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Message 2025 Commencement Monday, May 19, 2025, 2:00 PMZellerbach Playhouse
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ProgramProcessional Opening RemarksProfessor SanSan Kwan Department ChairStudent WelcomeKira Wefers2025 Departmental Citation RecipientCommencement AddressRobert MosesChoreographer, writer, and composerPresentation of AwardsFaculty, Staff & Special GuestsConferral of DegreesClosing RemarksProfessor SanSan Kwan Department ChairRecessionalPlease join us for a reception on the patio following theceremony.
In MemoriamWe honor the memory of two beloved members of ourcommunity whose presence enriched our lives and whoseloss is deeply felt.Veda KumarJan 6, 2004 - Oct 22, 2024Veda’s time at Berkeley was marked by transformation, joy,and fierce love. A passionate advocate and radiant friend,she flourished through her work with the Queer Alliance &Resource Center, the Gender Equity Center, and SigmaEpsilon Omega. Veda brought light and authenticity to allshe did—and when she danced, the world danced with her.Her spirit lives on in the countless lives she touched.Ben Dillon Aug 19, 1987 - Mar 4, 2025Ben was the heart of our communications team—anextraordinary colleague whose creativity, kindness, andgenerosity left a lasting mark. As TDPS's marketing andcommunications manager, he brought artistry and care toevery story he told, lifting up our community with warmthand grace. A brilliant photographer, collaborator, and friend,Ben’s legacy continues to inspire us all.
Robert MosesChoreographer, Writer, and Composer Robert Moses has created over 100works of varying styles and genres for his highly praised dance company andhas composed many of the sound and narrative scores for his works since2008. His choreography spans dance, opera, and theater, with commissionsfrom Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, San Francisco Opera, Philadanco,Ailey II, UC Berkeley, University of Texas, University of South Florida, andnumerous other national and international companies and Universities.A sought-after master teacher, Moses has taught extensively at universitiesacross the US and globally at festivals like OPEN LOOK St. PetersburgInternational Dance Festival, International Dance Festival, and SerendipityArts Festival (Kolkata, India). He was Stanford University's Choreographer-in-Residence and Artistic Director of the Committee on Black Performing Arts(2005-2016) and has held professorships at Santa Clara University and MillsCollege. Currently, he is a co-director for the 2025 Ann & Weston HicksChoreograph Fellowship program at Jacob’s Pillow.Moses' work explores themes from African American oral traditions andurban culture to identity and pure movement, often through collaborationswith artists like Alonzo King and Youth Speaks. Supported by the NEA, FordFoundation, Hewlett Foundation, and the International Association of Blacksin Dance Robert Moses remains a significant figure committed to artisticexcellence and social justice in dance.CommencementSpeaker
Award RecipientsThe Roslyn Schneider Eisner Prize for Continuing CreativeAchievement—Ellis EmersonJordan Anthony GoldsteinMcDieun PhilidorApollo Javier SohrabiThe Mark Goodson Prize for Distinguished Artistic Talent—Guillermo CastroHazel Rosemary HortonLaurel KuoSabrina LopezThe Mask and Dagger Memorial Prize for Extraordinary Contributionsto Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies—Haley Margaret BaynardKinzey Quin EastinZoey Alice EricsonRyan Christopher GottschalkJoyce Dalahi Martinez GarciaAidan Nicholas Owchar Kaylee A PriceArya Taupier Vishin Saman Jacqueline WrightCheryl Xuan YangShala MaloneErin Kyung Kee Markham Vincente Glynn PerezKira WefersAward for Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor—Zihan LooThe Dunbar Ogden Undergraduate Prize in Theater History —Alexa LozanoThe Julia Payne Dance Scholarship—Rebecca Laine NguyenThe Florence Schwimley Memorial Scholarship in the Performing Arts—Yuki CunEmma Simoes
