C O N VO C AT I O N

May 2015

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY

Convocation_cover.qxp_Layout 1 3/12/15 9:40 AM Page 1

1

School of Public Health

Class of 2015

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Convocation

May 17, 20154:30pM

Nicholas Music ceNter

85 GeorGe street

DouGlass caMpus

New BruNswick, New Jersey

2

3

the rutGers school of puBlic health

The Rutgers School of Public Health seeks to improve health and prevent disease in diverse populations in New Jersey and around the world through educating students to become well-qualified and effective public health leaders, researchers, and practitioners; conducting research to advance public health science and policies; and providing service programs that promote population and individual health.

The School offers the MPH, MS, DrPH, and PhD degrees, as well as many dual degrees and post-baccalaureate certificate programs. The School has a strong research program addressing several areas in public health, including clinical trial methodology, air pollution, cancer disparities, social epidemiology, maternal and child health, health economics, health care reform and insurance, and addictions including tobacco and alcohol. Students can put their public health education into practice through participation in the School’s community service or international health projects. An active community service program places fieldwork students in multiple public and private agencies around the state and provides summer experiences in agencies in Camden, New Brunswick, and Newark. Students may volunteer in the Dominican Republic for one week periods assisting Haitian migrants in bateyes [bey-teys], or work camps, where living conditions are extremely poor. The School also has a productive continuing education program addressing many issues in public health with a special emphasis on hazardous waste worker training.

Over 1,700 of our alumni serve in the field of public health in many diverse ways. We celebrate this evening with the members of the Class of 2015 as they go forward to take their place among the number of public health professionals who contribute daily to the safeguarding of the health of all people locally, nationally, and around the world.

4

rutGers school of puBlic health

— aDMiNistratioN —Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, MD, MPH, MS, Dean

Patrick R. Clifford, PhD, Associate Dean for ResearchWilliam E. Halperin, MD, DrPH, MPH, Associate Dean, Newark CampusAlan C. Monheit, PhD, Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs

Pamela A. Ohman-Strickland, PhD, MS, Associate Dean,New Brunswick Campus

Bernadette M. West, PhD, MA, Associate Dean, Stratford Campus,Student Affairs, and Community Health

Teri E. Lassiter, PhD, MPH ’03, Assistant Professor, Fieldwork Coordinator,Newark Campus

— DepartMeNt chairs —Jeffrey Backstrand, PhD, Chair, Department of Urban Health Administration

Rufus Caine, Jr, DDS, MPH, Chair, Department of Dental Public HealthCristine D. Delnevo, PhD, MPH, Chair, Department of Health Education and

Behavioral ScienceKitaw Demissie, MD, PhD, MPH, Chair, Department of EpidemiologyMarian Passannante, PhD, Interim Chair (Designate), Department of

Quantitative MethodsStephan Schwander, MD, PhD, Chair, Department of Environmental and

Occupational HealthWeichung (Joe) Shih, PhD, Chair, Department of Biostatistics

Alan C. Monheit, PhD, Chair, Department ofHealth Systems and Policy

— iNtitute/ceNter Directors —Cristine D. Delnevo, PhD, MPH ‘93, Director,

Center for Tobacco Studies Kitaw Demissie, MD, PhD, MPH, Director,

Institute for the Elimination of Health DisparitiesLaura E. Liang, DrPH ‘15, CHES, Co-Director,

Center for School and Community-Based Research and EducationAlan C. Monheit, PhD, Director, Center for Health Economics and Policy Mitchel A. Rosen, PhD, CHES, Director, Office of Public Health PracticeStephan Schwander, MD, PhD, Director, Center for Global Public Health

Derek Shendell, DEnv, MPH, Co-Director,Center for School and Community-Based Research and Education

Michael Steinberg, MD, MPH ‘93, Director, Tobacco Dependence Program

5

— aluMNi associatioN GoverNiNG BoarD —Scott Battaglia, MBA, MS, MPH ‘ 10

Michael Cestare, MPH ‘13Deloris Dockrey, MPH ‘02

Gwyneth M. Eliasson, JD, MPH ‘12Danielle Herring, MPH ‘03

Chizoba Nwankwo, PhD ‘10W. David Richardson, MPH ‘88Edgar P. Simard, PhD, MPH ‘10

