Announcing the 2023 Commencement Speakers for Saint Mary’s College of California
Join us for events on campus May 19–21. Hear Commencement addresses from Kalina Bryant, marketing executive and pioneer for people of color in tech, and Karina Walters, scholar and educator.
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Commencement weekend for Saint Mary’s College of California will begin with Commencement Liturgy on Friday, May 19, at 5 p.m. in the UCU Pavilion. The Undergraduate Commencement ceremony is scheduled on Saturday, May 20, at 9 a.m., and the Graduate and Professional Studies Commencement ceremony is scheduled on Sunday, May 21, at 9 a.m. Both ceremonies will take place at Saint Mary’s Stadium. Commencement is an important and cherished day for members of any higher education institution. It is the culmination of several years of hard work, determination, and perseverance for our students, and also a day of joy and exuberance for families and friends of our graduates. We also celebrate our long-standing traditions and strive to send our graduates out into the world emboldened by our Saint Mary’s mission and values. Knowing that a Commencement speaker is a critical component of a successful celebration, we are excited to announce our Undergraduate and Graduate speakers! Image
Kalina Bryant ’14, whom we’ve written about previously for our online NewsCenter, is a seasoned marketing and revenue leader in enterprise technology. A 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 Honoree, community curator, author, and public speaker, Kalina has helped companies like Adobe (Formerly Marketo), Anaplan, Talkdesk, Signifyd, and Asana. Among her many achievements in the technology sector, Kalina is the founder of UnapologeTECH, a professional training and coaching firm dedicated to bettering corporations’ customer growth engine, building up diverse talent, and creating inclusive communities at scale. Most recently, she was included by the BAM agency among its 101 Black Tech Titans for 2023. The committee was particularly inspired by Kalina’s self-described focus on “building communities that empower clients to be lifelong advocates and passionate about driving diversity, inclusion and equity in corporations,” and the example she is setting out in the world of what Saint Mary’s College alumni can and will do. |
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On the Graduate and Professional Studies side, we’re proud to introduce Karina L. Walters, PhD, as our Commencement speaker. Dr. Walters is a renowned scholar and educator with expertise in behavioral and multi-level health interventions in culture, traumatic stress and health, and historical and intergenerational trauma. She will soon become the Director of the Tribal Health Research Office at the National Institutes of Health. The committee was excited about the timeliness and importance of her research, particularly in our post-pandemic world, and its tangible connection to advocating for and with tribal communities. |
Learn more about our two Commencement speakers! |
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It will be an honor and pleasure to host these two esteemed speakers for our Commencement ceremonies, and a wonderful opportunity for our graduating students and their families to hear from them. Undoubtedly, they will inspire and connect well with our students and others in the audience. We can all look forward to their remarks next month! For additional details on next month’s Commencement activities, be sure to visit the event website. I wish to thank the other members of our Commencement Speakers Committee for their diligent work: 2023 Saint Mary’s Commencement Speakers Committee |
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Sincerely, Aeleah Soine Chair, Commencement Speakers Committee Vice Provost, Academic Success |