SPCS Commencement

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies 2025 Commencement ceremony celebrated the graduation of students earning 11 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and student speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• Richard Bagby was selected as the 2025 student Commencement speaker.
• Sabrina Guerin, C’17, received the 2025 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.
• Sarah Calveric received the 2025 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award.

Additional Resources

• Commencement program
• Livestream recording
• Photo album

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies 2024 Commencement ceremony celebrated the graduation of students earning 11 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and student speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• Zariah Chiverton, ’22, was selected as the 2024 student Commencement speaker.
• Annette Ardler, C’01, received the 2024 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.
• Elisabeth Wray, W’74, G’77, received the 2024 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award.

Additional Resources

• Commencement program
• Livestream recording
• Photo album

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies 2023 Commencement ceremony celebrated the graduation of students earning 11 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and student speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• Winston Mugford was selected as the 2023 student Commencement speaker.
• Deon Price, C’14, received the 2023 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.
• Abbi Haggerty received the 2023 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award.

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies 2022 Commencement ceremony celebrated the graduation of students earning 11 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and student speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• Kelly Lawler was selected as the 2022 student Commencement speaker.
• Duan Hobbs, C’13, received the 2022 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.
• Linda Fisher Thornton received the 2022 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award.

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies 2021 Commencement ceremony celebrated the graduation of students earning 11 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates. Also held on the same day was a ceremony for the class of 2020, which was unable to celebrate commencement as usual due to the pandemic.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and student speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• Cooper Sved was selected as the 2021 student Commencement speaker.
• Margaret Dalton, C’12, received the 2021 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.
• Andrew Baker, C’08, received the 2021 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award.

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies, following health and safety guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic, did not hold the 2020 Commencement ceremony as usual. Instead, we used the two weeks around our traditional Commencement date to celebrate our graduating students and award winners.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement (but were unable to do so) as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and introducer of the Commencement speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that would have been included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Speaker

SPCS selected Commencements speakers. Since they were unable to give their addresses, we asked them to write reflections on their experience in SPCS. 

• Brian Krach was selected as the 2020 student Commencement speaker (reflections)
• Eric Beatty, ’01, GC’12, received the 2020 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award (reflections).
• Meghan Rosatelli received the 2020 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award (reflections).

President’s Message to the Class of 2020

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies 2019 Commencement ceremony celebrated the graduation of students earning 11 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and introducer of the Commencement speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• Griffin Trau, ’17, was selected as the 2019 student Commencement speaker.
• Greg Mays, C’14, GC’18, received the 2019 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.
• April Greenan received the 2019 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award.

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies 2018 Commencement ceremony celebrated the graduation of students earning 11 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and introducer of the Commencement speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• Kendyl Crawley Crawford was selected as the 2018 student Commencement speaker.
• Wendell C. Roberts received the 2018 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award.
• Robert Reed, C’13, received the 2018 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies 2017 Commencement ceremony celebrated the graduation of students earning 11 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and introducer of the Commencement speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• Lisa Cheney, C’17, was selected as the 2017 student Commencement speaker.
• Daniel Hocutt, R’92, G’98, received the 2017 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award.
• Cathy Eagles, C’00, received the 2017 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies 2016 Commencement ceremony celebrated the graduation of students earning 11 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and introducer of the Commencement speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• Robert B. “Ben” Baldwin, C’16, was selected as the 2016 student Commencement speaker.
• Connie Hill received the 2016 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award.
• Lin Koch, C’03, received the 2016 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies 2015 Commencement ceremony celebrated the graduation of students earning 11 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and introducer of the Commencement speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• James L. Narduzzi, SPCS dean, was selected to offer the 2015 Commencement address.
• Freddie Hornedo, C’14, was selected as the 2015 student Commencement speaker.
• David Myers received the 2015 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunt Faculty Award.
• Vanessa Jones, C’97, L’01, received the 2015 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies 2014 Commencement ceremony celebrated the graduation of students earning 13 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and introducer of the Commencement speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• Ryan J. O’Rourke, C’14, was selected as the 2014 student Commencement speaker.
• Carrie A. Ludovico received the 2014 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Faculty Award.
• Catherine S. McGehee, GC’11, received the 2014 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies 2013 Commencement ceremony culminated the School’s Fiftieth Anniversary celebration with a special address by Richmond president Dr. Edward L. Ayers.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SPCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SPCS banner bearer, and introducer of the Commencement speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• Mark H. Troemel, GC’13, was selected as the 2013 student Commencement speaker.
• Gerald L. Quirk, GB’74, received the 2013 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Faculty Award.
• Thomas W. Winfree, C’77, received the 2013 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.

In addition to these speakers, Dr. Edward L. Ayers, University president, was invited to offer the School’s 50th anniversary commemorative address.

The School of Continuing Studies 2012 Commencement ceremony invoked University and School traditions in conferring degrees on graduates.

Commencement Participants

Visit the SCS Night page for a list of students who earned the honor of participating in Commencement as University Mace bearer, U.S. flag bearer, University flag bearer, SCS banner bearer, and introducer of the Commencement speaker. The page also lists student and faculty awards that were included in the Commencement program.

Commencement Addresses

• Martha Pittaway, C‘11, was selected as the 2012 student Commencement speaker.
• Timothy M. Duffee, GB‘02, received the 2012 Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Faculty Award.
• Patricia Gallagher, C‘97, received the 2012 Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award.