Commencement

SFSU student artwork displayed at top of Salesforce Tower

Skyscraper celebrates the Class of 2026 as part of the world’s highest public art installation 

Digital artwork created by San Francisco State University students received a high level of visibility — 1,070 feet high to be exact — at the top of the Salesforce Tower. Tens of thousands of people looked up to the San Francisco skyscraper between May 21 and 23 to view their installation celebrating the Class of 2026. 

“We have this amazing opportunity to make something for the second tallest tower this side of the Mississippi that’s going up during our graduation week,” said Gabe Janssen, one of 16 Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts (BECA) students to volunteer for this project. “We’re going to show the world what we do.” 

The six-minute video loop alternates moving images of graduates in caps and gowns with dancing alligators and more, all in colorful, high-contrast LED lights. Its debut coincided with SFSU’s Commencement, beginning after dark and the end of the ceremony. 

Assistant Professor Graham Carpenter, the project coordinator, says that he has been excited to see it bring out the artistic talent in students that they didn’t know they had. As a Sports Emmy Award-winning cameraperson, he can relate. 

“I teach directing. We do sports. We do drones. But how do we become a visual artist?” said Carpenter, filing through a storage bin filled with his media credentials from major American sporting events, including Super Bowl LX in February. “Tapping into this other visual artist side has been super awesome and really, really fulfilling.” 

Student Carla Appleberry’s contributions include shooting and editing footage of dancers at Creations Berkeley Media and Performing Arts, her nonprofit organization for schoolchildren.  

“Imagine being a kid and seeing yourself on top of the Salesforce Tower and how that may open up a world for you,” Appleberry said. “Being a woman in business, being able to be a business owner and further your education at the same time and have these opportunities as a minority, I think it’s paramount.” 

Graham Carpenter and four students pose for a photo while standing outdoors at night with their artwork featured on the Salesforce Tower and a chain-link fence in the background

The SFSU student art is a collaboration with the Salesforce Tower Top art project led by Jim Campbell and Emma Strebel. They frequently team up with universities and high schools to make art for display at the tip of the tower. Jillian Sobol (B.S., ’16) made the connection to get SFSU selected. 

“I love the SFSU Commencement at Oracle Park, both when I was a graduate and an employee,” said Sobol, a former events manager in the SFSU Alumni Relations office. “Celebrating with City Hall and SFO in purple and gold Gator pride, when Salesforce [Tower] opened in 2018, I knew it should be part of the celebration.” 

Amylah Charles, a graduating senior, says her fellow classmates aimed to present a thoughtful message, especially given the magnitude of the medium. It is the highest public art installation in the world and can be visible from 20 miles away. 

“What story do you want to tell when you have the eyes of the city on you?” said Charles, also the award-winning business owner of Curly Crownz Hair Care and host of the “Under the Sun Podcastz.” “It was a heavy pit in my chest. I’m so excited to do this, but whoa, representation truly matters.” 

Maya Alford-Hill showcased her skills and creative passions that also include television writing and a podcast, “The Hybrina Series.” She is excited not only by the boost it gives her portfolio, but also how others will react. 

“This is a way to show what I was doing [on a California State University campus]. People underestimate what a CSU is,” said Alford-Hill, a junior from New Jersey. “Also, once I bring my grandma there, I think her face will light up.” 

It is an extra tassel on the graduation cap for members of SFSU’s Class of 2026 like Charles and Appleberry. 

“Every time I come across the Bay Bridge for school and I see the tower, I’m like, ‘I’m going to be up there flying, and everybody’s going to see it,’” Appleberry said. “And I’m going to be able to prove to everybody I made it. It’s my way of showing the world: Don’t count me out.” 

Learn more about the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department. 

Artists Jim Campbell, Emma Strebel and three students pose for a photo while standing in Campbell's studio
Artists Jim Campbell, Emma Strebel and three students are seated at a table in Campbell's studio and looking at a computer monitor

California Attorney General Rob Bonta tells SFSU graduates to stay engaged, get involved

Bonta addressed thousands of Gator grads and their families at Oracle Park May 23

San Francisco State University celebrated the Class of 2025 at its 124th Commencement ceremony Friday, May 23, at Oracle Park. California Attorney General Rob Bonta provided the keynote address, telling graduates to use their skills and energy to “demand and create a better world, now.”

“Across the nation, our rights, freedoms and safety are under attack,” Bonta told the more than 3,500 graduates in attendance. “Now is not the time for silence or blind compliance. The stakes are too high. Everyone has a role to play in shaping the world we all deserve to live in.”

As part of the ceremony, SFSU commemorated honorary doctoral degree recipients Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Tommy Orange and activist, physician and minister Ramona Tascoe (B.A., ’70). In her remarks, Tascoe echoed Bonta’s encouragement to take action.

“We must be vigilant in making certain that progress is not lost, that growth continues and that all of these wonderful students have opportunities to see the same success in their children and their grandchildren,” said Tascoe. “The world will continue to be a better place because of the rainbow of brilliance that emerges from this campus.”

The University also honored the late author and beloved SFSU Professor of History Dawn Mabalon with a posthumous honorary doctoral degree. California State University Trustee and SFSU alumnus Jose Antonio Vargas (B.A., ’04), a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, was on hand to introduce Mabalon’s sister Darleen Bohulano Mabalon, who accepted the honorary degree. 

“To receive this honor in one of her favorite places, Oracle Park — home to the beloved San Francisco Giants — and from San Francisco State, the university where she poured her heart into her work, is indescribable,” Mabalon said. 

Other Commencement speakers included SFSU President Lynn Mahoney, Associated Students President Brandon Foley, graduate speaker Patra Holmes and undergraduate speaker Belayneh Salilew. Cal State Student Association President Iese Esera, a first-generation college graduate, used his time at the podium to speak to his childhood self — a self who was bullied for being different.

“You might be in pain right now, but someday the pain will subside,” said Esera, who earned a B.A. in Music from SFSU in 2023 and is working toward his Master of Public Administration at the University. “You will use your voice — and your voice will soar. You might feel unwanted right now, but one day your presence and your story will inspire.” 

California State University Chancellor Mildred García addressed the Commencement crowd and praised SFSU’s Class of 2025.

“Tonight, graduates: We celebrate you. We celebrate your intellect, your tenacity, your curiosity, your courage to confront and conquer any challenge, large or small, that may have stood between you and your degree,” García said. “And we stand in awe and excitement for all you will accomplish.”

More than 7,000 Gators earned their diplomas from SFSU this spring, and an estimated 31,000 graduates, family members and friends attended Commencement at Oracle Park.

The Commencement ceremony will be made available to view in its entirety on SFSU’s YouTube channel.

Learn more about the University’s 2025 Commencement.

Two graduating students embrace while posing for a picture on the field at Oracle Park while other graduating students are in the stands behind them

Speakers share stories of personal transformation at Commencement

SF State ‘can be your rock,’ said Jayshree Ullal, president and CEO of cloud networking company Arista Networks, at the May 26 event

San Francisco State University celebrated the Class of 2023 at its annual Commencement ceremony Friday, May 26, at Oracle Park. More than 4,000 graduates and more than 31,000 people attended the event, which featured technology business leader Jayshree Ullal as keynote speaker. Ullal talked about the challenges she faced coming to the U.S. from her native India to attend San Francisco State in 1977. 

“While I was pursuing electrical engineering, I was only one or two of 100 female students in a class of 100,” said Ullal (B.S., ’81), who studied electrical engineering at SF State and went on to become president and CEO of cloud networking company Arista Networks. “This made cutting class difficult, as we were conspicuous by our absence!” 

Despite being a trailblazer in a then mostly male field — and a “very shy, quiet introvert” to boot — Ullal said her Engineering professors and fellow students were supportive.   

