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[AUDIO LOGO] [APPLAUSE]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[APPLAUSE]
[SHOUTING]
[CHEERING]
[SHOUTING]
[CHEERING]
[SHOUTING]
[SHOUTING]
[CHEERING]
MARLA LUJAN: Dear family, friends, faculty, and the incomparable class of 2023, my name is Marla Lujan, Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences. And as Director of Undergraduate Studies, it is my sincere pleasure to welcome each of you to today's celebration. Please take your seats. It seems like you already have.
[LAUGHTER]
I have a few safety announcements to share before we begin our ceremony. We thank you in advance for your kind attention to these important considerations.
Please take note of the exits nearest to you. They can be found along the perimeter of the venue. Also, we kindly ask that you take photos from your seats to prevent safety hazards in the aisles. We have a professional photographer joining us today that will take quality photos of your graduates.
It is with great excitement that I share in today's ceremony alongside my colleagues, Dr. Laura Bellows, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Graduate Field of Nutrition. Dr. Martha Field, Assistant Professor of Nutritional Sciences. Dr. Tashara Leak, Assistant Professor of Nutritional Sciences. I am now pleased to invite Dr. Patricia Cassano, the Alan D. Mathios Professor in the College of Human Ecology and Director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences to the podium.
[APPLAUSE]
PATRICIA ANN CASSANO: Hi, everyone. It's a real pleasure to be here. Welcome. On behalf of all of us, we're delighted to have this celebration for you all today and to be with you to celebrate the many accomplishments of our graduates.
On behalf of the faculty and the staff of the Division of Nutritional Sciences, Dean Rachel Dunifon of the College of Human Ecology, Dean Ben Houlton of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Dean Ray Jayawardhana of the College of Arts and Sciences, it's my pleasure to welcome all of you parents, grandparents, family members, friends, and of course you, the class of 2023, to this celebration of your achievements at Cornell. Welcome, everybody.
[APPLAUSE]
As I said, we're so delighted to be here with you to celebrate all of your achievements. And I just have a few remarks, and we'll have student speakers as well joining us later. Throughout your time here at Cornell, I think if you look back on it you'll all agree that you've been trained to be curious, to think about the really important questions, to think critically, to be rigorous, and to be creative in your scholarship.
In your courses, your projects, your research, and other experiences, you've learned the value and the importance of collaboration and teamwork. Your years at Cornell brought unique challenges for you, and you met those challenges with resilience and by caring for each other, which has been especially important over these past four years, so wonderful for that, for those accomplishments.
In your time at Cornell, you've also experienced the thrill of discovery I'm sure, and the satisfaction of putting your knowledge to work through activities including research and experiential learning. Many of you have organized charitable events and other events. Some of you have organized thematic dinners and fed hundreds of Cornell students.
And as faculty members, I can honestly say that we are nothing short of dazzled and humbled by your talent. We are so proud of your unwavering commitment to broader ideals. And we are inspired by your passion for learning. We're truly honored to have been a part of your life's journey.
You have undoubtedly learned a lot at Cornell, but perhaps the most important lesson you've learned is that no one succeeds alone. This commencement weekend, we celebrate your accomplishments, which were made possible not only by your talent and your hard work, but also by the support of your families and your friends. Your families and friends nurtured you in so many ways, throughout your days at Cornell, and today is also a day to celebrate those people in your life who are there for you every day. So please join me in extending a heartfelt thank you to your families and your friends.
[APPLAUSE]
As you reflect on your time at Cornell, I'm sure you will always remember that Cornell faculty member, grad student, postdoc, or staff member who took a special interest in you and who influenced your academic journey in a meaningful way. Remember those special people always, and keep in touch with them and share your successes with them. We always appreciate hearing from you.
And I'll take a moment to ask the DNS faculty to stand so we can thank them for all the contributions they've made to your academic journey. So DNS faculty, would you please stand?
[APPLAUSE]
Thank you so much. Going forward, I hope that you will each remember that you're forever a part of the Cornell community. Cornell exists because of what you have contributed over your time here. Your ideas, your talents, and your efforts are what define the Cornell academic community.
In the future, you will no doubt become leaders on your local stage, in your communities, and nationally and internationally. Your successes and accomplishments will be the inspiration that motivates future generations of Cornellians. Cornell University is so much more than a campus and its faculty. You are and always will be the heart of Cornell. Congratulations, Class of 2023.
