Herzing University Commencement Ceremony
Commencement Ceremony
Welcome & Introduction Jason Morgan Vice President, Campus Operations Campus President, Atlanta Campus
Student & Alumni Awards Introduction
Michael Velarde-Bell, Ed.D. Academic Dean
Distinguished Alumnus Deshawn Williams, BSN, MSNFNP Bachelor of Science in Nursing 2017 Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner 2020
Student of the Year & Student Speaker
Mario Sims Bachelor of Business Management 2018 Master of Business Administration 2020
Commencement Speaker Renee Herzing University President, Herzing University
Conferring of Degrees and Diplomas
Jim Kivikoski M.Ed. Sr. Student Services Specialist
Hooding of Masters Candidates
Michael Velarde-Bell, Ed.D. Academic Dean
Alumni Pledge Deshawn Williams, BSN, MSNFNP Bachelor of Science in Nursing 2017 Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner 2020
Charge to Graduates Ayana Emory Director, Career Development
Closing Remarks Michael Velarde-Bell, Ed.D. Academic Dean
Commencement Speaker
Renee Herzing, University President Herzing University Renée succeeded her father, Henry Herzing, as president of the Herzing University System on March 1st, 2009. After attaining a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, she taught abroad in Scotland and Germany for nine years before completing her Masters in Business Administration.
She has worked in various positions at Herzing University at the campus level, including registrar, director of admissions, and president of Herzing University online. In addition, Ms. Herzing has overseen the System’s online, strategic planning, and information technology initiatives. She launched the System’s Online division in 2003, which has grown from 100 students to over 2500 students.
In education, she is on the Steering Committee of the Higher Education Regional Alliance (HERA), the Board of WAICU (Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities), and a Trustee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. Renee served on the Board of Directors for the Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) and was the Chair of its Grassroots Committee. Additionally, she is active in national educational idea-sharing groups.
In the business community, she is a member of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization), an international organization of over 20,000 CEOs, where she has held a variety of leadership roles since 2011. She is also a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC), on the Steering Committee of Milwaukee Women, Inc. and a member of TEMPO Milwaukee.
Outside of work, Renée enjoys playing rock music in a band with her husband and son, traveling, entertaining, learning languages, and spending as much time as possible with her two teenage children, including horseback riding with her daughter.
Deshawn Williams BSN, MSNFNP is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and a proud mother of seven beautiful children. She holds both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner from Herzing University-Atlanta Campus.
Deshawn currently serves as the Nurse Educator, Interim Pulmonary Director & Staff Development Coordinator at Douglasville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She is an
active alum who continues to offer her time and her service to her Alma Mater since completing her undergraduate studies in August 2017.
Mario Sims , MBA was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1985 and relocated to Stone Mountain, Georgia in 1989. After graduating from Redan High School in 2004, Mario served four years in the U.S. Navy from 2004 to 2008. In 2007, he served in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Westpac cruise onboard the USS John C. Stennis.
Since enrolling in Herzing University the Undergraduate Business program, Mario served the campus community with distinction. In 2017, he worked his first work study position at Decatur Cooperative Ministry, a local family homeless shelter, supporting the organization's director.
Mario earned his Bachelor Degree in Business Management from Herzing University in 2019 and entered the Master of Business Administration program the same year. During his MBA studies, Mario served the campus as a work study student assisting students with research in the Learning Commons, provided student outreach, and helped students learn to use Canvas, the Campus’ Learning Management System. He has been an integral part of many campus events including Orientations and Commencement Ceremonies. Mario also served as President of the Herzing Atlanta Business Club from 2019-2020.
Distinguished Alumnus
Student of the year/student speaker
Please Note: This Commencement Program is a roster of candidates, not an offi-cial list of graduates. Appropriate degrees and honors are only awarded to candi-
dates who successfully complete all requirements for program completion by estab-lished deadlines. Herzing University’s official designator for degree conferral is the
student’s permanent academic record and is displayed on the official transcript.
