rami F.
Essmyer, Mary Margaret
Evans, Anna Grace
FitzRandolph, Torrey Vail
Fix, Campbell Jeannice
Ford, Caroline Rose
Fuentes, Victoria Marie *
Gamez, Miranda Rosario
Golemo, Alicia Jasmine
Gormley, Joseph Tobin
Gormley, Sierra Lynn
Gutierrez, Esther
Haarstad, Norah R.
Hernandez, Ailed Airam
Hernandez Blanco, Jaqueline
Hickey, Meghan Grace
Hixson, Hailey Denise *
Holcomb, Hunter Jayne * ^
Holtman, Hailey Morgan
Housden, Brecken Leona
Hower, Savannah P. *
Hoyt, Loreena Valeria ^
Hyndman, Ashley
Jamieson, Austin Benjamin
Johnson, Jacquelin I. ^
Jones, Hannah
Judd, Alexandra Mary
Kellam, Stephen Reed *
Klapdor-Guest, Marlisa
Leith, Cameron John
Lemay, Marcelle Christine
Long, DeAjainea Denise
Lucero, Edwin Leif ^
Madrid, Easton Anthony *
Martinez-Smith, Emma Ryan *
Mayer, Olivia J.
McClellan-Short, Bailey H.
McIntosh, Annabella Lucille
McLeran, Braden Daniel Heasley
Mengel, Kegan W.
Miller, Zachary Sage #
Mims, Madison M.
Mjaanes, Beau A.
Mueller, Hayden Patrick
Nassen, Nikki
Norman, Taylor Gail
Ohlson, Tyler J.
Palyo, Amanda Marie
Peabody, Haley Marilyn
Peregoy, Melissa K.
Piskunova, Margarita G. +
Pope, Emma Katrine
Radel, Kaitlyn Elizabeth
Ramirez, Elena Marie
Ramirez, Tom Anthony *
Ratliff, Milo J. *
Raymond, Dana Marie
Rex, Mallory Ryann
Roach, Chloe Nicole ^
Romano, Lillian
Senan, Olivia Dora Scalise
Simerly, Kylie B. =
Smith, Gabriel G.
Swaim, Ruth Ashley
Tarr, Meghan
Telfer-Radzat, Blaize
Thapa, Avishek
Thomsen, Makenna + #
Tran, Heather Thuy Ngan #
Udoni, Samantha C. *
Van de Kerkhove, Emma Joy
Vander Leest, Jacob R.
Vega Blanco, MariaIsela *
Wagenblast, Rachel Elizabeth *
Watkins, Makenzi Taylor
Weber, Bari T. J. ^
Weldon, Katelyn Violet ^
Whetzel, Cole Ian
Workman, Rafaella d’Anne
Wray, Samantha Renee
Statistics
Cross, Alaina Nicole ^
Poiesz, Matthew
Zoology
Aldridge, Amber Jolene
Brisnehan, Elizabeth Grace
Brown, Natalie Linda *
Burnett, Thomas George #
Buttala, Alexander Joseph *
Casey, Danniale M.
Critchlow, Austin Leo
Dawson, Zoey Fay
Donivan, Cole B. *
Gardner, Lindsey Annette
Green, Talis Bay
Harrold, Alejandra Maria
Hawley, Mags Lee
Keller, Alyssa Marie *
Lawson, Faith Jeanelle
McCrady, Mai Richael
Mortensen, Lauren N.
Newton, Nevaeh
Palmer, Ashley Maegann *
Phelan, Dallas
Quire, Isabel Louise *
Robles, Adrian Adolfo
Rozak, Marine *
Rude, Kylie Breanne
Shang, Rui
Shields, Amelia Ilene *
Singer, Michael T.
Sosa, Samantha Kay *
Thomas, Brodie MacMurray * #
Wise, Shelbi Renee
College of Natural Sciences
Baccalaureate Degrees Awarded
Summer 2023
College of Natural Sciences
Interim Dean Simon Tavener
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Biochemistry
Vorontsova, Tatiana
Biological Science
Blevins, Erica E.
Brink, Hannah Jean
Castro Aguilar, Maria Isabel
Cooke, Ian G.
Corbley, Patrick J.
Costello, Bridget Mary
Cuddihy, Sean
Dalrymple, Haley Niccole
DeSantis, Adelina
Dohemann, Gordon Chong
Dreitz, Aidan S.