Jermey O. Taylor, MPH ‘13

— caMpus stuDeNt GoverNMeNt associatioN —(2014-2015)

New Brunswick CampusPresident: Amoli Joshi

Vice-President: Thomas CordonSecretary: Ndome Essoka

Treasurer: Anastasia Offordile

Newark CampusPresident: Breanne Biondi

Vice President: Ernesto VelezSecretary: Susan KlimkowskiTreasurer: Katherine Baldwin

Stratford CampusPresident: Yaa Asantewaa Keene

6

ORDER OF EXERCISE

presiDiNG officerJasjit S. Ahluwalia, MD, MPH, MS, Dean

— processioNal —Please stand.

faculty MarshalNeil Richard Boyd, EdD, MS, MSPH

GoNfaloN BearerGeorge G. Rhoads, MD, MPH, CPH

DeanChancellor, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences

Past Founding Dean of Rutgers School of Public HealthHonored Guests

Department Chairs, Directors, Faculty and Alumni/AlumnaePresident of the New Jersey Public Health Association

Presidents of the Campus Student Government AssociationsGraduating Class of 2015

Music proviDeD ByRutgers Mason Gross School of Arts Students

Please be seated.

7

— welcoMiNG reMarks —Bernadette M. West, PhD, MA, Convocation Chair

— GreetiNGs —Brian Strom, MD, MPH

Chancellor, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences

Jermey O. Taylor, MPH ’13Governing Board, School of Public Health Alumni Association

— preseNtatioN of awarDs —Stanley S. Bergen, Jr., MD, Medal of Excellence Award

Brian Strom, MD, MPH

Presented to:Anna Rose Johnson, BA

Stuart D. Cook, MD, Student Public Health Research AwardGeorge G. Rhoads, MD, MPH, CPHProfessor, Department of Epidemiology

Presented to:Marianne Lopes Domingues, BS

MPH Student

Melissa Lynn Santorelli, MPH ’05PhD Student

New Jersey Health Foundation Excellence in Teaching AwardMarian Passannante, PhD

Interim Chair (Designate), Department of Quantitative Methods

Presented to:Pamela A. Ohman-Strickland, PhD, MS

New Jersey Health Foundation Excellence in Research AwardMarian Passannante, PhD

Presented to:Patrick R. Clifford, PhD

8

Student Government Association Student Awards Bernadette M. West, PhD, MA

Presented to:Amoli Ashvin Joshi, BSNew Brunswick Campus

Kathrine Marie Baldwin, BSNewark Campus

Yaa Asantewaa Keene, BSStratford Campus

Student Government Association Excellence in Teaching Awards

Presented to:George G. Rhoads, MD, MPH, CPH

New Brunswick Campus

Dennis A. Fried, PhD, MBA, MPH ’09Newark Campus

Patty Vitale, MD, MPHStratford Campus

Anna Skiff AwardM. Jane Lewis, DrPH, MA

Associate Professor, Department of Health Education and Behavioral Science

Presented to:Caroline E.S. Harris1, BA

Bernard D. Goldstein, MD, AwardGeorge G. Rhoads, MD, MPH, CPH

Presented to:Yanping Chen, PhD

Kim Stephanie Clarkin, MDCara Elizabeth Jaffe, BA

Neha Hemantkumar Kumarley, BDSErin Lo, BS

Jenizah Angela Melendez, BSSairaman Nagarajan, MBBS

Sharon Ann Vaz, BS

9

Distinguished Staff AwardsKoshy Koshy, PhD

Instructor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

Presented to:Megan Cahill, Janet Crooks, Carl Donaldson, Karen Dunning,

Cherie Ferguson, Gina Gazitano, Phil McCabe, Colleen McKay Wharton, Mehul Patel, William Sawyer, and Bonnie Wilson

