The Class of 2023
In 2023, we are celebrating the incredible achievements of almost 1,900 newly-minted UW degree holders.
On June 9, 2023, UW Tacoma celebrated it's 34th annual Commencement at the Tacoma Dome. Here are a few facts and figures to put the event into perspective. Be sure to scroll down to read profiles of some of the amazing members of the Class of 2023.
- We were back in the Tacoma Dome after a three-year absence
- It was the largest single ceremony in UW Tacoma history
- We hosted nearly 1,400 graduates and 14,000 guests
- More than 250 staff and faculty supported the ceremony on the day
- 96% of graduates are Washington residents who come from three counties (Pierce, King and Thurston)
- 58% of spring/summer graduates are students of color
- 54% are the first in their family to attend college
- 6.5% are serving or have served in the military, and 17% are military-connected (including military dependents)
Medals of Excellence
Learn more about the 2023 UW President's Medalist from UW Tacoma, Samantha Smith, '23, B.A. Sustainable Urban Development/Law & Policy; and the recipients of the 2023 UW Tacoma Chancellor's Medals, Salese Clark, B.A. Business Administration/Marketing; and Exita Lealofi, B.A. Ethnic, Gender & Labor Studies.
JAI'SHON BERRY, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleJAI'SHON BERRY, '23
B.A. Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences
Jai'Shon Berry took his mother's words to heart: renew your commitment every single day and work hard for it. As ASUWT President, Berry, in his own words, “fell in love with the community at UW Tacoma.”
CHASTITY BRYANT, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleCHASTITY BRYANT, '23
M.S. Accounting
As she juggled child-rearing, working two jobs and multiple extracurricular activities, Chastity Bryant was constantly boosted by love and support from her family and mother.
EVAN CAMPBELL, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleEVAN CAMPBELL, '23
B.A. Business Administration/Marketing
Evan Campbell seems to have an instinctive facility for keeping track of business.
SALESE CLARK, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleSALESE CLARK, '23
B.A. Business Administration/Marketing
Cello brought solace to a young Salese Clark. UW Tacoma transformed her.
DEANN DILLON, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleDEANN DILLON, '23
Ed.D. Educational Leadership
DeAnn Dillon is a mom, a teacher, an auntie, a Native American, a legislative aide, and now a doctor. She is also a giver of energy.
PHILLIP DONTJE, '23
arrow_drop_down_circlePHILLIP DONTJE, '23
B.S. Mathematics
When not delving into algebraic topology, Army veteran Phillip Dontje is raising his children and preparing for his upcoming Ph.D. studies.
JUANA GALLEGOS, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleJUANA GALLEGOS, '23
Master of Nursing
Juana Gallegos had an idea to help dementia patients. Her idea landed her an audience with a queen.
SAIMA GHAFOOR, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleSAIMA GHAFOOR, '23
B.A. Healthcare Leadership
College is at the center of life for the family of Pakistani-native Saima Ghafoor. Her husband has a UW Tacoma degree and is about to start working on another, and their oldest son is also a Husky.
MONA HALCOMB, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleMONA HALCOMB, '23
Ed.D. Educational Leadership
After years and decades of being told she was in the wrong place, Mona Halcomb is just getting started.
DEBBIE HALES, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleDEBBIE HALES, '23
Ed.D. Educational Leadership
Support from the circle of students in the Muckleshoot Cohort Ed.D. program is a key element that got Indigenous ally Debbie Hales through the rigors of her doctoral studies.
EILEEN JIMENEZ, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleEILEEN JIMENEZ, '23
Ed.D. Educational Leadership
Eileen Jimenez embodies the spirits of her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and proudly aspires to be, like them, a persona educada.
MERISA JONES, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleMERISA JONES, '23
Ed.D. Educational Leadership
Carrying on the traditions of her education-oriented family, Marisa Jones is fulfilling her sacred obligations to future generations.
NYAH LAURETA, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleNYAH LAURETA, '23
B.S. Biomedical Sciences
Inspired by her mother, Nyah Laureta is well on her way to her dream of becoming a physician.
EXITA LEALOFI, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleEXITA LEALOFI, '23
B.A. Ethnic, Gender & Labor Studies
Exita Lealofi's journey took her from American Samoa to UW Tacoma. The Global Honors scholar served as a Pack Advisor and as ASUWT's Director of University Affairs.
IVAN LIEVANOS, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleIVAN LIEVANOS, '23
B.A. Urban Studies
B.S. Urban Design
Ivan Lievanos used his experience in the National Guard to help veteran-connected students succeed in college, and to smooth his own path toward his two degrees.
AMY MAHARAJ, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleAMY MAHARAJ, '23
Ed.D. Educational Leadership
Born in Fiji, Amy Maharaj lived through a coup on the island. She sat down to record an episode of Paw'd Defiance, the UW Tacoma podcast. She talks about her experience in the Ed.D. program's Muckleshoot Cohort.
ADA MCDANIEL, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleADA MCDANIEL, '23
Ed.D. Educational Leadership
Ada McDaniel is part of the inaugural Muckleshoot Cohort and, when she graduates in June, will be the first person in her family to earn a doctoral degree.
DAVID PAVENKO, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleDAVID PAVENKO, '23
B.S. Electrical Engineering
David Pavenko used money he earned from an internship to see first-hand the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War. His experience was so inspiring and concerning that he is doing it again.
ANGEL REDDY, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleANGEL REDDY, '23
B.S. Biomedical Sciences
Angel Reddy's interest in science and travel opened doors for her both on and off campus.
MARTIN SHEHATA, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleMARTIN SHEHATA, '23
B.A. Business Administration/Marketing
Martin Shehata balances his education and his career as a professional soccer player.
TEIYA SHIMOMURA, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleTEIYA SHIMOMURA, '23
B.A. Psychology
Teiya Shimomura's experience in the classroom connected her to a local historian and an opportunity.
DANI SMALL, '07, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleDANI SMALL, '07, '23
Master of Social Work
First-gen alumna Dani Small wants to bring the values she defined through both her undergrad and grad experiences at UW Tacoma into the corporate world.
SAMANTHA SMITH, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleSAMANTHA SMITH, '23
B.A. Law & Policy/Sustainable Urban Development
Samantha Smith decided now was the right time and UW Tacoma was the right place to study sustainable urban development.
JOANNIE SUINA, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleJOANNIE SUINA, '23
Ed.D. Educational Leadership
One of the Muckleshoot cohort, Joannie Suina is intent on restoring balance to the world.
JENNIFER VASILEZ, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleJULIE VENEZIO, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleJULIE VENEZIO, '23
B.A. Psychology
Julie Venezio credits career and academic advisors for her success as a student and as inspirations for her future career plans.
PARIS WEBER, '23
arrow_drop_down_circlePARIS WEBER, '23
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
In UW Tacoma's mechanical engineering program, Paris Weber found the intimate class size and connection to faculty she was seeking.
RONEE K WOPSOCK, '23
arrow_drop_down_circleRONEE K WOPSOCK, '23
Ed.D. Educational Leadership
Ronee K Wopsock Pawwinnee, the Ute Indian Tribe Education Director, is one of the Muckleshoot Cohort in UW Tacoma's Educational Doctorate program. She recorded an episode of Paw'd Defiance, the UW Tacoma podcast.