DIPLOMA IN bookkeeping and payroll accounting
Crystal G. Barrett (H) Shawonna Williams
DIPLOMA IN insurance billing and coding
Joycelyn E. Horton-Searcy Bridgett J. Leath
DIPLOMA IN medical assisting
Sofia Gay Josie A. Meeks Crystal Ridley
DIPLOMA IN medical assisting Services
Ladessa J. Bryant Storm Kimbrough
DIPLOMA IN medical billing and insurance
Michell McCallum-Burford
DIPLOMA IN MEDICAL coding
Charissa Rivers (H)
DIPLOMA IN medical office administration
Allison Arnold Kortney L. Jenkins Deiandra L. Perkins
Cassandra Westbrooks
Diplomas
Roster of Candidates
Associates of Science in accounting
Bhavin Patel (H)
Associate of science in business management
Jordan Aggison
Jada-Tate Beckford (H)
Danielle Besay (H)
Amber Bradshaw-Mclendon
Dantasia Dolson
Makenzie Duncan
Charles Fambrough
Jalon Flowers (H)
Spencer L. Gadson
Jalen Hasan (H)
Nala Johnson
Etsri Eugene Koudouvo-Akolly (H)
Bryston Lee
Chloe Mack (H)
Iyana Miller
Jayda Morrison (H)
Robyn Nelson (H)
Maliek Nix (H)
William Taylor (H)
Miles Terrell
Ezekiel M. Thompson (H)
Asia Thurmon (H)
Ashlynn Wright (H)
Associate Degrees
Associates of Science in criminal justice
Ronnie Allen
Associate of science in health information management
Roslyn D. Cooke (H)
Abigail Ellis
Heather Grubman (H)
Danesha Hester
Associate of Science in healthcare administration
Agnes Duperval (H) Shanteria Ezzard Nicole Johnson
Ashley N. Turner (H) Hemi Vega (H)
Monique Wilson
Associate of Science in information technology
Aaron Bates
Associate of Science in insurance billing and coding SPECIALIST
Betty J. Grogg Nicole James
Tamika Johnson Amanda Kirby
Associates of Science in legal assisting/paralegal
Sherrod Chisolm (H)
Geraldette Jones (H)
Eugene Jones (H)
Gina Nash
Susan Richards (H)
associate Degrees
associate Degrees
Associate of science in medical assisting services
Kimberly Adams (H) Briaun Clay
Kelsey Harris (H) Nina Knight
Jessica Martin
Associate of Science in medical billing and insurance Uniqua Lee
Associate of Science in Medical coding
Anne Marie Hayes (H)
Associate of Science in medical office administration
Melissa M. McCarty (H)
Bachelor of science in Business Management Markeia Flacks Linnett Gorley Cheri Pierre (S)
Quanchao Zhou (C)
Bachelor of science in business management with a Concentration in business administration
Norah Garrett (C)
Bachelor of science in Business Management with a Concentration in entrepreneurial studies
Rodriquez O. Allen Viktar Khalimonchyk (S)
Bachelor of science in Business Management with a
Concentration in human resource development
Latoya J. Lettsome
bachelor degrees
Bachelor of science in business management with a concentration in marketing
Kenisha S. McLeod
Bachelor of science in criminal justice
Victory Phillips Joshua J. Rivers (C)
Christopher Steverson (S)
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Homeland Security
Andrew P. Taddei (S) Holli Thomas
Omar Vanputten (M)
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a Concentra-tion in Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
William P. Johnson Robert Rhodes (C)
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice With a
Concentration in Supervision and Management
Hajredin Zenelaj
Bachelor of science in cybersecurity
Nico Williams
Bachelor of science in health information management
Jasmine Moody
Bachelor of science in healthcare management
Jessica Greenwood (S) Shanere C. Joseph Jasmin Long (S) Juliana Ojih (C) Angelique Price
bachelor degrees
bachelor degrees
Daishah Ross Mackenzie Shirah
Heather M. Tammen (M)
Bachelor of science in information technology
Courtney J. Credle (S) Johanson Edouazin Nicholas Jordan (S)
Sharee Sheppard-Smith (S) Jiaxin Wang (M)
Trayvon Woodford
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a Con-centration in Security Technology
Adlene Momant
Bachelor of Science in legal studies
Sheryl Beresford Andria A. Chapman (M)
Frederick Tanks (S)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Crystal Allen Elizabeth Ekere
Ivie Ekhorutomwen (C) Future Glenn
Aapri C. Harris Katisha O'Garro Olanike Olaoso
Phillip Peart Megan Powell (C)
Tonya Reid (C) Madina Saipova (C)
Elrita Stevens Elia Vazquez
Jennifer I. Zitta
Bachelor of Science in Nursing–RN
Rose L. Duplessis Olivia Galloway-Sanders
Jennifer N. Goodson Roszina Holmes
Amba E. Johnson Bhavini V. Patel Rachel Russell
Bachelor of Science in Software Development
Sabrina Artemus David Lee (M)
Master of Business Administration
Shukhrat Azizmamadov
Savina N. Flowers Rhyeka Gilmore-Shelton
Devante Johns Samarpreet Kaur
Mario Sims Morgan Tatum Latosha Ward
Daniel Wiggins Leonta Williams
Master of Business Administration in Accounting and