“This great San Francisco State institution shaped me and guided my future,” she said. “And it can be your rock just like it’s my foundational rock.” 

Two honorary California State University degrees were also conferred at Commencement: legendary Rolling Stone writer and editor, author, DJ and TV host Ben Fong-Torres (B.A., ’66) was honored with a Doctor of Fine Arts, while activist, filmmaker, author and psychotherapist Satsuki Ina received a Doctor of Humane Letters.  

“Actually I didn’t attend my Commencement. Hey, it was the Sixties. We forgot, man,” Fong-Torres joked to the crowd. “But I have never forgotten this university’s impact on me. … I got that [Rolling Stone] gig, I think, because of the freedom that we had to experiment with journalism here at SF State, and the lessons learned from that freedom.” 

During Ina’s speech, she encouraged the Class of 2023 to make the world a better place through empathy and action. 

“I urge you to bring with you something that has always been inside of you, even before college, and that is your compassion,” she said. “We need all that you bring, and more than ever in this world of conflict, violence, injustice and suffering, we need your compassion. We need you to care and love family and friends, of course, but also the stranger, the other, the foreigner. Reach out beyond your comfort zone, welcome the outsider. It is compassion that can mend the fractures, heal the wounds and bring us together.” 

Other speakers included SF State President Lynn Mahoney, Associated Students President Karina Zamora and Associated Students Chief of Staff Iese Esera. Two student hood recipients, among 12 graduates honored for their academic and personal achievements, also shared their stories. 

“I began my journey in higher education as a homeless first-generation college student with a baby on my hip and another in my belly. I did not have support, money, guidance or a place to call my own. But what I did have was a dream,” said undergraduate speaker Nicole Bañuelos. “I had a dream that I would earn my degree in Biology and go on to study medicine and save human lives. This dream carried me through my most trying times. I learned how to study through morning sickness and nausea, how to hold a textbook in one hand and a baby in another, how to hold my head up high when I felt like the world was looking down on me. But most of all I learned how to never give up in the face of adversity and that after every dark night there is a brighter day.” 

Graduate student speaker Hasti Jafari, who was born in Iran, reflected on the Iranian women’s movement and the important lessons the Class of 2023 can learn from the brave activists there. 

“As someone honored to have called both countries home, I encourage you to see their fight as your fight, as the basic rights of women, people of color and the LGBTQ+ and disabled communities are under threat in this country as well,” Jafari said. “And in this deeply interconnected world, none of us are free until all of us are free.” 

Learn more information about SF State’s 2023 Commencement. 

Delroy Lindo tells SFSU graduates to ‘be bold’ at 125th Commencement

The actor and honorary degree recipient praised SFSU’s tradition of expanding opportunity and supporting students

Oscar-nominated actor Delroy Lindo (B.A., ’04) urged the Class of 2026 to create opportunities for themselves and others at San Francisco State University’s 125th Commencement ceremony, held Thursday, May 21, at Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants.

Extending the celebration beyond the ballpark, Salesforce Tower lit up the San Francisco skyline with student-created artwork honoring this year’s graduating Gators.

Speaking to a crowd of more than 30,000 graduates, family members and supporters at Oracle Park, Lindo encouraged students to embrace ambition, resilience and the values they developed at SFSU.

“Set goals for yourselves, you guys, as clearly and specifically as you’re able, as I did,” said Lindo, a 2026 Academy Award nominee in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance in “Sinners.” “And know this — your definition of success is the only definition that matters.”

An SFSU alumnus and member of the SFSU Foundation Board of Directors, Lindo described speaking at Commencement as “a homecoming of sorts” and praised the University’s longstanding commitment to expanding access and opportunity.

“What I’ve always appreciated about State is that it’s an institution priding itself on creating opportunity where opportunity has not previously existed,” Lindo said.

He also encouraged graduates to take pride in what they had already overcome to earn their degrees.

“Don’t forget who you are, where you came from, what you come from, and embrace that,” he said. “Be bold, be proud. Because you all deserve it.”

The ceremony celebrated 7,269 graduates, many of whom balanced work, family responsibilities and other challenges while earning their degrees. SFSU President Lynn Mahoney praised the class for its commitment and tenacity, noting that many students began their academic journeys during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You learned to navigate a virtual world and became part of the generation that helped us move beyond the challenges of the pandemic and reconnect in innovative ways,” Mahoney said. “You are exemplars of resilience and success.”

Mahoney also emphasized the University’s mission of educational equity, highlighting the many first-generation college graduates in the Class of 2026 and recognizing the 210 student veterans earning degrees this year.

In addition to delivering the keynote address, Lindo received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. He was recognized alongside muralist and educator Juana Alicia and broadcast journalist Wendy Tokuda, who also received honorary doctorates during the ceremony.

Student speakers reflected on the personal and academic journeys that brought them to Commencement.

Graduate student speaker Tanya Aghazadeh shared how perseverance carried her through the demands of working full time while pursuing her degree. “Today is not only a celebration of a degree — it’s a celebration of everything we overcame to get here,” she said.

Undergraduate speaker Orlando Mayen-Castañeda described overcoming housing instability and self-doubt to pursue his passion for astronomy. He credited mentors and community at SFSU for helping him stay on track, encouraging his fellow graduates to support others in turn.

“Be the reason somebody keeps going,” he said. “Because your story matters. Your voice matters. And the world needs what only you can offer.”

At the close of the ceremony, graduates marked the milestone by moving their tassels from right to left — officially becoming members of SFSU’s global alumni community of more than 300,000.

“You have and will make us proud,” Mahoney said. 

Learn more about the University’s 2026 Commencement.

A dozen students chosen to represent SFSU colleges at Commencement

The student hood recipients will represent their academic colleges at the University’s 125th graduation ceremony May 21

Twelve outstanding graduates will be honored during San Francisco State University’s 125th Commencement ceremony, to be held at Oracle Park Thursday, May 21. They will represent their more than 7,200 graduating peers in the Class of 2026.

As part of a longstanding tradition, each of the University’s six academic colleges selects an undergraduate and a graduate student to represent their classmates and wear their college’s academic hood during the ceremony. Additionally, two of the hood recipients, one undergraduate and one graduate student, will each deliver a Commencement address.

More details about the ceremony are available on the Commencement website.

Undergraduate Speaker 

Orlando Mayen-Castañeda
B.S., Physics (Astrophysics)

Orlando Mayen-Castañeda grew up listening to his mother’s stories about the night sky. Now he aspires to pursue a career as a bridge between the stars and community. A Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program solidified his career trajectory.

As a first-generation Astrophysics student, Mayen-Castañeda studied the chemical composition of stars at SFSU and then traveled to Chile for an REU program working with the NOIRLab (formally called the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory) studying stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Beyond the science, he helped create an inclusive and safe community for students and mentors at the NOIRLab and was inspired by being able to positively impact others in this way. 

At SFSU, Mayen-Castañeda served as a learning assistant in his department, gave planetarium shows and helped coordinate and gave talks for Noche de Estrellas, a monthly bilingual (Spanish-English) event inviting the community to the planetarium and observatory. He has also presented his research at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Baltimore. Over the years, Mayen-Castañeda received the Dennis Bennett Scholarship in Physics and Astronomy and the Michael and Greta McKinney Physics and Astronomy Scholarship and was most recently named the Department and College Honoree.

After graduation, Mayen-Castañeda will be staying at SFSU to complete his master’s degree to further refine his skills. He plans to continue his work with Noche de Estrellas and departmental outreach. After his graduate studies, he hopes to return to the NOIRLab to continue his work.

