Thousands of family and friends filled the Galen Center on May 14 as the more than 400 PhD and master’s students celebrated their commencement from the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
The processional was led by the USC Trojan Marching Band and included speeches by Grand Marshal Michael Stallcup, PhD, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and pathology; the Rev. James Burklo, associate dean for religious life; and Ite Laird-Offringa, PhD, associate dean for graduate affairs. Keck School Interim Dean Rohit Varma, MD, MPH, Laird-Offringa and Elahe Nezami, PhD, associate dean for undergraduate, masters and professional programs, awarded the diplomas during the ceremony.
Master of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate Nell Narasappa gave a spirited student address, while Barbara Wold, PhD, the Bren Professor of Molecular Biology, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, gave the commencement address.
“One of the things that I treasure, a sure thing in each commencement that I go to as a working scientist, is hearing words roughly like, ‘today you are welcomed into the community of scholars’,” Wold said. “And that’s more meaningful every time that I hear it. In biomedical science, when you receive the PhD or when you’re on your way there with a master’s (degree), it means that you are now a maker of knowledge. You have established to a high standard of evidence and logic, something that is both new and true.”
Wold continued, explaining to the attendees that this commencement marks a turning point in the graduates’ careers.
“For your parents and family, I want to summarize what I just said. Your graduate is not merely finishing the 22nd grade. This is not just a bigger, longer bachelor’s degree with longer, harder courses and more facts stuffed into his or her brain. You now have in your midst a professional discoverer — however poorly paid.”
— Photos and text by Melissa Masatani
Graduates from the Master of Science in Global Medicine program take a photo with Keck School of Medicine of USC Interim Dean Rohit Varma and Elahe Nezami, associate dean for undergraduate, masters and professional programs, during the satellite commencement ceremony May 14 at the Galen Center. (Photo/Courtesy Elahe Nezami)
Pingye Zhang, a doctor of philosophy graduate, takes a photo with family members outside of Leavey Library on the University Park Campus, after the commencement ceremony on May 14, 2016.
Kevin Cabrera, a Master of Science in Global Medicine graduate, shows off his decorated graduation cap after commencement, held May 14, 2016 at the University Park Campus.
Beatriz Adriana Barajas, a Keck School of Medicine of USC master of public health graduate, takes a photo with family members during a commencement reception May 14, 2016 at McCarthy Quad on the University Park Campus.
Anna Loraine Agustin Escobedo, a Keck School of Medicine of USC doctor of philosophy graduate in preventive medicine/epidemiology, is given a flower lei after commencement on May 14, 2016.
Leah Helene Streb, a Keck School of Medicine of USC master of public health graduate, shows off her decorated cap during a commencement reception on May 14, 2016 at McCarthy Quad on the University Park Campus.
Ashley Alfonso, a Keck School of Medicine of USC master of public health graduate, takes photos with family members during a commencement reception May 14, 2016 at McCarthy Quad on the University Park Campus.
Keck School of Medicine of USC PhD graduates walk out of the Galen Center after the commencement ceremony on May 14, 2016.
Keck School of Medicine of USC PhD and master’s degree graduates walk from the Galen Center to McCarthy Quad on the University Park Campus for a reception after the commencement ceremony on May 14, 2016.
Anthony Wong, a master of global medicine graduate, has his photo taken in front of Tommy Trojan after commencement on May 14, 2016, at the University Park Campus.