Finance
Yinglei Ding
Bachelor degrees
Master Degrees
Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management
Mehrunissa Barkat Ali Muboriz Amonbekov Monique L. Thornton Kimberly L. Traylor
Master of business administration in human resources
Maylene Hector Natalie Jones
Chantell Payne Shakirah Stokes
Master of Business administration in project management
Yasmine Benabderrahmane
Master of Business administration in technology
management
Spencer Ejakpomewhe
Master of Business administration with a concentration in data analytics
Jingmei Piao
Master of business administration Dual Concentration:
Healthcare Management and Human Resources
Marie D. Walker-Garmon
Master of Science in Nursing with a Concentration in
Family Nurse Practitioner
Diana M.Bulimu Zandria Hamilton
Hans Makolo
Master Degrees
Ecua Solomon
Jeannie Sowell
Deshawn Williams
Master of science in Nursing with a Concentration in
Nursing Education
Veronica V. Brown
Carolina McMeans
Normalee Sinclair-Buggs
Post Masters Certificate Family Nurse Practitioner
Sandra White
Master Degrees
Master Degree Graduates receive the Masters degree hood as a recognition of academic achievement.
Bachelor Degree Honors
s = Summa Cum Laude (with greatest honor) A cumulative grade point average of 3.90-4.00 is recognized by a gold stole that is part of the graduate’s academic regalia. m = Magna Cum Laude (with high honor) A cumulative grade point average of 3.70-3.89 is recognized by a double gold cord that is part of the graduate’s academic regalia. c = Cum Laude (with honor) A cumulative grade point average of 3.50-3.69 is recognized by a double silver cord that is part of the graduate’s academic regalia.
Associate Degree and Diploma Honors
h = Honors A cumulative grade point average of 3.50 to 4.00. is recognized by double white cord that is part of the graduate’s academic regalia.
Alpha Beta Kappa National Honor Society (ABK)
† = ABK National Honor Society Alpha Beta Kappa National Honor Society membership inductees have a grade point average of 3.75 or higher and are recognized by wearing red, white and blue honor cords. Additional qualifications for membership include leadership and service in class and school activities, and personal integrity and good moral character. The purpose of the society is to help schools, colleges and universities how-so-ever organized and named, and their students and alumni through the encouragement and recognition of superior academic work and laboratory training in honorable fields of endeavor.
Key to honors
Herzing University Alumni Pledge
I acknowledge: That I continue to be an essential part of Herzing University and shall represent the University proudly by mentoring and guiding others. That I am fortunate and empowered by my education to positively invest in supporting the well-being of the people around me help-ing to build a strong and inclusive community. I pledge therefore: That I will remember to demonstrate the P.R.I.C.E. of Success values that I have learned of Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Caring and Engagement in all that I do – in the workplace, at home and in my network.
Graduates, welcome to the Herzing University alumni circle! Please go to alumni.herzing.edu and register to connect with class-mates as well as enjoy the benefits of the Association.
Herzing University Alumni Association
Renee Herzing, M.B.A. System President, Herzing University
Nigel Longworth, M.S.
President of Online and Chief Operations Officer
Kitty Kautzer, ED.D. Provost
Erik Parks, B.S.
Chief Financial Officer
Clay Gillespie, B.S. Chief Marketing Officer
Bob Haimes, M.B.A.
Executive Vice President, Operations
The faculty, staff, and administration of Herzing University cordially welcome graduates, their families, and their friends to this festive occasion and extend to each graduate heartfelt congratulations and best wishes on the journey ahead!
Herzing University executive committee
Herzing University is an Institution of Higher Learning with Locations in the Following States
Alabama
Herzing University, Birmingham
Florida Herzing University, Orlando
Georgia
Herzing University, Atlanta
Louisiana Herzing University, New Orleans
Minnesota
Herzing University, Minneapolis
Ohio Herzing University, Akron
Wisconsin
Herzing University, Brookfield Herzing University, Kenosha Herzing University, Madison Herzing University, Online
Herzing University Central Administration W140 N8917 Lilly Road
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, 53051 www.herzing.edu
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. To learn more, please go to www.hlcommission.org