After graduating summa cum laude from the School of Professional and Continuing Studies in 2022, Ariyan “Ari” Bakhti-Suroosh turned a classroom revelation into a career in penetration testing.
At the 2026 SPCS Commencement ceremony on May 9, adjunct assistant professor Jennifer J. Smith‑Slabaugh urged graduates to pair lifelong learning with generosity to create lasting community impact, drawing on two decades of nonprofit leadership and a decade of night‑school perseverance to model what it means to keep growing.
At the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies Commencement on May 9, 2026, Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Tavorise M. Marks, C’18, challenged graduates to lead from lived experience, keep learning with courage, and give back through the Spider network.
At the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies Commencement on May 9, 2026, student speaker Margaret “Meg” Baly, W’88, L’92, GC’25, shared a message of gratitude, advocacy, and connection shaped by her return to earn a Master of Teaching.
After completing the M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction in December 2025, art teacher Clara Swartz translated graduate study into daily classroom practice. She credits the School of Professional and Continuing Studies with a rigorous, supportive path from student teacher to award-winning educator.
Married classmates Ashley Seal and Karen E. Richardson completed the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies master’s program together, balancing family, work, and classrooms while building leadership skills. Their joint experience underscores the practical value of in‑person learning and a cohort community.
As an adult learner, Grace Riley chose SPCS for its human-centered, in-person experience and faculty mentorship. She’s graduating with confidence — and stepping straight into an Assistant Clerk role at the Virginia State Bar.
By balancing her career as a custodial manager with her studies, Nyreng Dut, C’26, is proving that it is never too late to pursue a degree — and inspiring her family along the way.
With a focus on community engagement, cultural relevance, and bipartisan collaboration, the University of Richmond’s Political Campaign Management (PCM) Professional Certificate is more than a course — it’s a launchpad for principled leadership and strategic impact.
For 2016 graduate Fred Gatty, the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies was more than a pathway to a degree. It was the proving ground where a personal promise became a leadership philosophy centered on integrity, discernment, and action.