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Graduate Speaker

Tanya Aghazadeh
M.S., Business Analytics

Tanya Aghazadeh graduates from SFSU with a Master of Science in Business Analytics, where she maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA and distinguished herself through academic excellence and analytical rigor.

She brings a strong interdisciplinary background in industrial and systems engineering, which informs her approach to solving complex, data-driven problems.

At SFSU, Aghazadeh served as a teaching assistant for a class on data mining, where she supported students in mastering machine learning concepts, analytical methodologies and real-world applications. She also contributed to the University community through the “Fun Friday” series, delivering presentations on navigating the MSBA program and successfully transitioning into the workforce.

Her academic work is complemented by extensive hands-on experience across a range of analytical projects. Her capstone project, conducted in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente, developed a dual-model analytical framework to explain and predict insurer-level enrollment growth in U.S. Medicare Advantage markets, generating strategic insights from large-scale real-world data. She has also developed expertise in machine learning, customer segmentation and data visualization using Python, SQL, Tableau and Power BI.

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During her final semester, Aghazadeh secured a role as a financial analyst at the Surplus Line Association of California, where she applies data and financial analytics to support strategic, data-driven decision-making. Her journey reflects resilience, adaptability and a sustained commitment to excellence. She is passionate about leveraging data analytics to inform strategic decisions and drive meaningful, real-world impact.

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College of Ethnic Studies 

Micaella Ann Calvo
B.A., Asian American Studies; Race, Ethnicity and Health

As a daughter of immigrants, Micaella Ann Calvo has always taken her family and ancestors’ stories everywhere she goes as she navigates the world. From early on, Calvo understood the power that education holds as a form of liberation. That drove her zealousness in pursuing ethnic studies and teaching, cultivating the classroom into a space of safety, critical thinking and love.

While at SFSU, Calvo provided resources and referrals to the campus community at the Associated Students Women’s Center. Now the center’s director, she facilitated semester-long internships and hosted events all under the mission to provide support to misogyny-affected communities at SFSU. Along with participating in the Pilipinx American Collegiate Endeavor, Calvo has served her community through her time in Pin@y Educational Partnerships. Serving as a leadership coordinator and teacher, she taught Filipino American Studies at Phillip and Sala Burton High School, building meaningful relationships rooted in mentorship, care and trust, while fostering a classroom environment rooted in ethnic studies.

Ethnic Studies represents more than a degree Calvo earned in her undergrad career: It is something she plans to take with her as she continues her pursuit of serving youth and her community. Following graduation, she plans to gain experience as a classroom teacher and will further develop her skills outside of the Bay Area, expanding to the East Coast. She will also apply for teacher credential and Master of Arts programs in Education. Her long-term goal is to become an Ethnic Studies professor, where she can empower students through culturally relevant pedagogy, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of history, identity and resistance.

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Isabella Esperanza Martinez-Bernal 
M.A., Ethnic Studies

Isabella Esperanza Martinez-Bernal is a second-generation Chicana from Los Angeles raised in a blended household by two public school educators. Her passion for ethnic studies stems from growing up in the classrooms with her parents alongside their students.

She first graduated from SFSU in spring 2024, earning a B.A. in Communication Studies and Race and Resistance Studies with Cum Laude honors. Rooted in intentional and radical engagement with the campus community and the community at large, she is a proud member and alumna of the General Union of Palestine Students (GUPS), Movimiento Estudiantil para la Liberación de Las Americas de San Pancho (MELA) and Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc.

With a focus on advocacy work, Martinez-Bernal is completing her second term as the vice president of Internal Affairs for the Associated Students Inc. Board of Directors, serving the diverse student body of SFSU. Martinez-Bernal’s research for her thesis focuses on the intersection of Chicana and Latina girlhood and student organization/leadership. Her plans after graduation include moving back to Los Angeles to pursue jobs in higher education and applying to Ph.D. programs.

College of Health & Social Sciences 

Alex Aguilar
B.S., Nutrition and Dietetics (Dietetics and Nutrition Science)

After working many years in health care, Alex Aguilar is earning his first bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. He previously worked as a paramedic and a physical therapy aid and currently works as an EKG technician at Sutter Health in Oakland. He is the first in his family to earn a college degree.

Through his years of experience in the health-care field, Aguilar has developed expertise working with culturally diverse populations, many of whom experience socioeconomic disadvantages and chronic health conditions. His desire to continue to work with and support these populations in a different manner led him back to school with the goal of becoming a clinical registered dietitian at a hospital.

Aguilar has a 4.0 GPA in his current program and was accepted into SFSU’s Dietetic Internship Program. His department celebrates his academic achievements but notes that his greatest strengths are his soft skills. Having had many years of work experience, he is generous in supporting his fellow students and is always collaborative. Faculty find him to be an active learner, engaged and a pleasure to have in class.

In addition to work, school and raising a young child, Aguilar finds time to be a volunteer firefighter and has dedicated over 1,000 hours to the Fremont Fire Department.

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Juan Carlos Arredondo
MSW

Juan Carlos Arredondo is a Mexican American whose work reflects a strong commitment to culturally responsive care and use of bilingual services to reduce barriers to mental health support. In 2024, he received the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, the highest recognition of student achievement granted by the CSU.

Arredondo currently serves as a therapist trainee at Casa del Sol, an outpatient mental health clinic in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood, where he provides mental health services to immigrant families from Latin America. During his first year in the MSW program, he completed a social work internship at Manzanita SEED Elementary School, where he provided therapy to children and developed early intervention skills within a school-based setting.

He also earned his undergraduate degree at SFSU. During his SFSU tenure, he was awarded the highly competitive Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellowship, which landed him an internship with San Francisco’s Human Services Agency. He also led a qualitative study highlighting the voices of the unhoused population in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District and presented the data at the 2024 Social Work Social Development Joint World Conference.

Arredondo lived in Mexico throughout his childhood, and his early experiences and challenges when relocating to the U.S. with his family inspired him to become a social worker. His experiences shape his dedication to serving immigrant communities with empathy, cultural humility and intention. He is especially committed to addressing the underrepresentation of Latino men in social work and hopes his work inspires other men to pursue similar paths.

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College of Liberal & Creative Arts 

Isabelle Luise Cruz Sena
B.A., French

Isabelle Luise Cruz Sena earned her B.A. in French with Summa Cum Laude honors, completing her degree in just three years while appearing on the Dean’s List every semester and working full time as a certified nursing assistant. Deeply engaged in both language study and health care, Sena brings exceptional cross-cultural awareness and empathy to her work, further enriched by her study-abroad experience in Paris and her volunteer service with Global Medical Brigades in Guatemala.

Now a patient care assistant at the Mission Bay Surgical Center at University of California, San Francisco, Sena combines intellectual rigor with substantial clinical experience. A graduate of the Class of 2025, Sena was selected as a 2026 undergraduate hood recipient. She is set to begin Columbia University’s prestigious Master of Science in Nursing program — an achievement that reflects both her academic excellence and her longstanding aspirations.

Sena is especially eager to continue integrating her interests in language, nursing and medicine as she takes this next step in her career. Through her academic distinction, resilience and commitment to service, Sena represents the very best of SFSU’s graduates.

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Trinh Lê
MFA, Creative Writing

Trinh Lê is a lesbian poet, artist and educator of Vietnamese origin. They are a Marcus Recruitment Award recipient and the 2025 – 2026 Poetry Coalition fellow at the SFSU Poetry Center. They are one of nine aspiring literary leaders across the nation to receive the yearlong Academy of American Poets fellowship to support their career development.

Trinh collaborated across disciplines at SFSU, exhibiting their concrete poetry in the School of Art and starring in an experimental documentary with their original poetry in the School of Cinema. They have been a featured poet at readings across the Bay Area and have taught “The Craft of Poetry” and the “Art of Revision” courses to Creative Writing majors.

