The Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony filled the Athletics and Events Center with pride, applause, and emotion on Saturday, May 17, as 159 advanced-degree candidates crossed the stage to the cheers of family and friends. From the podium, speakers challenged them to embrace uncertainty, trust their instincts, and move forward with courage.
"Don't Be Afraid to Try"
By Jenny Barnett, May 17, 2025
Speakers at the Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony urged students to lead with courage, creativity, and connection.
President La Jerne Terry Cornish and graduates at the Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony. (Photo by Simon Wheeler)
President La Jerne Terry Cornish and graduates at the Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony. (Photo by Simon Wheeler)
A Case for Uncertainty
Andrew Smith, Dana Professor of Biology, tells graduates "Don't be afraid to try." (Photo by Simon Wheeler)
In his keynote speech, Andrew Smith, Dana Professor of Biology, called on the students to follow their instincts and not be afraid to try.
Smith shared his decision to leave a position at Butler University having just received tenure in his early thirties. “It was a very good job, but my wife and I weren’t happy in Indianapolis,” he said. Smith moved to IC—one week after having his third child—and had to go through the tenure process a second time. “There were a lot of people that said that it was crazy. Crazy? To trust in your ability and go to a job where I knew I could succeed and would be much happier? Just because of fear? It was the best move I ever made.”
Smith, a distinguished researcher, educator, and innovator who has made groundbreaking contributions to the study of biological adhesives, also told the students to embrace uncertainty in their work as an opportunity for creativity: “When you run into a challenge that doesn’t have a clear answer, embrace it and dig in.” He added that, as the graduates move on in their chosen fields, they should push themselves to do something where they can make a difference. “Don’t be afraid to try,” he said.
A Presidential Message of Courage
President La Jerne Terry Cornish tells graduates, "Embrace uncertainty. Fear not." (Photo by Simon Wheeler)
These sentiments were echoed by President La Jerne Terry Cornish, who cited academic author and podcaster Brené Brown, whose words are engraved on this year’s medallion (an IC tradition): “Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.”
In her remarks, Cornish urged the students, “Whatever it is you are hoping for, have the courage to believe you will achieve it, even when you cannot see it. Find the courage to look beyond what you see and believe in the possibility that lies within you, and the possibility that lies in what you do not see. Embrace uncertainty. Fear not.”
“When you run into a challenge that doesn’t have a clear answer, embrace it and dig in.”
Andrew Smith, keynote speaker and Dana Professor of Biology
Honoring Grit and Growth
President Cornish congratulates graduates. (Photo by Simon Wheeler)
Jennifer McKeon, associate professor of exercise science and athletic training and the Graduate Council Chair spoke of resilience, determination, and strength as she addressed the students. “It takes guts to take on graduate work. The point at which you already have a degree, it’s somewhat easy to say, ‘I know enough’. It took strength of spirit to set off on a new course, to submit yourself to more critique and evaluation, with the goal of building a stronger, sharper you.”
Looking Ahead: Student Reflections
Graduate students from the Schools of Business, Health Sciences and Human Performance, and Humanities and Sciences. (Photo by Simon Wheeler)
Gathering backstage before the event, students discussed their time at IC and future dreams and plans.
Jackson Sherry, MBA, Entertainment and Media Management grad, whose focus for the year was an event project based around youth sports and getting children active is looking for a position in New York City at an events space like Madison Square Garden, or to work in the content creation sphere. Classmate Renee Madcharo ’24 who, like most of the Entertainment and Media Management students also earned her undergraduate degree at IC, co-hosted a podcast while on South Hill and plans to continue in that field.
Standing by the Physical Therapy sign were roommates Malachy Ryan ’22, DPT ’25 and Jake Squilla’22. DPT ’25, together with Matthew Tai ’22, DPT ’25 and Christian Grigas ’23, DPT ’25. They collectively agreed that their time at IC was hard work but rewarding. “It was definitely challenging,” said Squilla, “but I realized I was in the right place when I was here.” They were excited to be moving on with their practices—and to discover they would all be living in the New York/New Jersey area after graduation.
Fellow PT grad Irena Rosenberg ’23, DPT ’25 is looking to pursue a neurologic specialty. Originally from Ithaca, Rosenberg is heading to Delaware for her final clinical rotation after spending her other two in Hawaii and San Diego.
Occupational therapist Ryan Griswold ’24, M.S. ’25 originally came for PT, but, while doing a minor in aging studies met an occupational therapist who inspired him to change fields. For Griswold, the appeal for OT is that “you get to use your creative mind and work with the whole lifespan.”
Kalina Hertafeld ’21, MAT ’25, an Art Education major, who found the program challenging but enjoyed the support from her tightknit cohort. She hopes to have her own art classroom in the fall.
Carolina Vogel, who originally hails from El Salvador, moved to Ithaca from New Jersey with her family to pursue her MAT in Adolescence Education. She is going on to a high school Spanish teacher position. Vogel and Hertafeld were lining up with other education degree recipients who were wearing sashes that had been decorated with signatures and doodles by their students.
Reflecting on his time at IC, baseball student-athlete and MS Accounting grad John Griffin’24, M.S. ’25 said, “The whole year was great. The professors were wonderful in all my learning and helping me get to this point. And I had a great time.” Griffin also received his BS in Accounting from IC and will be going on to work at Deloitte in Hartford, CT.
After first generation speech language-pathology student Brianna McNair M.S. ’25 takes the Praxis exam, she wants to work in EI (early intervention) and with people who have swallowing disorders. She, along with classmate Allyson Guido, M.S. ’25, is one of the “St Rose Crew,” who transferred to Ithaca College from the College of Saint Rose in Albany closed halfway through their program. “It was a big change from inner city Albany to up on the hill, but it was very safe and secure up here,” said Guido. “And everyone was very welcoming—our speech program, the students that were already here, the professors, anyone that was on campus, was always willing to say hello and ask us if we needed help. The year flew by, and I wish it didn't fly by so fast.”
McNair said of Lynne Hewitt, professor and chair of the department of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology: “Dr, H, she is amazing. She said she would get all of us out on time and still finish and she kept her promise. We're all so grateful.”
“Whatever it is you are hoping for, have the courage to believe you will achieve it, even when you cannot see it."
President La Jerne Terry Cornish
Surrounded by Support
The support of family and friends was also very much in evidence. Sanderling Luna’s, M.S. ’25 family were waiting in the auditorium to cheer her onto the stage. Proud parents Santiago and Dominga had travelled from New Jersey with Luna’s brother and sister-in-law to celebrate her MS in speech-language pathology—the first member of the family to receive a graduate degree.
Kathy and Phil Nichols were there for their youngest daughter, Cameryn Nichols ’23, M.S. ’25. Cameryn ’23 was a gymnast throughout her time at IC—both undergrad and graduate—and the Nicols drove from New Hampshire regularly to attend her meets. She follows in the footsteps of her sister, Carolyn ’19, M.S. ’21. “It feels wonderful,” said Phil, of being in Glazer Arena to watch their younger daughter receive her second IC degree.
Also in the audience were recent alums Rajay Channer ’24 and Brianna Nurse ’24.
Nurse was back on South Hill to support fellow athletes and exercise science grads Moriah Byrd ’23, DPT ’25 and Shaunte Gregorie.
Both were happy to have an opportunity to come back to Ithaca. “I was the class of 2020, so I wasn't really here for the first year,” said Nurse. “But the last three years, it became a home to me. I just love being here.”
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