Convocation Ceremony | May 16, 2025
DORRANCE DEAN A-P DURAND Speaks
PLEASE BE SEATED
Good afternoon! My name is Alain-Philippe Durand, and it is my privilege to serve as the Dorrance Dean of the College of Humanities. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our May 2025 Convocation celebration.
Please note that the ceremony today is being live streamed. Your family and friends can watch us now at humanities.arizona.edu/live. All graduates will receive an email with a link to the video recording and it will be available on our YouTube channel next week.
In addition, thanks to our National Center for Interpretation, a Spanish translation of today’s speech is available. Please scan the QR code in your program.
¡Buenas tardes! Me llamo Alain-Philippe Durand y es un privilegio ser el Decano de Dorrance de la Facultad de Humanidades. Quiero aprovechar esta oportunidad para darles la bienvenida a nuestra celebración de Convocatoria de mayo de 2025.
Tengan en cuenta que la ceremonia está siendo transmitida en vivo hoy. Su familia y amigos pueden vernos en humanities.arizona.edu/live. Todos los graduandos recibirán un correo electrónico con la grabación en video y estará disponible en nuestro canal de YouTube la próxima semana.
Además, gracias a nuestro Centro Nacional para la Interpretación, el discurso de hoy está traducido al español y disponible en su programa.
First, let me thank DJ Logan Phillips who got us in the mood with his fantastic set. The College of Humanities is the only college at the University of Arizona with an official DJ. A bilingual poet, performer and DJ, he holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona and has worked on a wide range of performance, music and community-centered education projects in the U.S., Mexico, Colombia and beyond.
To my left are Professors Ken McAllister, who is our Associate Dean for Research and Program Innovation, and Chantelle Warner, who is our Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs. They will be assisting me with today’s ceremony.
Next, let’s give all of our students who are graduating from the College of Humanities a round of applause for their academic accomplishments.
I would also like to acknowledge your family, friends, and classmates. You deserve a warm round of applause from all of us for all of your support for your graduate.
Each of our students who is with us today was invited to give us the name of a favorite, most influential, faculty member. These faculty members represent the outstanding teaching that goes on in the College of Humanities.
This year, our students have named 53 different professors as favorites, which is a testament to the world-class teaching in the College. Will all of our faculty members here today, please stand so our students and their families can offer their thanks.
Now, I would like to recognize the College of Humanities faculty award winners for 2024-25.
Alison Jameson, Associate Professor of Practice in the Departments of Religious Studies and Classics and East Asian Studies, is the recipient of the Distinguished Undergraduate Advising/Mentoring Award.
Borbala Gaspar, Lecturer in the Department of French and Italian, is the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award.
Additionally, two professors and one student are recognized with University of Arizona Awards.
Judd Ruggill, Professor and Head of the Department of Public and Applied Humanities, has received the Distinguished Head/Director's Award.
Kristy Doran, Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, has received the 5-Star Teaching Award, the only student selected award that recognizes excellence in teaching across The University of Arizona.
Nathaniel Cross, who is graduating with majors in Spanish and Political Science, has received the Merrill P. Freeman Medal.
Please join me in congratulating our winners!
This afternoon we will individually recognize those bachelor’s degree recipients who were available to attend today’s ceremony. University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella is the only one who actually confers degrees. We are here to enhance that celebration. We are honored to call each graduate by name and congratulate you personally.
A few students are joining us virtually, and we will announce their names within the procession later. We are equally excited to congratulate all of you wherever you are today!
So students, your hard work may be done, but you won’t officially graduate until the main University of Arizona commencement, which will take place at Arizona Stadium at 7:30 tonight. Everyone is of course welcome at that event, so we hope you will attend. The graduates especially are asked to arrive well in advance of 7:30, so please do check the commencement website for important instructions.
One more very important thing: tonight at the stadium, at some point during the ceremony, the speaker will ask each dean to come to the microphone and present their College’s graduating class to President Garimella. When it’s the turn of the College of Humanities, they will announce my name and ask me to come to the microphone. At that moment, when you see me, I count on all of you, the graduates, family, and friends to be LOUD and MAKE SOME NOISE! Thank you.
Now, I would like to welcome Alexander Maldonado Salas and Professor Nick Ferdinandt for the presentation of our Outstanding Senior Award.
