Commencement Program
Commencement Program
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2022
Procession Opening Remarks National Anthem Commencement Address Presentation of Candidates and Conferral of Degrees Alumni Welcome Closing Remarks & Alma Mater Recessional
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2022
Procession Opening Remarks National Anthem Commencement Address Presentation of Candidates and Conferral of Degrees Alumni Welcome Closing Remarks & Alma Mater Recessional
teenie matlock
FRIDAY KEYNOTE SPEAKER
UC Merced Vice Provost for Academic Personnel, McClatchy Chair in Communications and Professor of Cognitive Science
Teenie Matlock joined UC Merced as a founding faculty member in 2004. She helped lay the foundation of the university, from planning what departments it would eventually have, designing numerous courses and recruiting and hiring faculty, to spearheading new campus initiatives, and creating new funding opportunities. She took the lead in creating the cognitive science undergraduate program and was a driving force in envisioning the Cognitive and Informative Sciences doctoral program.
Originally from nearby Mariposa County, Matlock was the first in her family to go to college, attending Fresno State and UC San Diego, and obtaining her Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from UC Santa Cruz. She has served the local community as vice chair of the American Indian Council of Mariposa County. She was a postdoctoral scholar and research associate at Stanford University and has worked for technological companies, including IBM Research.
Saturday, MAY 14, 2022
&
sunday, MAY 15, 2022
Procession Opening Remarks National Anthem Welcome Remarks Commencement Keynote Address Student Remarks Presentation of Candidates and Conferral of Degrees Alumni Welcome Closing Remarks & Alma Mater Recessional
Fred Ruiz
SSHA KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Former member of the UC Board of Regents, co-founder of Ruiz Foods
Fred Ruiz is a founding member of the UC Merced Foundation Board of Trustees and served as a regent from 2004 to 2016.
Ruiz has long been a staunch champion of access to education, particularly for residents of the Central Valley, and has been honored for his distinguished service to education by the Council of Advancement and Support of Education.
Cathryn Flores
SSHA STUDENT SPEAKER
Cathryn Flores is an English major and writing minor from Fremont.
While attending UC Merced, she conducted research with the Undergraduate Research in the Humanities program to explore the intersections of English literature and popular music.
Flores, an accomplished musician, has published several songs on international streaming platforms under her artist name “KATT” and is in the process of releasing her debut album.
During the pandemic, Flores wrote and performed the music for Merced Shakespearefest’s bilingual web series “Ricardo el Segundo” or “Richard II.” She also created music videos and songs for Shakespeare in Yosemite's first feature-length film "Imogen in the Wild."
After graduation, Flores will begin her Ph.D. studies in English at UC Davis.
Cecilia ESTOLANO
SNS/SOE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Immediate past UC Regents Chair
Cecilia Estolano is the CEO and founder of Estolano Advisors. Prior to being appointed a UC regent, she served as president of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. She has taught courses on equitable urban development and law and the quality of urban life at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design.
Maya Morris
SNS/SOE STUDENT SPEAKER
Maya Morris is a chemical sciences major with a chemistry emphasis from Danville. Morris has worked in UC Merced’s Stable Isotope Ecosystem Lab with paleoecologist Professor Sora Kim for nearly four years. She is wrapping up a multi-year research project on fossilized and modern ray teeth and anticipates publishing a paper by the end of the summer. In summer 2021, she interned at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory conducting methodological research and analysis geared towards experimental design. During her first year at UC Merced, she also played second and third base with the women’s softball club. After graduation, Morris is pursuing a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Analytical and Atmospheric Chemistry at UC San Diego.
Maya Morris
SNS/SOE STUDENT SPEAKER
Maya Morris is a chemical sciences major with a chemistry emphasis from Danville. Morris has worked in UC Merced’s Stable Isotope Ecosystem Lab with paleoecologist Professor Sora Kim for nearly four years. She is wrapping up a multi-year research project on fossilized and modern ray teeth and anticipates publishing a paper by the end of the summer. In summer 2021, she interned at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory conducting methodological research and analysis geared towards experimental design. During her first year at UC Merced, she also played second and third base with the women’s softball club. After graduation, Morris is pursuing a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Analytical and Atmospheric Chemistry at UC San Diego.