Trinh received the 2025 Black Mountain College Award from the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics for their concrete poem, made in homage to the wire sculptures of nationally recognized San Francisco artist Ruth Asawa. Trinh was nominated for the 2024 Pushcart Prize Anthology and was a finalist for the Brett Elizabeth Jenkins Poetry Prize. In 2023, Trinh was featured in the Asian Art Museum for the “Bernice Bing: Open Call” exhibition.

Trinh is a core volunteer and community archivist at the Bay Area Lesbian Archives in Oakland. They have conducted research with the archives of Bernice Bing, Etel Adnan and Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, exploring the nature of Bay Area women’s art and poetry in the 1970s.

Trinh received their B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, where they were an undergraduate poetry fellow at the Arts Research Center. Trinh is the eldest of three daughters born in Berkeley to two Vietnamese immigrants, who, through their perseverance and sacrifices, make Trinh’s poetry possible.

College of Science & Engineering 

Isis Raele
M.S., Geographic Information Science

Isis Raele’s work on and off campus has been informed by her connection and desire to support her Oakland community. Her Brazilian immigrant family has long considered the city their home. Her master’s thesis research — which was deeply personal — was as unconventional as it was necessary. Raele studied Oakland’s opioid overdose crisis using critical geography as her guiding framework and geographic information science (GIS) as her instrument. Raele lost loved ones to the overdose crisis and refused to settle with the narrative surrounding the overdose crisis in her beloved city. She recently presented her research at the flagship annual conference of the American Association of Geographers.

In addition to research accomplishments, Raele is graduating with a GPA of 3.95. She also served as a graduate teaching assistant in the School of the Environment. Outside of the classroom, she is committed to community harm reduction, distributing life-saving supplies and providing public health education.

At work, she is an advocate for labor and immigrant protections, being instrumental in developing workplace protections, securing facility closure during community-disrupting raids and fundraising for rapid response networks in the face of federal enforcement actions. Her direct-involvement approach ensures that her academic work is never just theoretical, but a true extension of her service to others.

After 23 years in this country and an arduous path to citizenship, Raele is celebrating a double milestone today: earning her master’s degree and becoming a U.S. citizen.

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Graduate College of Education 

Emma Holland
B.S., Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; Molecular Biology

Emma Holland started college in Massachusetts, passionately pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. After a couple of life’s twists and turns, she found herself back home in the Bay Area working at Wings Learning Center, a school for kids with autism. There, she discovered a new passion in supporting her nonspeaking students and loved encouraging their ability to express themselves in meaningful ways. A semester after enrolling at SFSU as a Biology major, she added Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences as her second major, feeling more fulfilled by helping her students than she ever had at a lab bench.

Holland dedicated time to multiple corners of the field of speech language pathology. Since working at Wings, she has become a certified home care aide, providing in-home respite care to children with autism. She also worked in the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District as a substitute paraprofessional, helping students with disabilities. Her recent volunteer experiences include interning in a pediatric speech clinic with a focus on childhood apraxia of speech, as well as co-facilitating a conversation group for adults with aphasia through the Gray Matter Lab at SFSU.

In the fall of 2026, Holland will continue her journey towards supporting children with speech- and language-related disabilities by beginning a master’s program in Speech Language Pathology at San Diego State University. She hopes to help neurodivergent kids with autism and other support needs gain access to robust and functional communication through a combination of speech production and augmentative and alternative communication.

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Jennifer L. Dudziec
M.A., Early Childhood Special Education

Jennifer L. Dudziec is a master’s and teaching credential candidate in Early Childhood Special Education at SFSU. Her interest in the field was piqued with a single community college class at City College of San Francisco in 2019, and it grew into a deep commitment to understanding how young children learn, connect and thrive.

During her final semester as an undergraduate majoring in Adolescent Development at SFSU, she took courses in Special Education that caused her to change the direction of her career. When a professor encouraged her to pursue a master’s degree, Dudziec took the leap. She returned to school with a toddler at home and a clearer sense of direction than ever before.

Dudziec’s commitment to the field has been recognized throughout her academic career, most notably when she was invited to introduce San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie at a State of the City event. She spoke as both an educator and a parent about early learning and family affordability. The experience reminded her how this work belongs in the broader public conversation. That same perspective, as both educator and mother, shaped how she understands child development, not only through research, practice and coursework, but through the lived reality of raising her daughter and welcoming her newborn son this spring.

At the heart of Dudziec’s work is a simple belief: differences are not deficits, children are capable and communicative, and meaningful learning happens through play, observation and genuine human connection. She looks forward to partnering with families, educators and communities to ensure that every young child, regardless of how they develop or where they come from, is met with the support and belonging they deserve.

Lam Family College of Business

Liza Kucherova
B.A., Marketing

Liza Kucherova was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. Since she was a child, she has been fascinated by marketing and strategy and its influence on the world. At 13, she thought about moving to the United States to study marketing. The goal felt distant at first, but in her senior year of high school she started to make it more of a reality.

Over three months, Kucherova navigated an intense application process: She traveled to multiple countries for language exams, completed COVID-19 vaccination requirements and attended visa interviews. Despite many sleepless nights, her persistence paid off when she received both her university acceptance and visa approval.

Her move to San Francisco marked an exciting but challenging new chapter. She didn’t know anyone and was separated from her family by a 10-hour time difference. Determined to adapt, Kucherova embraced a proactive mindset: opportunities must be actively pursued. She began working at the Student Housing Office, supporting over 4,000 students while managing high volumes of requests and solving problems in fast-paced situations. With guidance from mentors in Lam Family College of Business Career Services and the Leadership EDGE program, she discovered leadership opportunities and ways to make a meaningful impact on campus.

Kucherova found her community in the Marketing Association, where she later became president. She organized networking events connecting students with industry professionals and focused on helping peers explore career paths and gain practical experience. She also served as a student ambassador and was the Leadership EDGE marketing liaison, managing communications for student initiatives.

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Her dedication led to a role as a digital marketing assistant for the Lam Family College of Business. In this role, she executed campaigns that reached thousands of students and drove engagement for key initiatives. As marketing coordinator for TEDx SF State, she helped generate over 800 registrations, turning strategy into measurable impact.

These experiences helped Kucherova secure a competitive internship at Applied Materials, a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing equipment. There she was one of only 115 interns selected to present directly to the company’s CEO — an especially meaningful milestone as an international student representing SFSU.

Today, she continues building at the intersection of marketing and innovation as a go-to-market intern at NexDiscovery, contributing to messaging, positioning and growth strategy in a fast-paced startup environment. Her journey has been far from easy, but every challenge has shaped her into someone who believes that anything is possible with hard work, curiosity, resilience and the courage to take risks.

SFSU Class of 2026 Commencement set for May 21 at Oracle Park

Gators return to downtown ballpark for 10th year! 

Class of 2026, save the date for San Francisco State University’s 125th Commencement, which will be held Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. This is our 10th year celebrating graduates at the downtown ballpark, and we plan to welcome the more than 30,000 graduates, family members and friends for this unforgettable milestone.

“Commencement is the most important day of the year for our university, our graduates and their families,” said SFSU President Lynn Mahoney. “In addition to representing the culmination of years of work, Commencement is our opportunity as a community to celebrate students one more time as they embark on their next adventure."

This year’s Commencement ceremony will start at 3 p.m., with doors opening at 1 p.m., a slight time difference from previous years allowing graduates and their loved ones more time to celebrate in the city.

More information about the May 21 ceremony will be shared throughout the year as it becomes available. Keep checking the SFSU Commencement website for updates! Follow SFSU on social media and tag your Commencement posts #SFSU2026.