Office of Public Health Practice Staff

Distinguished Alumni AwardJasjit S. Ahluwalia, MD, MPH, MS

Presented to:Cristine D. Delnevo, PhD, MPH ‘93

Senator Frank R. Lautenberg Annual Award and Lecture in Public Health

Jeffrey Brenner, MDFounder and Executive Director, Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers

— recoGNitioN of Delta oMeGa iNDuctioN —

— recoGNitioN of caNDiDates —Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Master of Public Health DegreeMaster of Science Degree

— hooDiNG cereMoNy —Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Doctor of Public Health Degree

— class aDDress —Anna Rose Johnson, BA

— closiNG reMarks —Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, MD, MPH, MS, Dean

— recessioNal —

Please stand.

10

rutGers school of puBlic health

GraDuatiNG class of 2015POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE

CLINCIAL EPIDEMIOLOGYDavid Tarantino, MBA, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

GENERAL PUBLIC HEALTHGeorganna Darlene Blackwell1, BS, The Richard Stockton College of New JerseyLaxmi Bhargavi Chavali1, BDS, Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, IndiaRudmila Choudhury1, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyMine Demirel, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyLaurie J. Folkman, MD, University of South Alabama College of MedicineLauren K. Herbig, BA, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyJeffrey A. Holt, BA, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyAristotle John Lyssikatos1, DDS, New York UniversityAshley Cummings McIntosh1, DVM, Tuskegee UniversityErnesto L. Velez, BS, Montclair State UniversityJessika Anne Weiland, BS, Hofstra University

MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Chidi Reuben Achebe, MBBS, The University of Nigeria, NigeriaChristopher Matthew Ackerman, BA, University of MiamiWajeeha Ansari, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyAlexandra Agnes Apostolico1, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyMaria Elizabeth Baldino, BS, Fordham UniversityKathrine Marie Baldwin5, BS, The George Washington UniversityEthel Tzila Baumberg, BA, Fairleigh Dickinson UniversitySujana Bhattacharyya5, MBS, UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesRashida Shanēeē Boima, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyMegan Christina Boyce1, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyErin Kelly Brady, BS, William Paterson University of New JerseyMichael Terrence Brady1, BA, University of Maryland, BaltimoreAllison Wall Brown1, BS, Bloomfield CollegeMatthew W. Brown1, BS, Temple UniversityJessica Lynne Caridi1, BS, Purdue UniversityAngela Centellas, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseySharon Elizabeth Chin, BS, University of the Sciences in PhiladelphiaTasmiah Choudhury, BA, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyKim Stephanie Clarkin, MD, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical SchoolElyse M’Lynn Convery1,7, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyMichael Andrew Cortes, MD, Cebu Doctors’ University-College of Medicine,

Philippines Kamilah Fajir Crawley1, BS, Temple UniversityKimberly Patrice Dent-Ferguson5, BA, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