[APPLAUSE]
At this time, it's my pleasure to introduce our first speaker, Samantha Heller. And Samantha is receiving her bachelor of science degree today in global and public health sciences. Samantha, would you come to the stage, please?
[APPLAUSE]
SAMANTHA HELLER: Thank you for the introduction. Hi, everybody. I'm so excited to address you all today as the Division of Nutritional Sciences Class of 2023.
[APPLAUSE]
I think it is safe to say that we had one of the most unique undergraduate experiences of any class at Cornell. We certainly were the first to be treated to a virtual Slope Day. A lot of unexpected things happened during the pandemic, but I don't think I ever could have imagined sitting in my childhood bedroom watching Swae Lee perform on Zoom while rocking an Ithaca is Gorgeous t-shirt.
In all seriousness, we should be so incredibly proud of the resiliency we demonstrated over the past four years. Adjusting to college life is already difficult enough, but because of COVID, our class had to transition to being full-time college students from behind a computer. We logged on for Zoom lectures, breakout room discussion sections, and even final exams. Back at home, some of us also had to balance these academic obligations with additional responsibilities, such as caring for younger siblings or family members who became sick.
The pandemic also pushed us all to form and maintain connections with our peers, no matter the distance between us. Although not all of us returned to campus in the fall of 2020, we stayed in touch with our friends through FaceTimes and Netflix watch parties. We built community among Cornell students, Zooming in from time zones across the world for classes and club meetings.
When we returned to campus for our junior year, we finally were able to revisit what college was like pre-pandemic. We flocked back to the newly renovated Martha's Cafe and spent untold hours at the MVR Commons. Some of us got to meet our classmates or lab members in person for the first time, and feel surprised to see how poorly we judged their height from our Zoom screen.
While our college experience has certainly been anything but normal, we will still graduate today having accomplished what all the DNS alumni before us also did. We persevered through prelims from NS 1150 to Chem 2070. We led student organizations like GHSAB and enjoyed theme dinners on [INAUDIBLE] prepared by dietetic students.
We participated in engaged learning experiences from Tanzania to Tompkins County, and shared our work with our peers at the Experiential Learning Symposium. We engaged in research with faculty members and served as teaching assistants. But most importantly, we formed friendships and made connections that will last a lifetime.
For most of us, our time at Cornell is coming to an end. I may not miss the 20-minute walk each morning from Collegetown to MVR, but I will miss joining my friends for a sunset dinner on the Slope or hearing the chimes play on my way back to my apartment after a long day on campus.
Luckily, our memories of the past few years here will always stay with us. And with over 250,000 Cornell alum out there, we may even be able to make some more.
Whether you are continuing your education, starting a job, taking a gap year, or still figuring it out, I want to acknowledge the tremendous amount of work that we all accomplished in order to be sitting here today. I also want to recognize the faculty and staff members, as well as family and friends that supported us every step of the way. I'm so proud to be part of the Class of 2023, and I cannot wait to see where life takes us all next. Thank you.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
PATRICIA ANN CASSANO: Thank you so much, Samantha. It's my pleasure now to introduce our next speaker, Dr. Yuuki Nakayachi. And Yuuki is receiving his doctorate degree today in community nutrition. Yuuki, please join us.
[APPLAUSE]
YUUKI NAKAYACHI: Good afternoon to my fellow graduates of the Class of 2023, faculty, and a warm welcome to the families, parents, partners, and loved ones that have supported our academic journeys. To my classmates, give yourselves a round of applause. You're here. You did it.
[APPLAUSE]
When I was asked to give the speech and reflect on my time here in DNS-- and I'm probably echoing the theme here through the last couple of speakers, but the phrase that comes to mind is building resilience. And I'm not saying that just because graduate school is hard.
It does require resilience to take statistics exams. It does require resilience to navigate the research process, especially when you don't really know what the outcomes might be. And it also does require resilience to explain to your family that, yes, you can walk uphill both ways through a snow storm in April.
[LAUGHTER]
But in all seriousness, I chose building resilience because when I was thinking about this speech, I was telling myself, OK, you're not going to talk about the pandemic. And of course, we all know what that does, right? That's all you can think about.
But really, acknowledging that this pandemic has brought so much hurt and so much trauma, out of that I really saw my classmates building resilience, staying the course. They did that when physical labs were shut down. They did that when research projects were put on hold indefinitely. They did that when international travel and field research was canceled. They pivoted and they stayed the course.