12 exceptional graduates to represent SFSU’s colleges at Commencement

The students will be honored at the University’s Commencement ceremony at Oracle Park May 23

Twelve outstanding graduates will be honored during San Francisco State University’s 124th Commencement ceremony, to be held at Oracle Park Friday, May 23. They will represent their nearly 7,000 graduating peers in the Class of 2025.

As part of a longstanding tradition, each of the University’s six academic colleges selects an undergraduate and a graduate student to represent their classmates and wear their college’s academic hood during the ceremony. Additionally, two of the hood recipients, one undergraduate and one graduate student, will each deliver a Commencement address.

More details about the ceremony are available on the Commencement website. 

Undergraduate Speaker 

Belayneh Salilew 
B.A., Social Work
College of Health & Social Sciences 

Transnational social justice and human rights work have shaped Belayneh Salilew’s social work. His volunteer experiences in the Bay Area and Ethiopia, where he was born and raised, greatly influenced his trajectory. 

As a high school student in Ethiopia, Salilew worked with SOS Children’s Village to run HIV/AIDS awareness-raising programs and programs for orphans and older adults. He also started One Person for One Orphan, a program under the Borderless Charity Association. Since moving to the Bay Area, Salilew has worked as a residential specialist at a foster youth organization and as a service specialist at Momentum for Health, a nonprofit agency providing mental health and substance-use rehabilitation. 

After transferring to SFSU in the fall of 2023, he actively participated in both the on-campus and broader community. On campus, he served as president of Phi Alpha Honor Society, Mu Beta Chapter. As a Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellow, he worked with the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing to conduct secondary research on unhoused youth to help inform the department’s strategic goals. In the spring of 2024, Salilew participated in the National Association of Social Workers’ (NASW) Legislative Lobby Days in Sacramento to advocate for bills focused on the social determinants of health, reproductive health of incarcerated persons and the CARE Court Scholarship Program Act. This year, Salilew will lead a legislative team in lobbying for bills addressing priority issues for NASW’s California chapter. His achievements have been recognized by the San Francisco Foundation Black Excellence Scholarship. 

Headshot of Belayneh

For his capstone project, he focused on youth homelessness in San Francisco and why some youth choose to stay on the streets rather than use shelters. After graduation, Salilew hopes to pursue a master’s degree and become a licensed social worker focused on both micro and macro social work practices. 

Headshot of Patra

Graduate Speaker 

Patra Holmes 
M.S. Chemistry (Biochemistry) 
College of Science & Engineering 

A first-generation college student, Patra Holmes exemplifies the transformative impact SFSU can have on an individual. Holmes’ 14-year university journey — marked by determination and perseverance — earned her multiple degrees: first dual bachelor’s degrees (one in Biochemistry, another in Cell and Molecular Biology with a minor in Computer Applications), now a graduate degree in Chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry and a Graduate Opportunities in Learning Data Science (GOLD) Certificate. 

Holmes discovered her true calling in research. She not only excelled as a scientist, but she became a dedicated mentor and advocate for students who did not initially see themselves as scientists. She created inclusive spaces for students through her work with Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) and the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). She also recruited and trained numerous students in biophysics research. \

In her graduate research, Holmes engineered novel protein probes to investigate how molecular crowding affects protein solubility in cells, offering insight into the molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. She also advanced tools for studying cellular biophysics by contributing to the development of a laser-based polarization technique for measuring protein diffusion in living cells. While at SFSU, she earned the Data Science and Machine Learning for Biotechnology certificate, participated in the Promoting Inclusivity in Computing program and has been awarded several scholarships and fellowships. 

Holmes is pursuing her Ph.D. at Columbia University, and she continues to use her position to positively impact others. She is conducting outreach to local middle schoolers with the Girls’ Science Day Program, represents her cohort in the Graduate Student Council and plans to join the Student Workers of Columbia Union Committee. 

College of Ethnic Studies 

Undergraduate
Eureka Sapiera Soriano
B.A., Race and Resistance Studies, Sociology

Eureka Sapiera Soriano is a second-generation Filipino American student who transferred to SFSU from Skyline College, where she earned associate degrees in Social Justice Studies and Sociology. She graduates from SFSU with a B.A. in Race and Resistance Studies and Sociology and a minor in Education. 

During her time at SFSU, Soriano has been deeply committed to community engagement and student support. She taught Filipino American Studies to fourth and fifth graders at Longfellow Elementary School through the Pin@y Educational Partnerships, helping build meaningful relationships with students and families in the Excelsior District. On campus, she worked as an Access, Relevance and Community peer mentor and teaching assistant, supporting fellow students through academic guidance, leading class discussions and facilitating workshops rooted in social justice and student empowerment. 

Navigating higher education as a woman of color from a working-class immigrant family has been a journey filled with both challenges and growth. Through her experiences, especially within the College of Ethnic Studies, Soriano has found healing, love and a strong sense of community that has shaped her academic and professional path.

Headshot of Eureka

She hopes to continue giving back by working with youth and serving communities like her own. After graduation, she plans to gain more classroom experience as a substitute teacher while preparing for the social science CSET exam. Her long-term goal is to earn a teaching credential and pursue graduate studies in education and ethnic studies, with the vision of becoming a public high school ethnic studies teacher in San Francisco. 

Soriano’s work is guided by a deep commitment to equity, cultural empowerment and educational justice — principles that have grounded her journey and will continue to shape her future. 

Graduate
Luseane Anga ae Fonu Tutoe
M.A., Ethnic Studies

In 2023, Luseane Anga ae Fonu Tutoe earned a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Critical Pacific Islands and Oceania Studies (CPIOS) at SFSU. She returned to SFSU and is now graduating with an M.A. in Ethnic Studies. 

A Tongan Pacific Islander scholar, Tutoe grounds her work in the values of an Indigenous Pacific Islander lens. Before coming to SFSU, she struggled to find institutional spaces that supported her full identity as both a Pacific Islander and an academic. Through her experiences in sociology and CPIOS classrooms, she discovered a deep connection to the field of ethnic studies. 

Tutoe’s graduate research centers on the navigational wealth cultivated by Pacific Islander students and faculty in the Bay Area, reframing harmful narratives and uplifting the community’s resilience and knowledge systems. Her work challenges stigma and emphasizes the strength found in Pacific Islander educational journeys. 

At SFSU, Tutoe has served the campus in multiple roles, including as a CPIOS research intern, a member of Associated Students’ Marketing and Communications Team and a leader in the Pacific Islander Student Association (PISA). She has helped organize events celebrating Pasifika lives, culture and scholarship. Among her proudest moments are planning the AAPI mural celebrations, interviewing students and faculty for the Pasifika in Focus campaign and “getting into good trouble” on the picket lines.

Luseane Anga ae Fonu Tutoe

Tutoe was also honored as the 2024 Graduate Student of the Year by the Division of Student Life at the Alli’s Awards. 

Tutoe credits CPIOS and its faculty with leaving a lasting impact on her academic and personal journey. She plans to carry that legacy forward through teaching at the community college level and continuing to uplift Pacific Islander communities in all that she does. 

Manuel Lopez

College of Health & Social Sciences 

Graduate 
Manuel Lopez 
M.A., Family and Consumer Sciences 

A first-generation college student and child of immigrant farmworkers, Manuel Lopez navigated complex academic systems, financial aid, employment and housing without family guidance. Having experienced food insecurity himself, he understands the importance of community nutrition resources and is dedicated to advocating for and increasing awareness of these programs among his patients. His interest in nutrition began when he realized that his parents, who had chronic diseases like diabetes, did not have access to health care and lacked the financial resources and knowledge to access healthy foods. 