11

GraDuatiNG class of 2015Mark Jason Diaz6, BA, University of California, DavisCaitlin Maria Dimitrov-Kuhl1, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyMarianne Lopes Domingues, BS, Gordon CollegeAnindita Fahad, MSW, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, IndiaMagy Ramsis Gad, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyFausto Garcia Jr.1, BS, William Paterson University of New JerseyGadiz Melissa Garcia, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyDeborah Lynn Green, BS, Loyola UniversityCaroline E.S. Harris1, BA, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseySabrina Hassan1, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseySheena Rosita Heletsi1,5, MBS, UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesAngela N. Hunter, BA, The College of New JerseyAlex Humberto Illescas, BS, William Paterson University of New JerseyAmanda S. Ismail1, BS, The Richard Stockton College of New JerseyMelissa Omonigho Itidiare5, MBS, Rowan UniversityCara Elizabeth Jaffe1, BA, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyAnna Rose Johnson1, BA, Tufts UniversityNicole Marie Johnson1, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPorsche Lee Johnson, BS, The City University of New York-City CollegeAmoli Ashvin Joshi, BS, Texas A&M UniversityNisha Joshi1, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseySara Ariel Kanoff1, BS, University of DelawareShameema Nasrin Kareem1, PharmD, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseySusan Ellen Karpinski-Failla, DO, University of New EnglandYaa Asantewaa Keene, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyMariam Tasneem Khan, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyBaburao Koneru1, MD, Mysore Medical College, IndiaNeha Hemantkumar Kumarley, BDS, Darshan Dental College, IndiaJennifer Lynn Labruzzo1, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyAndrea Aliece Lewis, BS, University of Louisiana at LafayetteErin Lo1, BS, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignAlok Janak Maniar, MD, D.Y. Patil Medical College, IndiaDawn Marie Marling, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyCharles Anthony Marotta, BA, Miami UniversityAtish Pratap Mathur, MBBS, Osmania Medical College, IndiaErin M. Mayo, DVM, North Carolina State University-College of Veterinary MedicineJenizah Angela Melendez1, BS, The College of New JerseyMegan A. Merdinger, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyDanielle M. Mooney, BA, St. Joseph's CollegeEileen Mary Musarra1, BA, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyMehnaz Seleena Mustafa, MSc, University of Victoria, CanadaSairaman Nagarajan1, MBBS, Sri Ramaswamy Memorial University, IndiaParminderjit Narang1, DDS, New York University College of DentistryStanley Okechukwu Nkemjika1, MBBS, University of Ibadan, NigeriaMichael Opare, BS, New Jersey City UniversityDenise Castillo Pangilinan, BS, William Paterson University of New Jersey

12

GraDuatiNG class of 2015Priyesh Patel, MD, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceScott Howard Pasichow, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyCourtney M. Phillips, BA, Bates CollegeCourtney Alexis Price, BS, Howard UniversityGoodweather Naakwarley Quartey, BS, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science

and Technology, GhanaRisa S. Rabinowitz1, BA, University of MichiganTasneem F. Rahman, BA, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPreethi Salian-Raghava, MBBS, JSS Medical College, IndiaDavid B. Schnall, BA, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyTulsi S. Shah1,5, BA, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyFatema Shahsamand, BA, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyKerry Silverman, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyJeannine Odette Stephenson-Buffong, DMD, Tufts University School of Dental MedicineTiffany S. Taylor, BS, William Paterson University of New JerseyTimmy Chacko Thomas1, MD, University of Debrecen, HungaryElizabeth Ann Trainor, BS, The College of New JerseyMustafa H. Turan1, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseySharon Ann Vaz2, BS, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyAllison Elizabeth Weiser1, BS, The College of New JerseyXiao Yu, MBBS, Hainan Medical University, China

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Xinyang Cao1, MS, University of New HampshireYanping Chen, PhD, The State University of New York at Stony Brook

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHYJoint Degree with Rutgers Graduate School—New Brunswick

Menghui Chen, MS, University of MinnesotaMentor: Yong Lin, PhDDissertation: Dose Finding Methods Based on Cure Rate Model in Phase I

Cancer Clinical Trials

Alice David1, MSc, University of Madras-Christain Medical College, IndiaMentor: George G. Rhoads‚ MD, MPH, CPHDissertation: Socioeconomic Movement between Successive Pregnancies

and its effect on Preterm Delivery in a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Population

Dennis Adrian Fried1, MBA, MPH ‘09, UMDNJ-School of Public HealthMentor: William Halperin, DrPH, MD, MPHDissertation: Health and Health Care Utilization among U.S. Veterans

Denied VA Disability Compensation

13

GraDuatiNG class of 2015Jianming He, MA, University of New Hampshire

Mentor: Grace L. Lu-Yao, PhD, MPHDissertation: A Cost-effectiveness Framework to Evaluate a Predictive

Companion Diagnostic of Selecting Men with High Risk Localized Prostate Cancer for Neoadjuvant or Adjuvant Chemotherapy in the U.S.