I saw my classmates also building resilience when we couldn't meet in person, when we went from sharing offices in Savage to basically meeting on a Zoom screen, meeting with our mentors, our friends, our colleagues, our classmates, this big on a computer screen. But they really innervated. They created community in virtual spaces. Amid all kinds of difficulty and adversity, we sought and found ways to thrive and inched forward, and that's why we're here today.
So as we say goodbye to DNS, to Cornell, to Ithaca, for now, remember that we're not only graduating with stronger skills in research. We're not only graduating with stronger knowledge of nutritional science, and not only graduating with stronger legs from walking up and down those hills all these years.
[LAUGHTER]
We're also graduating stronger and more resilient for whatever challenges lie forward. More school, a job, whatever life brings or throws at you. Oh, and while I'm up here, can anyone tell me how to not get lost in MVR?
[LAUGHTER]
I'm asking for a friend.
[LAUGHTER]
Have a gorgeous day.
[APPLAUSE]
PATRICIA ANN CASSANO: Thank you, Yuuki.
SPEAKER 1: One of the greatest joys of being a faculty member is to celebrate in the success of our students, and Sam and Yuuki are two examples of the incredible class and talent in the class of 2023. So it is my pleasure to start the presentation of our undergraduates.
[READING NAMES]
SPEAKER 2: [LAUGHS] OK. I feel like this is about to be a whole thing. OK.
[SHOUTING]
I'm not-- I didn't mean to start anything. All right. Debra "Ogun Rebead--" oh, no, no. We doing this right. We doing this right. Y'all paid too much in tuition. All right.
[LAUGHTER]
[READING NAMES]
Everyone's getting their pictures. I will stall if necessary.
[LAUGHTER]
All right.
[READING NAMES]
[INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHS]
[READING NAMES]
The suspense.
[LAUGHTER]
[READING NAMES]
Whoever was here last year knows I take this pitcher thing seriously, so-- all right.
[READING NAMES]
You helped me so much. [LAUGHS]
[READING NAMES]
So I want us to get real loud for this last candidate that I'm going to call across for the undergrads.
[READING NAME]
So I'm going to have us properly close out, but I'm going to wait till Joey sits because we're going to make some noise. Like, I want us-- they need to hear us out in Cayuga Heights. I want them hearing us in Syracuse.
[LAUGHTER]
I'm going to ask all now undergraduates, the Class of 2023, to please stand.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
I need parents on their feet. I need friends on their feet. Too many hours studying. Too many Target runs. We're celebrating Class of 2023 the right way. You all did it.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
We are so incredibly proud of you. Thank you, Class of 2023, for setting the tone for what it's like to survive and thrive in a pandemic and be excellent. It was my absolute pleasure teaching and mentoring many of you. And please know on behalf of all the faculty, we will never, ever forget this amazing class. Thank you so much, and congratulations.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
MARLA LUJAN: Wonderful. So next up, it is my sincere pleasure to begin our presentation of those graduating with advanced degrees, beginning with the master of science, which represents attainment of advanced knowledge in a chosen discipline or professional field of study. Faculty mentors of our graduating MS students, please join us on stage.
Our first graduate, Derek Lee. Thesis title, "Smooth Muscle Cell-Derived CXCL12 Directs Macrophage Accrual and Sympathetic Innervation to Control Thermogenic Adipose Tissue." His chair is Dr. Daniel Berry.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Wait. Our next graduate, Muying Li. Thesis title, "App-Based Infrastructure Tool for Continuous Monitoring in Nutrition Research." Chair, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Alyse Mizia, "Effects of Self-Weighing on Health Locus of Control." Chairs, Dr. David Levitsky and Dr. Laura Bellows.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Mochammad Rizal, thesis title, "Correlates of Anemia and its Association with Dietary Diversity Among Adolescents Aged 15 to 19 in India." Chair, Dr. Saurabh Mehta.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Next up is Hilary Zhang, my favorite. "Geographical Variations in Polycystic Ovarian Morphology in India and US-Based Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome." Chair is me.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Next, we have our presentation of those graduating with a doctorate of philosophy. The doctoral degree is the highest academic level of achievement in a chosen field of study based on an intensive and original contribution of new knowledge to the field. Faculty mentors of our graduating doctoral students, please join us on stage.
