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Commencement Program

Welcome and Introductions
Dr. Beth Maloch, Senior Associate Dean and Elizabeth Shatto Massey Endowed Chair in Education

Photo of Beth Maloch

Dean’s Remarks
Dr. Charles Martinez, Jr., Dean of the College of Education

Charles Martinez

Undergraduate Student Speaker
Angelina Renee Espinoza, B.S., Athletic Training

Graduate Student Speaker
Gerardo Sanchez Gutierrez, Ph.D., STEM Education

Guest Speaker
Derrick Johnson, Former All-American Texas Longhorn, Founder, Defend the Dream Foundation

Derrick Johnson

Doctoral and Master’s Graduate Recognition
Dr. Alexandra Loukas, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies

Photo of Alex Loukas

Undergraduate Recognition
Richard Hogeda, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

Photo of Richard Hogeda

Conferring of Degrees
Dr. Charles Martinez, Jr., Dean of the College of Education

Charles Martinez

Schedule

7:00 AM – Student Check-in Begins

7:00 AM – Doors Open for Guests

8:00 AM – Ceremony Begins

Candidates

Doctoral

Curriculum and Instruction

Educational Leadership and Policy

Educational Psychology

Health Behavior and Health Education

Kinesiology

Special Education

STEM Education

Masters

Curriculum and Instruction

Educational Leadership and Policy

Educational Psychology

Health Behavior and Health Education

Kinesiology

Special Education

STEM Education

Bachelors

Education/Applied Learning and Development

Athletic Training

Kinesiology and Health

Guest Speakers

Derrick Johnson

Guest Speaker
Derrick Johnson 

Derrick Johnson is a former All-American Texas Longhorn linebacker who was drafted 15th of the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.  

A native of Waco, Texas, he was privileged to play for Mack Brown while at UT, where he won the Bronko Nagurski Award, the Dick Butkus Award and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. 

In 13 seasons with the Chiefs, Derrick earned four Pro Bowls and two All-Pro selections and went on to become the Kansas City Chiefs’ all-time leading tackler in franchise history.  

He was inducted into the UT Hall of Honor in 2019 and has been selected to 5 Hall of Fames overall. Most recently, the College Football Hall of Fame. 

In 2013 Derrick founded a non-profit organization called Defend the Dream Foundation. Since then he has been focused on fulfilling his mission to provide reading resources to low-income and inner-city youth in order to help them reach their full potential.  

Graduate Student Speaker
Gerardo Sanchez Gutierrez, Ph.D., STEM Education

A native of Rio Grande City, Texas, Gerardo earned a bachelor of science in biology from the University of Texas Pan-American and a master of science in biology from the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley.   

While working on his doctorate in STEM Education, Gerardo has focused his research on community engagement, seeking to further understand the role that caregivers play in facilitating STEM learning for their children. He has worked closely with Round Rock ISD to develop and conduct family STEM nights in several elementary schools, work that has provided the foundation for his dissertation: Construyendo puentes entre comunidades y escuelas (Building Bridges Between Communities and Schools), which examines how families provide excellent learning opportunities for their children, building the basis through which we can learn more about equitable learning through their interactions.   

After graduating, Dr. Gutierrez will start work as a full-time faculty member in the biology department at Austin Community College this fall where he looks forward to helping his students launch their academic careers.   

Undergraduate Student Speaker
Angelina Renee Espinoza, B.S., Athletic Training

Angelina Espinoza is a first-generation student from Houston, Texas who has always had a passion for athletics. While here on the Forty Acres, Angelina has continued to pursue her dreams. Her collegiate experience is impressive and includes teaching high school students at Round Rock ISD and during the Texas Athletics Sports Medicine Camp, working for Texas Athletics and even includes a position with Austin FC.  

Angelina has been active in the Longhorn Athletic Training Student Association, serving as a mentor to younger students and ultimately becoming the organization’s president.  

This year, in recognition of her leadership, Angelina received the Tina Bonci Excellence in Athletic Training and the Longhorn Athletic Training Student Association Inspiration Award. After graduating, Angelina plans to move to Miami to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Angelina hopes to return to the community that helped shape who she is and utilize her experience both as an athletic trainer and physical therapist for collegiate athletes.