Graduate School celebrates 2021 commencement
![Woman in graduation gown hugging another in the same attire](/ctplus/asset/17b6a63a-3cd9-41f7-bb35-af09f69f3671/2021-gradschool-graduation-header.jpg)
Congratulations to students who recently graduated from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Students returned for an in-person commencement ceremony for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic canceled campus events in 2020. See highlights from the ceremony in the photo gallery below.
UT Southwestern is ranked among the top 20 graduate schools for biological sciences by U.S. News & World Report. Distinguished faculty includes six Nobel Laureates, 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators, 17 National Academy of Medicine members, and 25 National Academy of Sciences members. UTSW has more than 200 labs for students and trainees to explore for research and training opportunities.
Prospective students can take a virtual tour and learn more about graduate programs at UTSW.
Select an image to begin the slideshow.
![Dr. Busola Alabi earned a doctorate in biomedical engineering.](/ctplus/asset/44541a33-da52-46b4-8ba9-96d7cd783efd/gradschool-graduation-7874.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Graduates give each other a little assistance ahead of the ceremony.](/ctplus/asset/d37f1536-3f79-4546-8ff2-f42e8e71c171/gradschool-graduation-2102.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Laura Lacritz, Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, and a Distinguished Teaching Professor, receives help with her hood.](/ctplus/asset/98f4e416-8cf0-4530-ab80-4ea823777ee3/gradschool-graduation-7851.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Lora Hooper, Professor and Chair of Immunology, Microbiology, and in the Center for the Genetics of Host Defense, delivers the commencement address.](/ctplus/asset/3f3cc877-416b-4594-ac35-fd00b662a7a4/gradschool-graduation-7893.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Sherwood Brown, Professor of Psychiatry, hoods Dr. Joshua Becker, who received his doctorate in clinical psychology.](/ctplus/asset/74fe65ce-92cf-439a-afb7-cff8c773ade3/gradschool-graduation-2180.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Anne Warren (left) and Dr. Sarita Patel, who earned a doctorate in clinical psychology](/ctplus/asset/def95162-0d56-4ccd-8659-fb60fde61c34/gradschool-graduation-7926.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Beth Kennard (left), Professor of Psychiatry, and Dr. Lucas Zullo, who earned a doctorate in clinical psychology](/ctplus/asset/b138c6f7-dc8a-400a-ba67-e904ca58ebf5/gradschool-graduation-7944.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Luke Rice, Associate Professor of Biophysics and Biochemistry, hoods Dr. Anna Lee, who earned a doctorate in molecular biophysics.](/ctplus/asset/e8e9ba77-9332-4f1d-91a2-e1986d25216f/gradschool-graduation-7982.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. José Rizo-Rey (left), Professor of Biophysics, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology; and Dr. Sai Rashmi Voleti, who earned her doctorate in molecular biophysics](/ctplus/asset/606c69dc-f9eb-484a-bae6-e7fe42229bc5/gradschool-graduation-7990.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Dean P. Smith (left), Professor of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, and Dr. Elizabeth Anne Scheuermann, who earned her doctorate in neuroscience](/ctplus/asset/29f1dd41-73b3-4366-be30-20013f16b0c2/gradschool-graduation-8005.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Brad E. Pfeiffer, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience hoods Dr. Mengni Wang, who earned her doctorate in neuroscience.](/ctplus/asset/a8e80558-8488-4963-b77c-d123f90640ac/gradschool-graduation-8007.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Xingjian Zhang earned his doctorate in neuroscience.](/ctplus/asset/c17bbf8a-477f-4e67-8dab-cc5423fb7390/gradschool-graduation-8013.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Rolf Brekken, Professor of Surgery, Pharmacology, and in the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, hoods Dr. Demetra Kelenis, who earned her doctorate in cancer biology. Dr. Kelenis is a Medical Scientist Training Program student.](/ctplus/asset/d00a9aa6-7c2e-4ecd-8d35-5b028dbce310/gradschool-graduation-2167.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Mike Henne, Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Biophysics, hoods Dr. Sanchari Datta, who earned her doctorate in cell and molecular biology.](/ctplus/asset/63927573-7019-4622-925f-4a220eb1000e/gradschool-graduation-2172.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Laura Howe-Martin (left), Assistant Director of Behavioral Sciences, UT Southwestern Moncrief Cancer Institute, and Associate Professor of Psychiatry; and Dr. Natalie Benedetto, who earned her doctorate in clinical psychology](/ctplus/asset/3ece86c6-a7d3-485d-8a0f-0bf1b59c6169/gradschool-graduation-2184.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Katelyn Doxtader (left), who earned her doctorate in molecular biophysics, and Dr. Yunsun Nam, Associate Professor of Biophysics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and in the Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences](/ctplus/asset/3495abf5-d5d1-4990-bb3a-1fb8c1116788/gradschool-graduation-8058.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)
![Dr. Hayden Mbroh earned her doctorate in clinical psychology.](/ctplus/asset/4370be8c-0e58-4853-86c9-15f3c767e96c/gradschool-graduation-8105.jpg?rendition=rendition-x180)