You are here: American University School of Communication About Commencement 2020

Congratulations to the Class of 2020 on reaching this landmark!

We so wish that we could all be together in person to celebrate their accomplishments this weekend. Since that is not possible, Dean Laura DeNardis and graduating students Amanda Nyang'oro and Austin Ramsey have updated their planned remarks; you can view them below. Scroll down to see the full list of Spring 2020 graduates.

We look forward to December, when we will be able to recognize graduates on campus at an event more worthy of this achievement.

Dean Laura DeNardis 2020 Commencement Remarks

American University School of Communication Dean Laura DeNardis addresses the class of 2020.

Amanda Nyang'oro: 2020 Commencement Student Address

Undergraduate student speaker Amanda Nyang'oro address SOC's graduating class of 2020.

Austin Ramsey: 2020 Commencement Student Address

Graduate student speaker Austin Ramsey address SOC's graduating class of 2020.

SOC Spring 2020 Graduates

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Erica Sudipta Basu, Communication
India’s Privacy Chowkidars: The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Shaping Digital Privacy Discourse & Data Protection Policies in India

Aras Coskuntuncel, Communication
Networking Authoritarian Neoliberalism: Realigned Strategies of Information Control and Resistance in the Case of Turkey

MASTER OF ARTS


Nia Nicole Abram, Strategic Communication

Tongwa A. Aka, Film and Media Production

Akinfolarin Oladipo Akinwande, Film and Media Arts

Yousef H. Alshammari, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Gabriela J. Alvarado, Strategic Communication

Zefan Araya, Strategic Communication

Taylor Lynette Ardrey, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Hazel Arroyo, Game Design

Ava Ashrafian, Political Communication

Rahmin M. Atarod, Communication: Producing Film, Television, and Video

Briana Marie Bell, Political Communication

Robert James Benedi, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Candy Boakyewaa, Strategic Communication

Sianna Boschetti, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Scott A. Bovarnick, Political Communication

Brittany O. Boyd, Communication: Producing Film, Television, and Video

Sydney E. Brammer, Strategic Communication

Kyra Ashlyn Briddell, Political Communication

Dionne S. Buck, Strategic Communication

Courtney Carr, Strategic Communication

Amir Emanuel Carter, Film and Media Production

Christopher Harding Casey, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Amber Nicole Chaney, Strategic Communication

Kevin Andrew Colclough, Political Communication

Erin Cooper, Political Communication

Katherin A. Cooper, Film and Media Production

Alice Victoria Massimi Crouch, Strategic Communication

Shabnam Ayda Danesh, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Morgan M. Dart, Strategic Communication

Elise Ashley Dean, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Verónica Del Valle, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Fred DiLorenzo, Communication: Producing Film, Television, and Video

Leona Dunn, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Melissa Rose Eck, Communication: Producing Film, Television, and Video

Alexandra Ellerbeck, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Mariyah Lynne Espinoza, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Caitlin A. Fairchild, Strategic Communication

Molly Elizabeth Feser, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Victoria Ford, Strategic Communication

Niccolas Jordan Gadsden, Film and Media Arts

Elizabeth Gomez, Film and Media Production

Camellia Gregorian, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Cara L. Hackett, Journalism and Digital Storytelling

Brennan M. Hafner, Journalism and Digital Storytelling

Amber Nicole Hagin, Strategic Communication

Devyn Walter Harris, Film and Media Production

Emily Hayes, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Dori Ann Hennessey, Strategic Communication

Elisabeth Catherina Marie Huijskens, Strategic Communication

Autumn G. Jacobs, Communication: Producing Film, Television, and Video

Courtney A. Jacobs, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Petruce K. Jean-Charles, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Dashiel Johnson, Political Communication

Forrest F. Johnson, Strategic Communication

Kristen Suzette Elizabeth Johnson, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

John A. Jones, Strategic Communication

Seree O. Joseph, Journalism and Digital Storytelling

Steve Kaltenbaugh, Game Design

Lizbeth N. Kariuki, Film and Media Production

Zachariah H. Karp, Political Communication

Alana S. Kasindorf, Strategic Communication

Kelly Ruth Kimball, Journalism and Digital Storytelling

Steffanie M. Korcz, Film and Media Arts

Yaminah Lambert, Communication: Producing Film, Television, and Video

Thanh T. Le, Strategic Communication

Hong Li, Game Design

Mitchell Gordon Habib Loewen, Game Design

Lauren Monet Lumpkin, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Hayley Lynch, Strategic Communication