Folk, Stefan Caldwell
Garcia, Kendall
Higgs, Kayla Jeanne
Hutchinson, Emily Kate
Kapit, Kira Nicole *
Larson, Nathan Joseph
Lohman, Susannah Paige *
Maysonet, Darius Emmanuel
McAbee, Mackenzie Leigh
Medvig, Ashton Michael
Millard, Henry J.
Mitchell, Thomas *
Nazloyan, Amy
Palazzo, Lucas R.
Rahe, Ashley Jane
Sazonova, Marina
Short, Alex R.
Sides, Carlie Alexis
Singer, Jennifer Marie
Smith, Margaret Jane Kelsall * =
Stack, Ryan Colton
Stephens, Hunter M.O.
Thompson, Elijah B.
Underwood, Stryder Ellen
Westmoreland, Kallie Brooke
Chemistry
Maloney, Patricia Mohr
Marshall, Katy Ann *
Computer Science
Adair, Ayden Douglas
Avery, Theodore Wildes *
Buckey, Kris A. *
Glimco, Alexander P. C. *
LaBerge, Christopher Craig
McFall, John
Mckay, Samuel Aaron
Norman, Aaron Andrew
Olvera, Sergio
Petrucci, Kaitlynne G.
Price, William Lukovich
Sinclair, Grant Charles
Torraca, Nikolas
Data Science
Giacobbe, Sophie Grace
Harris, Thomas Vernon
Nero, Jason A.
Mathematics
Douglas, Jack Rodney
Parham, Riley Marie
Tulu, Jedidiah T. *
Wilding, Jakob R.
Physics
Bayarsaikhan, Khubilai
Tulu, Jedidiah T. *
Vildibill, Megan Lehn
Psychology
Awolaja, Adeola Boluwatife
Bailey, Mackenzie Ann
Baker, Robert T.
Batoy, Kyle
Beasley, Katelyn Alyssa
Blosch, Corgan Leontine
Bryan, Abigail Kathryn *
Celeste, Kai J.
Champion, Jaylen A.
Chandler, Sara
Christensen, Emily K.
Cordova Hinojos, Luis
Diaz, Lesly *
Ernst, Emma Rose
Fletcher, Tate Frederick
Flis-Chen, Aria J.
Grim, Scarlett Alexandria
Gurich, Rachel Daphne
Guzak, Sophie Grace Terek *
Hopkins, Jessica Elizabeth
Hsiao, Jocelyn
Israel-Olson, Sequoia Srei Jean
Kucera, Anastasia Burke
Lases, Samantha Alexis
Leonard, Sydney Victoria
Lopez, Antonia Eve
Lowe, Matthew A.
Lowry, Ashton Faith
Marquez, Yoselin
Martinez, Alora Andrea
Mayes, Devon Dashell *
Meeks, Tazia Marie
Morales, Brisa *
Mott, Krista Nicole
O’Donnell, Bailey Roselynn
Pizano, Zaira Yael
Rine, Lilly Anna
Ruiz, Gethsemani *
Ruiz, Valeria
Sargent, Amanda Kay
Sauerland, Hannah Jane *
Scher, Nicolette M.
Sciammas, Patrick Francis
Seprino, Natalie R.
Shapcott, Lily Ruth #
Sodani, Mihika #
Sulse, Bryn Theresa
Sykes, Adley Rose
Turner, Mackenzie Grace *
Valley, Jewel Katherine
Vasquez, Adam *
Villamaria, Jacobi Paul
Wescott, Kenlee Rose
Woratyla, Thomas Adam
Wruck, Kayla Rae * ^
Statistics
Thompson, Jacob
Zoology
Ball, Mackenzie
Gonzales, Madison Kaycie-Mae
Hinchliffe, Brianna Elisabeth
Lange, Emily Ann
Laux, Alyssa Marie
Lempke, Robyn Mae
Mather, Paisley R.
Mikolaizik, Myaih Nicole
Nickolaus, Cacie M. #
O’Neill, Heather Nicole
Perlera, Gaby Janeth
Raad, Thomas John
Reyna Sotelo, Frida Rachel
Roebuck, Kimberley *
Rubenstein, Emma R. *
Scutchfield, Cassandra A.
* Candidates with minor
+ Candidates with second major
^ Candidates for cum laude
# Candidates for magna cum laude
= Candidates for summa cum laude
* Candidates with minor
+ Candidates with second major
^ Candidates for cum laude
# Candidates for magna cum laude
= Candidates for summa cum laude
‡ Awarded posthumously