Kristy Ann Iglay, MPH ’09, UMDNJ-School of Public HealthMentor: Kitaw Demissie, MD, PhD, MPHDissertation: Mental Illness and Breast Cancer Among Elderly Patients in

the US: A SEER-Medicare Database Analysis

Lixian Peng, MS, New Jersey Institute of TechnologyMentor: Weichung "Joe" Shih, PhDDissertation: Design of Primary and Sensitivity Analyses for Handling Non-

Future Dependence Missing Data in Clinical Trials with an Emphasis on the Type-1 Error Rate Using Multiple Imputation and Pattern Mixture Model Approach

Melissa Lynn Santorelli, MPH ’05, UMDNJ-School of Public Health Mentor: Kitaw Demissie, MD, PhD, MPHDissertation: Chronic Disease Outcomes among Older Women with Breast

Cancer in the United States

DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Carlin Patrick Brickner1, MS, University of AkronMentors: Dirk Moore, PhD, Shou-En Lu, PhDDissertation: Estimating the Relationship Between a Transient Effect and

the Onset of An Acute Event: A Comparison of Case Crossover Designs and a Retrospective Cohort

Xinqun Chen, MPH, The George Washington UniversityMentor: Weichung "Joe" Shih, PhDDissertation: Models to Select Chemotherapy, Endocrine Therapy or Biologic

Agent to Advance to Phase III Trials for Advanced Breast Cancer

Qian Dong1, MS, University of MinnesotaMentor: Dirk Moore, PhDDissertation: Comparison of Statistical Methods for Determining Gene

Expression Signatures to Predict Binary Cancer Response

14

Laura Elizabeth Liang, MPH ‘96, UMDNJ-School of Public HealthMentor: Neal Richard Boyd, EdD, MS, MSPHDissertation: Integrating Goal-Setting in Health and Physical Education

Classes to Increase Physical Activity Levels Among Middle School Students

Debbie Mohamed, MPH ’07, UMDNJ-School of Public HealthMentor: Amy Davidow, PhDDissertation: The HIV Care Continuum in New Jersey: HIV Testing and

Linkage (2007-2011); Retention and Engagement (2010-2011); HIV Viral Load Measures (2010)

Tyree Tayo Oredein, MPH, Hunter College of the City University of New YorkMentor: M. Jane Lewis, DrPHDissertation: Violent Trends in Hip-Hop Entertainment Journalism: A Content Analysis of Hip-Hop Websites and Radio

Programming

EXPLANATORY NOTESThe listings of graduates in this program are based upon information provided to the University Office of Academic Affairs at the time of submission of the program for publication. These listings are unofficial. The official conferral of degrees/certificates occurs upon satisfactory completion of all academic requirements and the fulfillment of all financial and other obligations to the University.

1 Degree was awarded prior to commencement2 MD/MPH dual-degree program3 JD/MPH dual-degree program4 MPH/MBA dual-degree program5 MPH/Master of Biomedical Science dual-degree program6 MPH/Master of Science-Physician Assistant dual-degree program7 BS/MPH

15

Senator Frank R. Lautenberg Annual Award and Lecture in Public Health* The Senator Frank R. Lautenberg Annual Award and Lecture in Public Health, established in 2001, celebrates Senator Lautenberg’s outstanding public health achievements. This award is bestowed annually at the Convocation of the School of Public Health in the name of Senator Frank R. Lautenberg to an outstanding leader in public health. Following the presentation of the award, the award recipient delivers the Lecture in Public Health. Previous award recipients are listed below:

rutGers school of puBlic health

DescriptioN of coNvocatioN awarDs

2002John D. Slade, MD (posthumously)Accepted by Jack Henningfield, PhD,

and Mrs. John D. Slade

2003David Mechanic, PhD

2004Kenneth Olden, PhD, ScD, LHD

2005Bernard D. Goldstein, MD

2006Shelley A. Hearne, DrPH

2007William H. Foege, MD, MPH

2008Edward Roccella, PhD, MPH

2009Kirk R. Smith, PhD, MPH

2010James S. Marks, MD, MPH

2011Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc

2012Lawrence W. Green, DrPH, ScD

(Hon)

2013Shiriki Kumanyika, PhD, MPH

Stanley S. Bergen, Jr., MD, Medal of Excellence Award*The Stanley S. Bergen, Jr., MD, Medal of Excellence Award is presented by Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences to one student in each of the RBHS schools who has:

• Performed at a high level in his or her public health studies;• Attained notable achievements in basic science and public health

research;• Demonstrated those high ideals which are traditional to the public

health profession; and• Engaged in meaningful service to the School of Public Health

community.