Sarah E. MacKenzie, Strategic Communication

Leah L. Marquis, Political Communication

Ikechukwu Mbagwu, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Maya Olivia McKenzie, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Elise A. Mihranian, Strategic Communication

Carrie Moskal, Game Design

Alana M. Newman, Strategic Communication

Sophie Anne C. Normand, Strategic Communication

Vanessa Ofori, Journalism and Digital Storytelling

Nicholas Andrew Pasternak, Political Communication

Mallory Payne, Political Communication

Christin E. Pittman, Journalism and Digital Storytelling

Frederick Poole, Film and Media Arts

Maureen E. Rama, Strategic Communication

Austin R. Ramsey, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Kristina L. Randall, Political Communication

Jessica Mollie Rebarber, Strategic Communication

Kelila Hannah Rotto, Strategic Communication

Dominique D. Rougeau, Political Communication

Alyssa M. G. Royster, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Rebecca N. Rybczyk, Strategic Communication

Miabelle C. Salzano, Journalism and Digital Storytelling

Kathleen Ferguson Sams, Strategic Communication

Arwa Sawan, Communication: Producing Film, Television, and Video

Ariel Schindler, Strategic Communication

Melissa Elizabeth Shaffmaster, Strategic Communication

Ashleigh Elizabeth Shaw, Strategic Communication

Caroline Wingfield Smith, Film and Media Production

Kierra R. Smith, Strategic Communication

Engey O. Soliman, Film and Media Production

Anne Stefanec, Strategic Communication

Thomas Struett, Political Communication

Lisa Ann Tanis, Communication: Producing Film, Television, and Video

William D. Taylor, Political Communication

Matthew R. Thibault, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Katherine Michelle Vasiliev, Global Media

Jacob A. Wallace, Communication: Journalism and Public Affairs

Xin Wen, Strategic Communication

Elizabeth Powell Williams, Political Communication

Sarah Elisabeth Woods, Strategic Communication

Sussan Yekta, Film and Media Production

Melody Kay Young, Strategic Communication

Berivan Abdullah Yousify, Journalism and Digital Storytelling

Abrihet Justine Zegeye, Strategic Communication

MASTER OF FINE ARTS


Mitra Iman Arthur, Film and Electronic Media

Robert A. Boyd, Film and Electronic Media

Maya T. Dixon, Film and Electronic Media

Kathleen Elizabeth Gaeta, Film and Media Arts

Quamé A. Hamlin, Film and Electronic Media

Paige Howarth, Film and Electronic Media

Carlos Enrique Macher, Film and Media Arts

Saphira Ocasio, Film and Electronic Media

Molly Elizabeth Page, Film and Media Arts

Alan Pittman, Film and Electronic Media

Shirin Saghaie, Film and Electronic Media

Vincent A. Terlizzi Jr., Film and Electronic Media

Sunshine G. Yang, Film and Electronic Media

 

BACHELOR OF ARTS

Sofia Nicole Abate, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Jamila Adams, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Alejandra G. Alferez, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Catherine Dionne Ashley, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Abby Bacardi, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
summa cum laude

Madison Breslane Bean, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Clark Joseph Berlin, Foreign Language and Communication Media

Michael H. Berman, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Mikael T. Bernard, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Alice M. Bershtein, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Maraya Morris Bidjerano, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Hannah R. Bisk, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Michael Eli Blickstein, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Sara Elaine Boas, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Alyssa L. Bradley, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Jason S. Brandon, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Merrill L. Brenner, Communication Studies

Julia C. Bruns, Communication: Journalism
summa cum laude
American University Scholar

Madisen Rebekah Buechler, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Lydia T. Calitri, Communication: Journalism
cum laude

Carissa Campo, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Gabriela Sofia Cantero, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Maria Caterina Cantisano, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Emma J. Casady, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Carolina I. Casalduc, Communication Studies