Great. So first stop, Dorothy Kim Superdock. Dissertation title, "Interactions Between AMY1, Carbohydrate Intake, and Oral and Gut Microbes: Implications for Precision Nutrition and Health." Chair, Dr. Angela Poole.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Katherine Baker. Dissertation title, "Engaging Food Retailers to Improve Nutrient-Dense Food Access and Sustainability Capacity for Marginalized Groups in Residential Urban Food Environments." Chair, Dr. Roger Figueroa.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Great. Felicia Setiono. Dissertation title, "US Adolescent Food Purchasing Behavior in Urban Settings and Implications for Future Interventions." Chair, Dr. Tashara Leak.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
[APPLAUSE]
Samira Rose Ortiz, dissertation title, "Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Erythritol Utilization and Synthesis in Mammals." Chair, Dr. Martha Field.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Kendra Tiani. Dissertation title, "Etiology of Folate-Mediated One-Carbon Metabolism: Associated Pathologies." Chair, Dr. Martha Field.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Yuuki Nakayachi, dissertation title, "Collaboration in Public Health Coalitions: The Role of Coordinators, Ethics, and Relationships." Chair, Dr. David Pelletier.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Yay! [INAUDIBLE] We're going to [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHS] OK.
Sri Lakshmi Sravani Devarakonda. Dissertation title, "Examining the Impact of Salivary Amylase and Carbohydrate Intake on Gut Microbes and Host Metabolism and its Implications in Precision Nutrition." Chair, Dr. Angela Poole. That's the sweetest thing.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
[INAUDIBLE] It's so good to see you again. Oh, I'll see you out there then. I'm so proud of you.
[AUDIENCE OOHING]
[LAUGHS]
She's taking pictures. Heesoo Jeong. Dissertation title, "Metabolic and Proteomic Changes Promoting Survival of Anchorage-Independent Breast Cancer Cells." Chair, Dr. Nate Vacanti.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Whoo-hoo! Sinwoo Hwang. Dissertation title, "Impaired Mitochondrial Metabolism in Inflammation and Cell Death." Chair, Dr. Martha Field. And I--
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
[LAUGHS] And so I think that's called a hat trick, right? Right? Fellow Canadians, that's called a hat trick. Way to go. Samantha Lee Huey. Dissertation title, "Nutrition Gut Microbiota and Immune Response Among Children in Urban Slums of Mumbai." Chair, Dr. Saurabh Mehta.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Whoo!
And lastly, we have Camille Elise Jones. Dissertation title, "Vitamin A Status, Anemia, and Health Outcomes in Women and Children in Low-Resource Settings." Chair, Dr. Saurabh Mehta.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Whoo-hoo! [INAUDIBLE]
AUDIENCE: You go, girl!
[LAUGHS]
MARLA LUJAN: Whoo-hoo! Wonderful. We'll have Camille join her peers. And what we'll do is we will have all of our graduates with advanced degrees stand to be recognized. Awesome. Let's-- congratulations.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
Master of science, doctors of philosophy, division of nutritional sciences. Whoo! Whoo! Yeah, I agree. Get on your feet. Incredible.
PATRICIA ANN CASSANO: Oh, that was so exciting. Congratulations to all of you. I'd like to extend an invitation to all our newly minted graduates and those in the audience to join us in singing Cornell's alma mater, which you will find on the back of your program.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ALL: (SINGING) Far above Cayuga's waters with its waves of blue stands our noble Alma Mater, glorious to view. Lift the chorus, speed it onward, loud her praises tell. Hail to thee, our Alma Mater! Hail, all hail Cornell! Far above the busy humming of the bustling town, reared against the arch of Heaven, looks she proudly down. Lift the chorus, speed it onward, loud her praises tell. Hail to thee, our Alma Mater! Hail, all hail Cornell!
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
MARLA LUJAN: Wonderful. Close? OK. So in closing, I would like to thank you all for-- today for attending our celebration and sharing in this joyous occasion. We the faculty are especially grateful to our administrative support team and our onsite volunteers for all their efforts in coordinating today's festivities. Please join me in acknowledging their support.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
I kindly ask that all guests wait in their seats for the students and faculty to process out of the hall before joining us on the plaza for a reception. All graduates, please stand one last time.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
I am thrilled to present to you the Division of Nutritional Sciences and the Graduate Field of Nutrition's Graduating Class of 2023. Congratulations.
[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]
[INAUDIBLE]
[MUSIC PLAYING]