As a Clinical Nutrition undergraduate at UC Davis, Lopez worked multiple jobs, including as a tutor supporting others’ education and as a College Corps fellow collaborating with initiatives to reduce food insecurity and increase access to healthy foods. At SFSU, Lopez completed a 10-month dietetic internship providing nutrition services to at-risk populations. During this time, he worked with Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit organization reducing food insecurity and health disparities, and a hospital providing care for adults and children. Lopez also worked as a dietetic technician throughout the internship and graduate school.

Despite a heavy academic workload, internship hours and employment, Lopez always performed above expectations in internship rotations and was entrusted with higher-level responsibilities than typically given to interns. Lopez’s work addressed the nutritional needs of premature and high-risk infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. His professors say he exemplifies the successful SFSU student, shown through his work ethic, determination, resilience, calm demeanor, humbleness, empathy and passion for working with the underserved. 

After completing his master’s degree, Lopez began working as clinical dietitian providing medical nutrition therapy for hospitalized patients. 

College of Liberal & Creative Arts 

Undergraduate
Arabella Abad 
B.A., International Relations, Chinese, German 

Arabella Abad embodies the spirit of multilingualism and multiculturalism like few others. Fluent in three languages, Abad has demonstrated an exceptional enthusiasm for language learning and cultural immersion. 

Born to Filipino parents, she spent part of her youth living in Germany and Korea. These experiences shaped her global outlook at an early age. At SFSU, Abad pursued a triple major in International Relations, German and Chinese. In 2021, she was admitted to the highly selective SFSU Chinese Flagship Program, a federally funded honors track for intensive Chinese learning. In 2022, she received the Critical Language Scholarship from the U.S. State Department, enabling her to study Chinese at Dalian University of Technology in China. 

Following this, Abad studied for a semester at Heidelberg University in Germany, studying International Relations and advanced Chinese simultaneously. In 2023, she earned another distinguished honor, the Boren Scholarship, funding her participation in a year-long capstone program at National Chengchi University in Taiwan. Additionally, she received the Benny and May Chin Scholarship in International Relations and was recently inducted into Phi Sigma Iota, America’s oldest foreign-language honors society. 

Arabell Abad headshot

Abad has deeply impressed her professors, no matter which language she spoke with them. Her long-term goal is to attend graduate school and pursue a career either in international education or diplomacy. 

Graduate
Lorisa-Ann Renee Salvatin 
MFA, Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts 

Lorisa-Ann Renee Salvatin is a storyteller. While she has the artistry to entertain and perform, her true passion lies in collaborating with others to uncover and curate honest, heartfelt and compelling narratives. At the heart of her endeavors lies connecting meaningfully with others, and she has dedicated her academic and creative practices to understanding how storytelling has the power to shape communities and culture. 

As a graduate student, Salvatin has focused on studying the intersections between sonic narratives, aesthetics and sociocultural perspectives. She has been active on SFSU’s student-run radio station, KSFS, hosting several special programs, directing and making other contributions. In addition, she has taught audio production courses in the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department, guiding students in exploring the connections between media theory, hands-on production and their lived experiences. 

As Salvatin moves forward in her career in media arts and education, she hopes to continue inspiring students to think critically, create boldly and reflect deeply on the media they produce and consume. 

Lorisa-Ann Renee Salvatin headshot
Denise Louise Steffen

College of Science & Engineering 

Denise Louise Steffen 
B.S., Civil Engineering

From the moment she arrived at SFSU, Denise Louise Steffen was determined to do more than just earn a degree. She wanted to find purpose, community and a way to give back. She is a first-generation college student earning her undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and will be continuing as an SF State Scholar to complete her master’s degree with an emphasis in Structural Engineering. 

She is working with Associate Professor Jenna Wong on a project investigating the structural dynamics of buildings with vegetated roof systems. This cutting-edge research blends sustainability with structural engineering and pushed Steffen to independently study steel design, learn programs for structural analysis and collaborate with industry advisors. She is also conducting sensitivity analyses to assess the performance of these structures under various natural hazard scenarios. Her outstanding research earned her a spot as an SFSU representative at the CSU Research Competition in Humboldt. 

Steffen’s leadership highlights her passion to foster and impact the sense of community on campus. As a student assistant in the Engineering stockroom, she learned the ins and outs of supporting her department behind the scenes. With encouragement from mentors, Steffen became the professional outreach chair for the American Society of Civil Engineers and treasurer for the Engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi, where she has played an integral role in revitalizing the SFSU Alpha Gamma chapter. 

Steffen’s story is shaped by her personal journey. She is in long-term recovery from addiction and actively sponsors other women on their path to rebuilding their lives. Her experiences have instilled empathy, determination and responsibility — qualities that influence her relationship with colleagues and her professional passion. Steffen will continue her education in graduate school and hopes to become a licensed structural engineer who contributes to a future where sustainability and resilience are intertwined. 

Graduate College of Education 

Undergraduate
Priscilly Jireh Medrano
B.A., Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences 

Priscilly Jireh Medrano is a proud first-generation college student from the Bay Area and the oldest daughter in her family. As the child of immigrants, she grew up helping her parents navigate complex institutional systems in the U.S. — an experience that sparked her passion for equity and advocacy. This lifelong commitment to supporting others has shaped her academic journey and career goals. 

At SFSU, Medrano found a supportive community through the Educational Opportunity Program and participated in the Prep Médico Program, an initiative focused on addressing health disparities in the Latinx community. It was through this program that she was introduced to the field of audiology, inspiring her to pursue a path focused on bridging gaps in hearing health care and communication access, especially for underserved communities like her own. 

Throughout her time at SFSU, Medrano has been active in research and leadership. She served as a research assistant in the Gray Matter Lab, where she provided Spanish-language AbSANT therapy to individuals with aphasia. She also contributes to the SFSU-UCSF Auditory Research Lab, studying how speech recognition in background noise affects individuals with both normal hearing and hearing loss. In addition to her academic and research work, Medrano has served as treasurer of the Student Academy of Audiology, helping to build community and raise awareness of hearing health issues.

Priscilly Medrano headshot

Medrano graduates with a B.A. in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and a minor in Latina/Latino Studies. She will continue her studies in the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program at Pacific University in Oregon beginning in the fall. She is committed to using her education to advocate for culturally competent, accessible care for all. 

Graduate
Rudolph George Herrera 
M.A., Equity and Social Justice Education

Rudolph George Herrera has spent over two decades supporting underrepresented students as a college advisor across the San Francisco Bay Area. He serves as the transitional support coordinator for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at SFSU. As both an alumnus of the U.S. Department of Education’s Upward Bound college preparatory program and a proud EOP college graduate, Herrera brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, grounded in his own experiences navigating higher education as a first-generation student. 

Throughout his career, Herrera has guided countless students in local public schools and actively contributed to community organizations focused on educational equity and access. His dedication extends to the professional sphere, where he has presented at conferences and participated in initiatives addressing student retention, outreach, equity and inclusion in higher education. 

Herrera is graduating with an M.A. in Equity and Social Justice Education from the Department of Equity, Leadership Studies and Instructional Technologies at SFSU. 

His research examines the factors that influence admission and retention for first-generation college students, offering critical insights into the support systems that enable student success and degree completion.

Rudolph George Herrera headshot

Through his graduate studies and leadership within EOP, Herrera continues to champion educational access and advocate for systemic change. His work reflects an unwavering commitment to uplifting first-generation students and advancing equity across the educational landscape.

Leah Self Headshot

Lam Family College of Business

Undergraduate
Leah Selk
B.A., Labor and Employment Studies 

Leah Selk will graduate Summa Cum Laude with a major in Labor and Employment Studies and a minor in Spanish. Since transferring to SFSU, she has designed an interdisciplinary degree with a focus on social justice, equity and diversity. Through SFSU Abroad, she spent a semester in Buenos Aires in 2024, an experience that deepened her international perspective and commitment to global fairness.

