Commencement

2023 Commencement

Monday, May 15, 2023
3:00 p.m.
Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center
300 South Broad Street, Philadelphia

Additional information about our in-person commencement ceremony will be posted here as it becomes available, so please check back often.

Livestream:

The livestream of the event can be viewed here.

Tickets are required and graduating students should refer to the email they received from the Office of Academic Affairs on how to request them.

Program 

A pdf of the program is available for download here.

Processional 

Faculty and Graduates
(Music by Timberdale Brass and Bagpipes FAO)

Faculty Marshal

Adriana Perez, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN
Anthony Buividas Term Chair in Gerontology
Associate Professor of Nursing

Student Marshals

BSN: Loretta A. Sernekos, PhD, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
MSN: Cynthia Schumus, MSN, CRNP
DNP: Dawn Bent, DNP, MSN, CRNA
PhD: Sarah Kagan, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, AOCN, GCNS-BC

Master of Ceremonies

George Demiris, PhD, FACMI
Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor
Mary Alice Bennett University Professor

Welcoming Remarks

Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor and Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing

Introduction of Speaker 

Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN

Graduation Address

Richard Besser, MD
President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Presentation of Student Awards (University and School Awards)

George Demiris, PhD, FACMI

BSN Student Address

John Palmer, Nu’23

Presentation of BSN Candidates for Degrees

Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
Julie Sochalski, PhD, RN, FAAN
Associate Dean for Academic Programs

Pinning of BSN Students:
Holly Harner, PhD, MBA, MPH, RN, WHCNP-BC, FAAN
Dalmacio Dennis Flores, PhD, ACRN, FAAN

Presentation of MSN Candidates for Degrees

Master of Science in Nursing:
Julie Sochalski, PhD, RN, FAAN

DNP Student Address

April Nitkin, GRN’23

Presentation and Hooding of DNP Candidates for Degrees

Doctor of Nursing Practice:
Julie Sochalski, PhD, RN, FAAN

Presentation and Hooding of PhD Candidates for Degrees

Doctor of Philosophy:
Tanja V. E. Kral, PhD
Chair, Graduate Group in Nursing

Presentation of Alumni Certificates

Jodi Feinberg, Nu’15, MSN
President, Penn Nursing Alumni Board

Congratulations of Graduates 

Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN

Closing Remarks

George Demiris, PhD, FACMI

“The Red and the Blue”

Faculty, Graduates, and Guests

Recessional

Faculty, Graduates, and Guests
(Music by Timberdale Brass and Bagpipes FAO)