Stuart D. Cook, MD, Student Public Health Research Award*The Stuart D. Cook, MD Student Public Health Research Award was established in 2004 in honor of Stuart D. Cook, MD, Past President, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). During Dr. Cook's tenure as President, UMDNJ doubled research funding and became the leading research university in New Jersey.

16

New Jersey Health Foundation Excellence in Teaching AwardThe New Jersey Health Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes members of the RBHS faculty for outstanding teaching during the academic year.

New Jersey Health Foundation Excellence in Research AwardThe New Jersey Health Foundation Excellence in Research Award recognizes members of the RBHS faculty for outstanding research during the academic year.

Student Government Association Student AwardThe Student Government Association Student Award was established in 2006 to recognize a graduating student from each campus for involvement in student activities at the School. The candidate must:

• Be a graduating candidate for an MPH, MS, PhD, or DrPH degree at the School;

• Be active in SGA activities or other student-run activities within the School; and

• Have contributed to the growth of the School in terms of student involvement and serving the School community.

Student Government Association Excellence in Teaching Award*The Student Government Association Excellence in Teaching Award was established by the Student Government Association in 2001. This award is given by the Student Government Association to faculty members on each campus for “excellence in teaching and service to public health students.”

Anna Skiff Award* The Anna Skiff Award was adopted and initiated by the former UMDNJ-Graduate Program in Public Health in 1992 in memory of Anna Skiff. As a health educator, Anna had a long career with the U.S. Public Health Service and was instrumental in organizing the fieldwork component for the MPH degree at then UMDNJ. Because of her dedication to the fieldwork dimension of the educational experience, the award was established to recognize excellence in the design, execution, evaluation and reporting of health education fieldwork projects.

Bernard D. Goldstein, MD, Award*The Bernard D. Goldstein, MD, Award, established in 1995 through an endowment from Dr. Goldstein, is awarded annually to recognize academic excellence. Dr. Goldstein was the former Chair of the Department of Environmental and Community Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the founding Director of the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute and the former Acting Dean of the UMDNJ-School of Public Health.

17

MPH Graduates:Kim Stephanie Clarkin, MD

Anna Rose Johnson, BASusan Ellen Karpinski-Failla, DO

Andrea Aliece Lewis, BSErin M. Mayo, DVM

Mehnaz Seleena Mustafa, MScScott Howard Pasichow, BS

Fatema Shahsamand, BASharon Ann Vaz, BS

PhD Graduates:Menghui Chen, MS

Melissa Lynn Santorelli, MPH ‘05

The Alpha Eta Chapter was established in 2001 at the School of Public Health. Students are selected from the top ten percent of their graduating class. The 2015 Delta Omega Inductees include:

2015 Delta Omega Inductees are wearing a Delta Omega Stole in salmon pink.

Distinguished Staff Award*The Distinguished Staff Award recognizes a staff member(s) who:

• Shows excellence in overall work performance;• Promotes positive morale by displaying a congenial, supportive

attitude and by providing service to others;• Puts forth effort to improve self as well as develop and recognize

others; and• Exhibits initiative and creativity resulting in improved operating

efficiency of the School of Public Health.

Distinguished Alumni Award*The Distinguished Alumni Award is awarded to an alumna/alumnus of the School of Public Health in recognition of outstanding lifetime achievement.

Delta Omega InductionDelta Omega, founded in 1924, is the honorary society for graduate studies in public health. It celebrates academic achievement, devotion to public health principles and outstanding service in public health.