Before Alexander makes a few remarks to this class, Nick Ferdinandt, Professor of Practice in the Department of Public and Applied Humanities, will speak about the nomination.
NICK FERDINANDT speaks
Graduates, families and friends of graduates, Dr. Durand, and College of Humanities colleagues: First, I’d like to offer my congratulations to all of the graduates reaching their goals today. I look forward to hearing of your accomplishments in the future.
It is my pleasure to introduce Alexander Anwar Maldonado Salas as the Outstanding Senior for Spring 2025. I first met Alexander in my Intercultural Competence class in Spring 2024. From the beginning of my interactions with Mr. Maldonado, he impressed me by demonstrating confidence and abilities that lifted him above his colleagues. He proved himself to be very highly motivated and driven, someone who knew his goals and what he wanted. I think his triple major in Public and Applied Humanities (with Business Administration emphasis), Spanish Translation & Interpretation, and Psychology, with a minor in Economics, reflect his motivation.
People know Mr. Maldonado to be enterprising, dedicated, and welcoming. He’s a person who looks out for others and tries to find solutions to human problems. Mr. Maldonado also proved himself to be a persevering, hard worker, who didn’t just seek to learn, but also to apply his learning during the semester. He has distinguished himself as a leader, serving as the Project Research Lead for the 100 Thousand Strong Cacao for Peace Program, traveling to Colombia, but also as a Humanities Ambassador for the College of Humanities.
Mr. Maldonado’s dedication to and engagement in humanities enterprises embodies the spirit and values of the humanities broadly defined—learning and sharing through applying what you’ve learned to advance the interests of people around you with empathy, intercultural awareness, and selfless service. I believe that it is because of these qualities that Mr. Maldonado represents all of our outstanding seniors and graduates, sitting before you today. And so with that, it is with great pleasure that I present Mr. Alexander Anwar Maldonado Salas.
ALEXANDER MALDONADO speaks
Good afternoon, everyone. I’d like to thank all graduating students and their families for being present at this very special occasion. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank my friends, my family, my partner, and everyone who believed in me, even myself, especially during the moments when I struggled to believe in myself and wanted to give up. Your encouragement has meant everything to me and has gotten me to where I am.
To my fellow graduates — we did it. Today is a celebration not just of finishing your degree or being done with finals but of every moment it took to get here. Studying in the Humanities has been life-changing. Not only did it allow me to major in interesting subjects, but it has also taught me to think critically, combine human elements and apply them to any setting, and to see the world — and the people in it — through a more intercultural competent perspective. Sharing this journey with so many brilliant and passionate minds demonstrates the potential that the Humanities can have in the world.
If there’s one word that sums up what brought me to this moment, it’s perseverance. Not talent. Not luck. Just showing up every day — even when I was exhausted, even when I had doubts, even when things felt impossible. I’ve worked multiple jobs, balanced different majors, and kept going even when the odds seemed stacked against me. And I know I’m not alone in that. Every single one of you here has your own story of pushing through, falling but getting up again, and staying committed to your goals, even when it wasn’t easy.
One thing that I hope everyone is able to take away and use it in your lives is this: You will get to where you want in your life. You get to choose your own path and write your own story, it doesn’t have to be like everyone else’s, but allow one thing that life won’t always go as planned.
But the ability to keep going, to stay resilient, to persevere no matter the situation — that’s what gets you to where you want to be. No matter what your next step is — grad school, a new job, a gap year, or figuring things out one day at a time — I hope you carry this moment with you as proof that you are capable. Be resilient.
So let’s be proud — proud of the big achievements, yes, but also the quiet strength it took to keep moving forward. Whether you’re the first in your family to graduate, or the first to truly believe in yourself — this moment matters.
Congratulations, Class of 2025. Keep going and working hard. You’ve already come and will go far!
DORRANCE DEAN A-P DURAND Speaks
Thank you Alexander, congratulations on your fine achievements.
Now, I want to recognize our graduating ambassadors and peer mentors.
The College of Humanities Student Ambassador Program consists of students pursuing a major in the college who represent some of our brightest, most enthusiastic and well-rounded Wildcats. In addition to assisting with recruitment and retention efforts, members of this selective internship opportunity develop skills in the areas of leadership, communication, and public speaking.