Selk received her A.A. at Peralta Community College, then studied at Sonoma State University before transferring to SFSU. At Sonoma State, Selk conducted interviews to design culturally relevant therapy materials for Latina/o couples. 

After being diagnosed with autism, Selk became passionate about disability awareness on campus. She connected with disability resources at SFSU, which helped her succeed academically and personally. Selk believes her autism has enabled her to view political and social issues from different perspectives. She has pushed to make educational spaces at SFSU more welcoming to students with learning and other differences. 

Selk is a lifelong learner of social justice and actively participates in community events. She understands the significance of community involvement. She has testified before numerous city councils, arguing for a mental health response team and a ban on police holds that cause positional asphyxia, among other things, to better our communities. She remains committed to learning from others. She has also been an LGBTQ activist who has participated in events uplifting the queer community at SFSU and elsewhere through community building and issue amplification. 

Consistent with SFSU’s core values, Selk believes that diversity is humanity’s strongest asset. She is guided by her belief in fairness and equity, and after graduation, she plans to work for organizations that promote both labor and housing rights. 

Phan Quay Su

Graduate
Phan Quay Su
M.S., Accountancy

Phan Quay Su was born and raised in a small village in Vietnam, where she faced gender inequity. There were limited professional and academic opportunities available to women, especially within higher education. These limitations hindered her growth both academically and professionally. Instead of letting these challenges defeat her, they motivated her to achieve academic excellence, break down barriers and provide greater support to her local community. 

As an international, first-generation college student, Su maintained a high grade point average while balancing multiple leadership roles and extracurricular class activities. While at SFSU, she was the treasurer for Beta Alpha Psi (BAP), an international honor society for accounting, finance and information systems. She actively participated in professional events like weekly BAP technical presentations, Meet the Firms and the BAP Annual Meeting in Las Vegas (2023). 

She volunteered significant hours to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for four years, providing free basic tax services to low-income families, individuals with disabilities, the elderly, F-1 and J-1 international students and individuals with limited English proficiency. During her tenure with VITA, she progressed from serving as a volunteer tax preparer to becoming the site manager and site coordinator.

Su was an accounting tutor with the University’s Tutoring & Academic Support Center (TASC), helping students develop a strong academic foundation through effective study strategies. She was the recipient of multiple awards including the International Student/Associated Students Scholarship, the Paul Wiese Memorial Scholarship, the Marcum Student Scholarship Fund and the Martinelli Family Scholarship. 

Throughout her time at SFSU, Su developed communication, leadership and organization skills. After completing her M.S. in Accountancy, she plans to obtain a Certified Public Accountant license and work in the area of tax accounting with a public company or nonprofit organization. 

State attorney general to deliver keynote address at May 23 Commencement

Three honorary doctoral degrees given to an author, activist and Filipino American historian

California Attorney General Rob Bonta will deliver the keynote address at San Francisco State University’s 124th Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 23, at Oracle Park. 

The University will also award honorary doctoral degrees to Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Tommy Orange and activist, physician and minister Ramona Tascoe (B.A., ’70). A posthumous honorary doctoral degree will be given to author and beloved SFSU History Professor Dawn Mabalon. 

Doors at Oracle Park open at 3:30 p.m. The graduate procession begins at 5:30 p.m., with Commencement starting at 6:30 p.m. Fireworks will close out the event at about 9:30 p.m.

Live updates and photos from the ceremony will be posted to the University’s X, Instagram and Facebook accounts. Graduates and guests can tag their Commencement posts on social media using the hashtag #SFSU2025.

Commencement information is available via the SFSU mobile app. Once you’ve downloaded the University’s mobile app, visit “SFSU’s 2025 Commencement Ceremony, See More Ceremony Info.” Be sure to opt in to the University’s Commencement reminders by selecting “Manage Commencement Alerts” to receive push notifications. Details are also available on the Commencement website.

Headshot of Rob Bonta

State Attorney General Rob Bonta 

On April 23, 2021, Rob Bonta was sworn in as the 34th attorney general of California, the first person of Filipino descent and the second Asian American to occupy the position.

Bonta’s passion for justice and fairness was instilled in him by his parents, who served on the front lines of some of America’s most important social justice movements. Instilling in him the lessons they learned from the United Farm Workers and the civil rights movement, Bonta’s parents lit a fire inside him to fight against injustice — to stand up for those who are taken advantage of or harmed. It’s why he decided to become a lawyer — to help right historic wrongs and fight for people who have been harmed. He worked his way through college, graduated with honors from Yale University and attended Yale Law School.

In the State Assembly, Bonta enacted nation-leading reforms to inject more justice and fairness into government and institutions. As attorney general, he sees seeking accountability from those who abuse their power and harm others as one of the most important functions of the job. In elected office, he has taken on powerful interests and advanced systemic change — pursuing corporate accountability, standing up for workers, punishing big polluters and fighting racial injustice.

He has been a national leader in the fight to transform the criminal justice system, banning private prisons and detention facilities in California, as well as pushing to eliminate cash bail in the state. He has led statewide fights for racial, economic and environmental justice and worked to further the rights of immigrant families, renters and other working Californians.

Prior to serving in the Assembly, Attorney General Bonta worked as a deputy city attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, where he represented the city and county and its employees and fought to protect Californians from exploitation and racial profiling.

Born in Quezon City, Philippines, Bonta immigrated to California with his family as an infant. He is the son of a proud native Filipina mother and a father who taught him the value of public service to his community. He is married to Mia Bonta, and they are the proud parents of three children: Reina, Iliana and Andres.

Dawn Bohulano Mabalon

Dawn Bohulano Mabalon was the premier historian of Filipino American studies and is believed to be the first Filipina American to earn a Ph.D. in American History from Stanford University. Prior to that she received her B.A. in History with a specialization in Asian American Studies in 1994 and her M.A. in Asian American Studies in 1997 from the University of California, Los Angeles.

In her 2013 award-winning book “Little Manila Is in the Heart: The Making of the Filipina/o American Community in Stockton, California,” she examined the rich and vibrant community in which she grew up and where her family continues to live. She also left behind the children’s book “Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong,” co-written with Gayle Romasanta and illustrated by Andre Sibayan. The book, published posthumously, chronicles the life of Filipino farm labor activist Larry Itliong.

Along with academic contributions, she was the co-founder and board member of the Little Manila Foundation, where she worked for the preservation and revitalization of the Little Manila Historic Site in Stockton. Through her visionary work and leadership, the foundation saved historic buildings from demolition in 2003, and she inspires a generation of youth in her hometown who will continue her legacy.

Headshot of Dawn Mabalon

In 2004, Mabalon joined the SFSU History Department faculty. Students loved her classes, where they not only learned to love history but they came to love learning. Through her dynamic lectures and interactive discussions, her witty humor and commentary and the food she cooked and baked for her students, she touched hearts, minds and stomachs.

In Mabalon’s last statement, she wrote, “I am an historian dedicated to building bridges between the communities about whom I write (Filipino Americans, Asian Americans, immigrants, workers) and the academy. I have devoted my life’s work to sharing the stories of people and communities at the margins of the American story. … With the humanities and history disciplines under attack, there is no better time to strengthen the work we do as professional historians.” 

Mabalon is remembered for the love for Filipina/o America that guided her work and her life. She was a respected historian, author, filmmaker, poet, chef, baker, community leader and activist who leaves behind a far-reaching legacy, grounded in love.

Headshot of Tommy Orange

Tommy Orange

Tommy Orange is the New York Times-bestselling author of the 2018 novel “There There” (Alfred A. Knopf), a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His debut novel chronicled the fictional lives of urban Native Americans living in Oakland. In doing so, his book challenged the monolithic image of Native people. “There There” is a constellation of narratives of 12 characters whose lives all converge at an Oakland powwow and explores themes of identity, authenticity and Native history.