*Designates awards which are on display at the Rutgers School of Public Health with the names of award recipients inscribed on the award’s plaque.

18

acaDeMic attire

Academic attire was first used at universities during the 12th and 13th centuries, originally to provide warmth. At Oxford and Cambridge in the 16th century, each college developed distinctive costumes for each degree awarded, and eventually issued extensive regulations governing the details of these costumes. Academic dress was imported from England to America in the 18th century and used at Columbia University (then King’s College) and other colleges founded during the colonial period. In 1895, the Intercollegiate Code standardized the cut, style, materials and colors of academic attire for all colleges and universities in the United States, and in 1902 the International Bureau of Academic Costume was established to set and update standards for American academic dress, which most US institutions of higher education continue to follow.

Approved academic attire consists of a cap, gown, and hood. The gown is black for all baccalaureate and higher degrees. Gowns for bachelor’s and master’s degrees have no trimming; doctoral-degree gowns have black or discipline-specific color velvet trim down the front and three chevrons of the same trim on each sleeve. The hood, originally worn on the head for warmth, is currently worn around the neck, hanging down the back, and measuring three feet for bachelor’s degrees, three and one-half feet for master’s and four feet for doctoral degrees. In the United States, bachelor’s hoods are usually omitted. The hood bears the color codes of the level of the degree, the academic field in which the degree was earned, and the institution that conferred the degree. Thus the color(s) of the silk lining of the hood are the official colors of the institution, and the border color represents the faculty or field of study.

Some of these border colors identifying academic disciplines are as follows:

Arts, Letters, Humanities: WhiteBusiness: TanDentistry: LilacEducation: Light blueEngineering: OrangeLaw: Purple

Library Science: LemonMedicine: GreenNursing: ApricotPhilosophy: Dark bluePublic Health: Salmon pinkScience: Golden yellow

Universities and colleges register their official colors with the Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume. The official colors of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is scarlet, seen on the silk linings of the hoods of our graduates. Hoods are sometimes not worn until the degree is actually conferred, with a ceremonial act of hooding taking place at this point in time.

The approved cap is the mortarboard, a stiff board nine inches square worn with the points to the front and back. Soft-material tams may alternately be used for doctoral-degree holders. A silk cord with a tassel is attached to a button on the center of the cap; it is gold for doctoral degrees and otherwise black. Tradition calls for the tassel to be worn on the right of the cap before the degree is conferred, then moved to the left afterward.

19

Congratulations, Class of 2015!

Welcome to the Rutgers University Alumni Association, the university-wide

alumni organization that all Rutgers graduates are automatically members of—

for free, for life! You are joining a network of 408,000 proud Rutgers alumni

worldwide, a legion of scarlet enthusiasts who shared many of the same

experiences and traditions that you enjoyed throughout your time at Rutgers.

As you make the transition to proud Rutgers graduate, remember that

Ralumni.com is your online headquarters for everything you need to know

about the RUAA. Networking events, social outings, exclusive discounts, career

resources, and volunteer opportunities await you as you embark upon this new

chapter in your life.

Make sure to update your information at Ralumni.com to stay connected

to Rutgers and to receive your Alumni Benefits Card and your free

subscription to Rutgers Magazine. We also invite you to become an active

participant in the many events the RUAA hosts each year, or in one of our

130+ alumni interest groups.

We applaud you on this momentous achievement and look forward to sharing

the next stage of your Rutgers life with you! Visit the links below to get started

on your alumni journey.

Stay Connected!

Ralumni.com

Facebook.com/rutgersalumni

Twitter.com/rutgersalumni

Rutgers University Alumni Association on LinkedIn

20

With sincere appreciation and gratitude

to the

faculty, staff, students,

parents and families of our students,

alumni, alumnae, and friends

of the

Rutgers School of Public Health

C O N VO C AT I O N

May 2015

RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY

Convocation_cover.qxp_Layout 1 3/12/15 9:40 AM Page 1