College of Humanities Peer Mentors help new students transition to the University of Arizona as well as assist all Humanities students with campus resources and expectations and connecting them with the right people to succeed. Peer mentors are role models who help students throughout their academic journey.
Will our graduating ambassadors and peer mentors please stand?
Congratulations to these College of Humanities students. We thank you for your many contributions!
Today, we are excited to celebrate this entire class of graduates, and we are profoundly inspired by the impressive accomplishments of these multi-talented students each graduating with a degree in a discipline that is central to the humanities.
Many of our students are being recognized for double majors, or dual degrees. There are exactly 60 majors from across the university represented in this graduating class.
We are proud of such multi-disciplinary studies because it demonstrates that no matter the career trajectory or life pursuit, at the heart of them all are the essential skills and insights provided by a humanities education.
All of our students, who represent a diversity of geographic and cultural backgrounds, share a common purpose and fearless outlook on life. They are passionate; they work hard; and they endeavor to understand and serve others. Our students have traveled, studied abroad, conducted research, and worked in almost all areas of the globe, and this graduating class is no exception. Some of them have already been offered jobs; some have been accepted in prestigious graduate programs and all of them have committed themselves to lifelong learning.
Thanks to our world class faculty and advisors, these graduates before us are ready to go straight to the goal! Wherever they go, their motivation will be at the highest, they will never give up, no matter what happens!
Graduates: The skills for which you received training in the College of Humanities are the most sought after in the new global economy. You can think critically. You are adaptable, accountable, and flexible. You know how to collaborate with others and actively problem solve. You have learned to communicate and write. You have gained a global mindset and intercultural competence.
You are prepared to address the grand challenges of a rapidly changing world. Practice what you have learned. When difficulties arise, and they will, do not step on the side, analyze the situation, be humble and respectful, keep your head up, and don’t let go, ne lâchez rien as we say in French.
Please keep in touch with us in the future. Most importantly, make sure you fill out the alumni form that was distributed to you. I hope you will accept that we post your profile on our alumni web sites and social media, and that once in a while, you will send us updates about your fabulous lives.
You will always be welcome at the College of Humanities and, like your predecessors, you now become mentors, potential advisors, even models to follow, for our current and future majors and graduate students. We count on you, including for helping us in the future, once you become rich and famous, to create and to contribute to scholarship funds that will help the College of Humanities’ students and faculty.
Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your choice of field and on your fine accomplishments. Know that as you head out into the world, you are now an advocate for the humanities in any community in which you live, work or serve.
We all wish you well as you move forward from today, so thank you again and good luck to you!
Next, as we continue our ceremony, there are a few directions for the recognition of our graduates. All rows will be directed to stand and exit the theater by our staff. Be sure to bring your NAME CARD with your name and major information with you. One student at a time will cross the stage at which time you give your NAME CARD to Deans McAllister or Warner. After they read your name and major, you will then walk toward me.
Graduates: you will receive a medallion from the College before you approach the stage. As you cross the stage when your name is called, please take a short moment to pause next to me for the photographer. Then follow our staff directions to be seated again in the designated area for graduates until the end of the ceremony. In order to respectfully honor every single graduate, you must remain seated until everyone has been called. Families and friends, please remain seated as well through the end of the ceremony.
Graduates: Again, make sure you have your NAME CARD with you and follow our staff’s instructions as they guide every row to walk outside the building and re-enter backstage. Now will all graduates PLEASE STAND.
Let’s make some noise for the College of Humanities Class of 2025!
DEANS KEN MCALLISTER & CHANTELLE WARNER speak
Graduate names announced
Did we miss anyone?
DORRANCE DEAN A-P DURAND Speaks
Wow, what an extraordinary class of graduates! Thank you for celebrating with us.
This year, 451 students are receiving their degrees from the College of Humanities, and more than 300 are celebrating with us, both live and virtually. In the last decade, the number of College of Humanities majors has grown by 34 percent and our message to the graduates is the same thing we tell all new Humanities students: You can do anything with a Humanities degree.
So, will the graduates please stand and turn toward the audience.
On behalf of the faculty, I am proud to present to you the May 2025 College of Humanities graduating class!
Thank you for attending – please exit in an orderly fashion and get home safely.