His latest novel, “Wandering Stars,” longlisted for the Booker Prize, was published by Alfred A. Knopf in February 2024. This novel, a continuation of his first, follows three generations of a family all the way back to the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 and later to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. His book examines the impact of colonization and forced assimilation through his characters.

His novels have been recognized by several organizations. “There There” won the PEN/Hemingway Award, the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Prize and the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and was shortlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.

In 2019, he was honored by SFSU’s Department of Creative Writing with the Gina Berriault Award. The award, named after the late author and beloved faculty member, is given to writers who embody Berriault’s love of storytelling and commitment to supporting emerging writers.

In 2004, Orange received his undergraduate degree in sound engineering from Ex’pression College of Digital Arts in Emeryville. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe in 2016. He’s currently a faculty member there.

Orange lives in Oakland with his wife and two sons.

Ramona Tascoe (B.A., ’70)

Ramona Tascoe came to SFSU to pursue a special triple major in Political Science, Sociology and Psychology. But as a result of her fearless commitment to her ideals, she also became an essential part of the University’s enduring legacy. 

In 1967, Tascoe took part in campus protests after George Murray, a graduate student and part-time English instructor, was suspended because of his activism and outspoken support for equity and accuracy in higher education. Among the protestors’ demands: that the University rehire Murray and create a Black Studies Department. 

The protests grew into the historic student strike of 1968 that would eventually lead to the creation of the College of Ethnic Studies. But before that victory, there were many intense confrontations — and in the midst of one of them, Tascoe became the first of the student protesters to be arrested. 

That was a courageous development for a young woman whose protective father often told her, “Don’t talk race … assimilate.” Born in Louisiana, where “Jim Crow” was not a stranger, Tascoe moved with her family to the more hopeful horizons of San Francisco in 1953. Despite her father’s advice, Tascoe joined the rapidly emerging Black Student Union, found her voice and grabbed the baton of civil rights and social justice. In the years since, she’s continued to forge her own independent path. 

Tascoe earned her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco in 1979. And she wasn’t done with higher education there: She later earned both a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of San Francisco and a Master of Divinity degree from Berkeley’s Graduate Theological Union, after which she was dually ordained under the American Baptist and Progressive National Baptist ministries. 

Headshot of Ramona Tascoe

Though she’s practiced as an internal medicine specialist in Oakland for decades, Tascoe has also put her unique mix of skills to work on behalf of communities around the world. She’s led medical missions to Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, India and Sri Lanka. And she’s worked extensively with Haiti’s Ministry of Health and the University General Hospital of Haiti, that nation’s largest public hospital. 

In 2018, she was SFSU’s Commencement speaker and urged students to put their passions into action. “I call on each of you to actively care about a cause, commit to a cure, devote your time, your talent and your treasure in good conscience and with courage,” she said. “Because our nation cannot survive on passive citizenship.”

Over the course of nearly 50 years in practice, Tascoe has profoundly impacted the lives of countless individuals and communities by gently illuminating that healing is not merely a science or an art — it is both. She reminds us that within every human experience, there exists a sacred balance between biology and belief, physics and faith, seen and unseen.

SFSU Commencement to be held May 23 at Oracle Park

Gator grads return to the ballpark for the ninth year

Class of 2025, save the date for San Francisco State University’s 124th Commencement, which will be Friday, May 23, 2025, at Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. This is the ninth year the downtown ballpark will host the more than 30,000 graduates, family members and friends anticipated for the celebration.

“I look forward to Commencement each year,” said San Francisco State President Lynn Mahoney. “I love celebrating the success of our students as they embark on their next journey. I stand proudly on the sidelines knowing we’ve prepared them to take on the problems of tomorrow.”

More information about the May 23 ceremony will be shared throughout the year as it becomes available. Keep checking the SFSU Commencement website for updates! Follow SFSU on social media and tag your Commencement posts #SFSU2025.

Commencement honorees encourage graduates to champion ‘a world of fairness and compassion’

Civil rights attorney Walter Riley, actor and activist Benjamin Bratt and DePauw University President Lori S. White all emphasized service and leadership at the May 24 ceremony

San Francisco State University celebrated the Class of 2024 at its 123rd Commencement ceremony Friday, May 24, at Oracle Park. More than 4,000 graduates attended the event along with thousands of family and friends.

In addition to celebrating new graduates, San Francisco State and the California State University (CSU) conferred honorary degrees on three individuals who’ve distinguished themselves with their service to others: actor and activist Benjamin Bratt, attorney and civil rights activist Walter Riley and the late psychologist, activist and educator Joseph L. White (A.B., ’54; M.S., ’58). White’s degree was accepted by his daughter Lori S. White, president of Indiana’s DePauw University. All three acceptance speeches emphasized the importance of activism and encouraged the Class of 2024 to make a difference in the world.

“I accept this recognition of my life’s work in civil rights, against racism, against police brutality, against exploitation of our environment and people for the benefit of the economic and political elite,” said Riley, who received the honorary degree Doctor of Laws. “I acknowledge all those whose work make this campus a place for truth and justice. Through our collective efforts we can move closer to a world where ideals become realities.”

Riley attended SF State in the 1960s and participated in the 1968 student strike that led to the creation of the University’s College of Ethnic Studies. Later he was active in the labor and anti-war movements, and after earning a law degree from Golden Gate University he took his fight for social justice into the courts.

“Every generation needs a purpose,” he told this year’s graduates. “May that purpose be just, creating a world of fairness and compassion.”

In his acceptance speech, Bratt recalled the struggles of growing up poor in San Francisco, one of five children being raised by a single mother who’d emigrated from Peru.

“School proved to be the refuge that I needed,” said Bratt, an award-winning actor and producer best known for roles in “Law & Order,” “Modern Family” and “Traffic.” “I loved school, and it was there that I discovered I was an eager and enthusiastic learner and seeker. More to the point, it was there that I discovered my own creativity and the power of the arts.”

Bratt, who received the honorary degree Doctor of Fine Arts, challenged his audience to use their educations to make a difference.

“If you are receiving your degree it’s because you’ve discovered your own voice and have enjoyed the privilege of someone else’s belief in you, perhaps your teachers, your own family, your community,” said Bratt, a longtime supporter of the American Indian College Fund, Amazon Watch, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Mission Cultural Center and other nonprofits. “The question is: What will you do with that privilege and the power of a prestigious university education? I’ll let you in on a little secret: We’re counting on you to do something spectacular even as you figure it out, because you are the inspiration of our hope.”

White talked about her father’s pioneering work as an educator and psychologist. A two-time graduate of SF State, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University, he became known as “the godfather of Black psychology.”

Benjamin Bratt speaking during SF State's 2024 Commencement

Doctor of Fine Arts recipient Benjamin Bratt.

He returned to SF State in 1968 as a professor of Psychology and later dean of Undergraduate Studies, helping to launch what is now known as the Department of Africana Studies.

“Graduates, I hope you are inspired by my dad’s story and his lifetime and legacy of service to others, of which many of you are direct recipients,” said White of her father, who was granted the honorary degree Doctor of Letters. White added that she hoped graduates would see her father in themselves and, like him, accept that “those who have been so richly blessed have a responsibility to give back to others in meaningful ways.”

Other Commencement speakers included SF State President Lynn Mahoney, Associated Students President Ersa, graduate speaker Genesis Sorrick and undergraduate speaker Eddison Jintalan Contreras. The ceremony will be made available to view in its entirety on SF State’s YouTube channel.

Learn more about the University’s 2024 Commencement.

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