2021: UMass Dartmouth announces scholar speakers for 2021 Commencement Weekend

(Left to Proper): LaToya Rene Robertson (’21), Kevin Joseph Burchill (J.D. ’21), Maria Valentina Roa (’21), Kristine C. Goodwin (J.D. ’20), and Mary Ellen Loomis (’20)
UMass Dartmouth has announced the student speakers for Graduation Weekend. On June 11 and 12, the College will celebrate the Course of 2020 and 2021 in-particular person and on campus.
The timetable for the weekend is as follows:
Friday, June 11, 2021
- Law 2020 & 2021 Ceremony – 8 a.m. arrival – 9 to 10:30 a.m. ceremony
- 2020 Ceremony (All undergraduate and graduate students) – 2 p.m. arrival – 3 to 4:30 p.m. ceremony.
Saturday, June 12, 2021
- 2021 Ceremony I (Charlton Higher education of Organization, University of Engineering, University for Maritime Science & Technologies) – 8 a.m. arrival – 9 to 10:30 a.m. ceremony
- 2021 Ceremony II (Higher education of Arts & Sciences, College or university of Nursing & Health and fitness Sciences, School of Visible & Accomplishing Arts) – 2 p.m. arrival – 3 to 4:30 p.m. ceremony.
All functions are rain or shine and will acquire spot on the Cressy Football Discipline at the Key Campus. Just about every graduate can invite up to 6 friends. Although overall health and protection protocols in the Commonwealth have calm, the University encourages anyone to put on a mask – in particular if unvaccinated.
The scholar speakers are as follows:
Course of 2020 Graduation Ceremony
Mary Ellen Loomis
Mary Ellen Loomis (’20) of Minor Compton, Rhode Island works as a subcontractor for the Section of Defense exclusively performing with the United States Air Drive and Area Drive as a application engineer and small business analyst. Owning graduated from the Charlton School of Business where by she earned a triple Bachelor of Science in Management Information and facts Systems, Operation Administration, and Accounting she now attends Northeastern College pursuing a dual master’s diploma in cybersecurity and analytics. She is a member of the Nationwide Honors Modern society, a Rhode Island Scholar, and a member of the Beta Alpha Psi. Mary Ellen has usually been impressed by and looks up to her father, who is a Chief Engineer and Venture Manager, for his challenging operate, extreme perseverance, and commitment which has inspired her to under no circumstances give up on her goals. Mary Ellen’s ambition to do the job together with the army stems from her father’s prior support in the Navy. UMass Dartmouth has authorized Mary Ellen to excel both equally in and exterior the classroom to go after her adore of engineering and coding with organization. Her school advisors and professors saved her pushed and constantly supported her ambition. Mary Ellen options to carry on her function with the navy and options to go after her Ph.D. at Northeastern College in Cybersecurity.
UMass Legislation Course of 2020 and 2021 Commencement Ceremony
Kristine C. Goodwin (’20)
Kristine C. Goodwin (J.D. ’20) has worked for over twenty several years as a senior government in greater education and learning, most lately as a vice president for college student affairs. Getting passed the bar examination in Oct, she was sworn into the Massachusetts Bar in January 2021. Considering the fact that that time, she has been operating as an affiliate lawyer with Justice Bridge Lawful Center—UMass Law’s incubator program—representing reduced-to-reasonable-income purchasers out of the Boston office and coordinating the practice’s Title IX providers. Whilst in legislation university, Kristine finished independent legal investigation on substitute/acceptable dispute resolution (ADR) and classes at Harvard Legislation School’s Method on Negotiation (PON). She also volunteered with the NAACP. In addition to remaining an legal professional, Kristine is a mediator, place of work investigator, ombudsperson, trainer, and conflict/negotiation mentor. She owns and operates GoodWin Resolutions, LLC, a legal consulting, and law organization fully commited to equal opportunity in work and training. Kristine and her spouse, Bruce, have three grownup sons and a person daughter-in-law, and an adopted rescue pet named Boots. Kristine gained a B.A. from Westfield State College and a M.Ed. from UMass Lowell right before graduating magna cum laude from the UMass School of Regulation in 2020.
Kevin Joseph Burchill (’21)
Kevin Joseph Burchill (J.D. ’21) is from West Tisbury, Massachusetts with deep family members roots in New Bedford. Kevin went to Martha’s Winery Regional Superior College, received a Bachelor of Arts from The George Washington University in Global Affairs and Security Policy, and is ending his educational profession at UMass Law as a Public Fascination Legislation Fellow. Kevin has worked for the Bristol County and Cape & Island’s District Attorney’s Offices, helping the public by means of the arduous court system. Via his time in the Human Legal rights at Home Clinic, under the mentorship of Professor Margaret B. Drew, Kevin honed his empathetic approach to exercise circumstances in the probate and household court docket, with a target on advocating for survivors of domestic violence. He also experienced the privilege of getting Professor Gina L. DeRossi’s Instructing Assistant and took pride in mentoring college students in oral advocacy and scenario management abilities as it relates to relatives legislation. Kevin is sitting for the Massachusetts Bar in July and hopes to function in spouse and children law and domestic violence advocacy in any capability that permits him to continue his job devoted to becoming of services to other folks. Kevin is the son of Jane E. Burchill and the late Kevin R. Burchill, J.D. (Suffolk, ’92). He dedicates his speech to the memory of his father, who insisted that Kevin “Smarten Up and Be Good,” and to his mother, whose persistence and undying assist have enabled him to thrive.
Course of 2021 Ceremony I
Maria Valentina Roa
Maria Valentina Roa (’21) was born and elevated in Colombia. Through the earlier four several years, Maria majored in Business Administration and Leadership for her undergraduate diploma and a Learn of Enterprise Administration in Small business Analytics. Maria firmly believes that mindset is everything and working tricky can consider you significantly in reaching your goals. She commenced her journey in instruction for the reason that of a enthusiasm she had for revolutionary management and entrepreneurship. Maria is at this time beginning her second Master’s diploma at Brown College. UMass Dartmouth opened doors and shaped her into the specialist she is today. The College was also the spot where she found that her particular happiness is in the support of helping other folks. She is grateful for all the memories around the previous four many years and for her moms and dads, which she owes all the things for their sacrifice to assist her reach her goals.
Class of 2021 Ceremony II
LaToya Rene Robertson
LaToya Rene Robertson (’21) is a North Carolina indigenous with a enthusiasm for men and women and progress. All through her time at UMass Dartmouth, she co-designed the staple campus cultural occasion Unity Fest, was a critical participant in the first on-campus food pantry which is now recognised as Arnie’s Cabinet, and led her group to win the Corsair Olympics. LaToya has acquired multiple UMassD fellowships, which includes the Academic Leadership and Insurance policies fellowship and the Services-Discovering Fellowship. Armed with the gift of text, and ambition, LaToya landed a TED Speak though pursuing her diploma which has amassed a lot more than 100,000 sights. She also has contributed to various guides and offered at conferences together with Hawai’i International Conference on Education. LaToya’s persistence and curiosity support her mission to assistance make cultural connections and establish sources for the community at significant. Her target is to turn into a US Senator. Till that takes place, she options to build coaching and insurance policies for organizations and schools to construct those people connections to reduce a lot of of the obstacles that at the time posed a obstacle to her. LaToya has made a consistent work to create connections and help individuals close to her and appears to be like forward to employing her presents (and diploma) to be the alter she needs to see in the entire world.
Find out a lot more about UMass Dartmouth’s Commencement Weekend on our Graduation web-site.





























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