Beth Cassidy, Communication: Film and Media Arts
Audio Production

Veronica Jeaneth Castro, Communication Studies
magna cum laude

Kimberly Cataudella, Communication: Journalism
Religious Studies
magna cum laude

Suah Cheong, Communication Studies
Psychology

Marshall Child, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude

Cynthia Katharine Clausen, Communication: Film and Media Arts

TaeKenya T. Cleveland, Communication: Journalism

Matthew S. Colletti, Communication: Journalism

Katherine Grace Condren, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Morgan Cooper, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Brianna Lee Crummy, Communication: Journalism

Nicole A. Csorgo, Communication: Journalism
cum laude

John Thomas Cullen, Communication Studies

Noah Karl Danz, Communication Studies

Luke Benjamin Daskas, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

John McAllister Davis, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Aaron Edward Dean, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Julianne Nicole Delia, Communication Studies
Computer Science

Bradley J. de Ramón, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
summa cum laude
American University Scholar

Danielle De Vito, Communication: Film and Media Arts
Dance
magna cum laude

Camryn Elliana Diagonale, Communication Studies

William L. Diamond, Communication Studies

Emma Jessica Dion, Communication: Journalism
Musical Theatre
magna cum laude

Anna Catherine Donohue, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude

Zachary Samuel Dore, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude

Morgan K. Downing, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Elizabeth C. Edwards, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude

Carly Elkins, Communication Studies
Psychology
magna cum laude
American University Scholar

Mariah C. Espada, Communication: Journalism

Rebecca Susan Evans, Communication: Journalism
magna cum laude

Leanna A. Faulk, Communication Studies

Sydney Marie Felder, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Mariella C. García Matienzo, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

George O. Gerardi, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Caleb Gleit, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Jonathan Goldstein, Communication: Journalism

Kaycie Dana Goral, Communication Studies

Emma Olivia Grace, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude

Isabella Farrell Grande, Communication Studies
cum laude

Neah Shakiara Gray, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Kyndall Laura Green. Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Isabelle Eve Greenberg, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Molly K. Greenstone, Communication: Journalism

Rael Griffin, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Emily R. Gross, Communication Studies

Xiaodi Gu, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude

Valerie Gudino, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Monica W. Gunkle, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
Spanish Studies
Tylere Guzman-Touchberry
Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Anna Sophia Harcleroad, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude

Robert Charles Heilberg, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Juliet Helen Henry, Communication Studies

Demory Hobbs, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
Literature
summa cum laude
American University Scholar

George C. Howard, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Halle L. Howard, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Kelly Caroline Jackson, Communication: Journalism

Britt Carmela Jacovich, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
Interdisciplinary Studies:
Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government
cum laude

Samantha Jordan Jaffe, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude

Malcolm Davenport Johnson, Communication: Journalism

Rianna Marie Joy, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Terrence Jeremiah Kane, Communication: Journalism

Victoria Karam, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
Graphic Design

William P. Kennedy, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Sarah E. Kerman, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
History
cum laude

Morgan Penelope Kmitt, Communication: Journalism
American Studies
cum laude

Karen E. Kuczwaj, Communication Studies

Kaitlyn Emily Kushner, Communication: Journalism

Demetrious Lara, Communication Studies

Benjamin Aureliano Lecchi, Communication Studies

Maia Ivy Lee Sang, Communication Studies

James J. Lepinsky IV, Communication: Journalism

Jolene Marie Levesque, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
Business Administration
cum laude

Miranda Renee Levin, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Andrew Harris Levy, Communication: Film and Media Arts
magna cum laude

Meghan V. Lewis, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude
Community-Based Research Scholar

Chang Liu, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Stephanie Lopez, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Anastasia Barbara Sava Maragos, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
summa cum laude

Sarah Margaret Maraschky, Foreign Language and Communication Media
magna cum laude

Camden Graves Marcucci, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Bianca Marinkovic Dauelsberg, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Nora Grace Marris, Communication: Film and Media Arts
summa cum laude

Matthew Nicholas Matos, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
Community-Based Research Scholar

Corey Daniel McAuliffe, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Ryan Patrick McAvoy, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Sydney R. McLane, Communication: Journalism
Sociology

