The Class of 2023

JAI'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

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

B.A. Business Administration/Marketing

Evan Campbell seems to have an instinctive facility for keeping track of business.

SALESE CLARK, '23

B.A. Business Administration/Marketing

Cello brought solace to a young Salese Clark. UW Tacoma transformed her.

DEANN 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

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

Master of Nursing

Juana Gallegos had an idea to help dementia patients. Her idea landed her an audience with a queen.

SAIMA 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

B.S. Biomedical Sciences

Angel Reddy's interest in science and travel opened doors for her both on and off campus.

MARTIN SHEHATA, '23

B.A. Business Administration/Marketing

Martin Shehata balances his education and his career as a professional soccer player.

TEIYA 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

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

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

Ed.D. Educational Leadership

One of the Muckleshoot cohort, Joannie Suina is intent on restoring balance to the world.

JENNIFER VASILEZ, '23

Ed.D. Educational Leadership

JULIE 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

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

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.