Recipients Cont...The Sara Huntsman Sturgess Memorial Prize for Outstanding ArtisticAccomplishment in Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies—Tomás Cedric Germain Emilio Harold FrançoisThe Grace Sprague Pillsbury and Josephine Park Pillsbury Award foran Actress of Excellence—Dale Susan Linda TannerThe DAOR Jean Wilcox Scholarship for Theater Arts—Olivia Claire Freidenreich The Michael Mansfield and Randy Sweringen Social Justice Award forExcellence in Creating a More Equitable and Inclusive World—Chelsea GregoryCheryl YangRuchita VermaThe Larry Belling Promising Writers’ Award—Paul Vakhtangovich Baliouri
Candidates for Graduate DegreesDoctor of Philosophy in Performance StudiesPatrícia de Nóbrega GomesGeo-corporeal Performance as a Feminist, Decolonial, and TransnationalStrategy of ResistanceCommittee: Natalia Brizuela, Brandi Catanese, Beth Piatote, AngelaMarino (chair)Dahlia Maria Nayar-ButlerPerforming the QuietCommittee: Brandi Wilkins Catanese, Abigail de Kosnik, and SanSan Kwan(chair)Crystal SongModel Minority Amateurs: Restaging Race and Achievement in AsianAmerican DancesportCommittee: Julia Fawcett, Shannon Steen, and SanSan Kwan (chair)Vincente Glynn PerezSonic Blackness: Hip-Hop PoeticsCommittee: Roshanak Kheshti, Brandi Catanese, and Abigail De Kosnik(chair)Rebecca StruchSituated Stages: The Geo-Racial Politics of Site-Specific PerformanceCommittee: Angela Marino, Brandi Summer, and Shannon Steen (chair)Minors Dance and Performance StudiesEthan Daniel Collier-MorenoWilliam HairstonHazel Rosemary HortonElliana Kim Emma Kaitlyn Lowe Arianna Mireya Mantilla Dale Susan Linda Tanner Vivien Rose Terrell Kira Wefers
Minors Theater and Performance StudiesJoy DiamondKinzey Quin EastinEllis EmersonZoey Alice EricsonTomás Cedric Germain Emilio Harold FrançoisOlivia Claire FreidenreichRyan Christopher GottschalkPailey Yang KaoArnav ManhasRiya ManimaranJoyce Dalahi Martinez GarciaRenée Christine MessingerRebecca Laine NguyenEmily NightingaleJorge Alejandro RamosArya Taupier VishinLauren Marcella WoodsSaman Jacqueline WrightHan YingMajorsDance and Performance StudiesAleshani Jamila David Altan *Ellis EmersonJoanna Grace Iversen-BrowneSabrina LopezRebecca Laine NguyenCheryl Xuan Yang*Double Major in Theater, Dance, and Performances Studies
MajorsTheater and Performance StudiesAleshani Jamila David Altan *Alexandra Nicole Amato Paul Vakhtangovich BaliaouriSkyler Atticus BatesHaley Margaret BaynardGuillermo CastroStephanie Rachel Diaz MartinezTiffany ElghanianIsadora Duskin FeinbergChloe FooÍtarala Mitaran Gamboa Cayetaño GarcíaJordan Anthony GoldsteinErzsabet GonzalezTawny Duong HoangHazel Rosemary HortonJoseph Eugene IwuajokuYinuo JiangLaurel KuoNika LomidzeCara Janette MacciantiShala MaloneErin Kyung Kee MarkhamAidan Nicholas OwcharMcDieun PhilidorDavid DeAngello PinuelasKaylee A PriceJiho SeoKatherine Rongqing ShanApollo Javier SohrabiDale Susan Linda TannerKira Wefers +Mengyao ZhaoJingyi Zhou*Double Major in Theater, Dance, and Performances Studies +Honors Project: ”Because We Were Kissing”: Lesbian Identity, Fantasiesof Marginalization, and the Inevitability of Violence in Diana Son’s StopKiss
Lecturers—Philip AgyapongSima BelmarJessica Berman HirigoyenNancy Carlinlu-Hui ChuaRebecca J. EnnalsSrijani GhoshBear GrahamChelsea GregoryMargo HallChristopher HeroldDominique Fawn HillSenate Faculty—Abigail De Kosnik Julia Fawcett Joe Goode Philip Kan GotandaKarina GutierrezTimmia Hearn DeRoyStaff—Alia Davis BrownJamila CobhamPeet CockeLyazzat CohenBen Dillon Emily FasslerZoë Halley CaseyJean-Paul GressieuxTim KopraLaxmi KumaranMegan LoweRobin MaegawaDio RamirezDenise UmlandAvy ValladaresEmeriti—Martin BermanLura DolasPeter GlazerRobert W. GoldsbyMark GriffithJenefer JohnsonLaxmi KumaranDaniel LarlhamErik K. Raymond LeeSusannah MartinMichael Socrates MoranRay OppenheimerLana PalmerMark RafaelPatrick RussellArnel SanciancoLatanya d. TignerShannon JacksonRoshanak KheshtiSanSan Kwan (Chair)Angela Marino Shannon Steen Brandi Wilkins CataneseLisa WymoreFollow @BerkeleyTDPSFaculty & StaffCarol MurotaDunbar H. OgdenDeborah SusselMarni Thomas WoodWarren TravisMargaret B. WilkersonStay Connected Share Alumni Notes: tdps.berkeley.edu/alumniGive to TDPS: tdps.link/giveSign up for our newsletter: tdps.link/subscribe
Congratulations to all of our graduates!