Lillian Alexandra Menkens-Weiler, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Madeline Claire Merritt, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Elias James Miller, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Alexander I. Miora, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Amanda Marie Molloy, Communication: Journalism

Jacob Montes, Communication: Film and Media Arts
cum laude

Juanita Montoya Sanmiguel, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Brandon M. Morales, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Lilian Beatriz Moreno, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Eleanor Mary Murray-Mendelson, Communication Studies

Tainaya D. Nash-Cheaton, Communication: Journalism

Justin B. Neely, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Alexandria Ngo, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Bruce A. Nilson, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Wanlin Niu, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Amanda Nyakela Nyang’oro, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude

Diana Margarita Ochoa, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Erika Cecilia Parjus, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Ryan Edmond Parker, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Sophia Veronica Paynter, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Laura Maria Peña, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Mia Loren Perry, Communication: Journalism

Thea Vandana Persaud, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Ashlyn Elysa Peter, Communication: Journalism
cum laude

Dana Lynn Piccirillo, Foreign Language and Communication Media

Oliver Joe Price, Communication Studies

Madeleine Leah Proctor, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Hannah Rabinowitz, Communication: Journalism

Kelly Marie Ramirez, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Natalie H. Ravis, Communication: Journalism

Jordan A. Redd, Communication: Film and Media Arts
magna cum laude

Julia Anastasia Reisman, Communication Studies

Hillary Eve Julia Reskin, Communication: Film and Media Arts
History

Jack B. Resnick, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude

Nina Monique Reyes, Communication: Journalism

Liam S. Riebling, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
summa cum laude

Caroline E. Rinker, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude
American University Scholar

Santiago Rivera Barbosa, Communication: Journalism
Political Science

Paulina Maria Rivera Reyes, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Abigail Marin Roberts, Communication Studies

Burke Arielle Roberts, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Melany Love Rochester, Communication: Film and Media Arts
summa cum laude
American University Scholar

Grace Elizabeth Rodgers, Communication: Journalism
summa cum laude

Gabriela Maria Rodriguez, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
Health Promotion

Michele Camille Roux Morgan, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Thomas Michael Rozanov, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Tai Lane Ruinsky, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Jane Supha Russo, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Matthew J. Sacco, Communication: Journalism

Dastan E. Sadykov, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Sabrina Segalas Sampson, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Sofia K. Sandoval-Ferriss, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Shanaz Sanjana, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Alec C. Schemmel, Communication: Journalism

Brian R. Schoener, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Sarah Margaret Molloy Schwartz, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Isabel S. Scoliard, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Emily Caroline Seymour, Communication: Journalism

Madeline Eloise Shapiro, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Marc Isaac Shapiro, Communication Studies

Loren Nicole Smith, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Theodora Smith, Communication: Journalism
cum laude

Sydney M. Soltau, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Emily Kathryn Bain Stintz, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Lucas J. Stockslader, Communication Studies

Grace N. Strong, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Zeyu Sun, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Carly Swell, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Jiani Tan, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Omar Tarbush, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Rebecca L. Taub, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Maeve Fitzgerald Terry, Communication: Journalism

Jordan C. Tobias, Communication: Journalism

Aaron Traub, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Arden Tully, Communication Studies
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Zachary Andrew Vallese, Communication: Journalism

Mia Van Allen, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Nicole Via y Rada, Communication: Journalism

Lizaveta Vozjakova, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Colleen Hart Wachenfeld, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
magna cum laude

Karissa Faith Waddick, Communication: Journalism
Interdisciplinary Studies: Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government
cum laude

Hattie Olivia Wade, Communication Studies

Grace L. Walker, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
Performing Arts: Theatre

Kimberly Anne Walsh, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Eryi Wang, Communication: Film and Media Arts

Amanda Michelle Warshaw, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Melissa E. Weinstein, Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Willard Bradley West, Communication: Journalism
cum laude
American University Scholar

Samuel Isaac Whitcomb, Communication: Film and Media Arts
cum laude

Jessica S. Wittich, Communication Studies

Carol L. Wright, Communication: Journalism

Emma Rose Zubiago, Public Relations & Strategic Communication
cum laude

Riley E. Zuschlag, Communication: Film and Media Arts
Justice and Law