Graduate School Class of 2022 celebrates commencement

Published on: June 24, 2022 By: Staff Reports

On May 19, the UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences held a live graduation in the Tom and Lula Gooch Auditorium on South Campus. Eighty-nine students earned doctorate or master’s degrees in commencement exercises that recognized 2021 and 2022 graduates.

See highlights from the celebration in the photo gallery below.

Candidates for degrees included an NCAA Division I track and field athlete and Academic All-American, an AmeriCorps volunteer, and a fellow of the UT System Archer Center in Washington, D.C. One student started a nonprofit while in graduate school to provide access to fresh groceries and combat food insecurity. Other students completed fellowships with the national ThinkLab Startup Accelerator program. Twelve Ph.D. graduates are also completing their M.D. degrees through the Medical Scientist Training Program.

UT Southwestern is ranked among the top 25 graduate schools for biological sciences by U.S. News & World Report. Distinguished faculty includes six Nobel Laureates, 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators, 17 National Academy of Medicine members, and 26 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.

Hoods are laid out and ready for graduates of the UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Programs await guests of the 2022 Graduate School commencement exercises in Tom and Lula Gooch Auditorium.

Displaying proud graduate attitude (from left) are Yuqing Zhang, Junqiu Zhang, and Junjie Ma.

Aarin Jones (right) shares a smile with her mentor, W. Lee Kraus, Ph.D., Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pharmacology and Director of the Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences.

Platform Party members include (from left): keynote speaker David Russell, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Molecular Genetics; Graduate School Dean Andrew Zinn, M.D., Ph.D.; and President Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D.

Graduates begin their procession to the auditorium.

Karolina Stepien, recipient of the 2021 Ida M. Green Award, poses for a photo with mentor Jose Rizo-Rey, Ph.D., Professor of Biophysics, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology.

From left: Zane Johnson and Wen-Chuan Hsieh wait for the procession to begin with Nobel Laureate Michael Brown, M.D., Professor of Molecular Genetics and Internal Medicine.

UTSW leaders attending the auspicious occasion included (from left) Dr. Podolsky, UTSW President; W. P. Andrew Lee., M.D., EVP for Academic Affairs and Provost, and Dean of UT Southwestern Medical School; and Joan Conaway, Ph.D., Vice Provost and Dean of Basic Research.

Lukas Farbiak, Ph.D., is hooded by Stuart Ravnik, Ph.D., Associate Dean of the Graduate School.

Carlos Paz is hooded by James Collins, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pharmacology.

Tahnae Tarkenton Allen (left) receives her diploma from Dr. Podolsky.

The family of Kylie Sligar cheers as she is hooded for her degree that she completed in August 2021.

Samantha Johnson poses for a photo with her mentor, David Corey, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, after being hooded.

Sean Rogers (left) is hooded by mentor Mike Henne, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Cell Biology and Biophysics.

Paul Blazek (in gown) celebrates with his family after receiving his degree.

Aarin Jones (in gown) and her family are all smiles after the ceremony.

Jessica Harper (right) celebrates her accomplishment with Jasmine Ghannadpour, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry.

Ashlyn Parides (in gown) celebrates achieving her 2021 degree with family.

Junjie Ma (right) shows off his diploma with his mentor, Jae Mo Park, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Radiology and the Advanced Imaging Research Center.

Graduate Wen-Chuan Hsieh (right) shares by phone her accomplishments with family.