Most graduating seniors will have submitted final assignments and finished exams just days before their commencement, but the learning isn鈥檛 over.
FOR ALL FACULTY
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Croughan is encouraging faculty to attend at least one of the undergraduate ceremonies.
That鈥檚 the message from a few of the academics with big hearts for undergraduates who, as faculty speakers, will address the graduating class at the five undergraduate ceremonies at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, June 16 to 18.
Kristin Kiesel, an associate professor of teaching in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, or CA&ES, is one of the three speakers Dateline connected with about their assignment.
鈥楽tay curious and open-minded鈥
Kiesel said she wants to encourage graduates to 鈥渟tay curious and open-minded, embrace failures and celebrate successes when continuing to chase their dreams.
![Kristin Kiesel headshot, 澳门六合彩开奖结果走势图 faculty](/sites/default/files/styles/sf_small_width/public/media/images/kristin-kiesel-250.jpg?itok=hU7g1yR2)
鈥淒espite still having more questions than answers, I believe with all my heart that practicing engaged inclusivity in education, the joy of learning with and from each other are crucial to finding much-needed solutions to the pressing problems of our time,鈥 she said in an email interview. She will speak at the 9 a.m. ceremony on Saturday, June 17.
Kiesel is one of the inaugural and the architect of her department鈥檚 new program, which exposes students to research early on and creates a greater sense of belonging.
She said her speech preparation is inspired by her experience serving undergraduates from diverse backgrounds and identities during these past years. 鈥淭heir openly shared stories, resilience and eagerness to learn allowed me to find new meaning and keeps reminding me how deeply I care about them and want them to succeed,鈥 she added.
鈥極utstanding educators鈥
![Amber Boydstun headshot, 澳门六合彩开奖结果走势图 faculty](/sites/default/files/styles/sf_medium_width/public/media/images/amber-boydstun2-250.jpg?itok=-HQ0fOQd)
![Gwen Arnold headshot, 澳门六合彩开奖结果走势图 faculty](/sites/default/files/media/images/gwen-arnold2-250.jpg)
![Stephen Robinson headshot, 澳门六合彩开奖结果走势图 faculty](/sites/default/files/media/images/stephen-robinson2-250.jpg)
![Steven Luck headshot, 澳门六合彩开奖结果走势图 faculty](/sites/default/files/media/images/steven-luck-250.jpg)
Other faculty speakers are:
- 2 p.m. Friday, June 16 鈥 Amber Boydstun, professor and director of graduate studies for the Department of Political Science in the College of Letters and Science
- 2 p.m. Saturday, June 17 鈥 Gwen Arnold, associate professor of environmental science and policy in CA&ES
- 9 a.m. Sunday, June 18 鈥 Stephen Robinson, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering
- 2 p.m. Sunday, June 18 鈥 Steven Luck, distinguished professor of psychology in LS and a core faculty member at the Center for Mind and Brain
Chancellor Gary S. May invited the faculty members to speak at commencement. The commencement advisory committee recommended them from among a list of about 30 faculty members identified as 鈥渙utstanding educators鈥 by college leaders.
鈥極ne of the joys of my life鈥
Luck said he plans to focus his remarks on getting the students to think about how 澳门六合彩开奖结果走势图 has taught them how to learn, which is a skill they will use for the rest of their lives.
鈥淲orking with undergraduate students is one of the joys of my life,鈥 he said when asked how they were part of this academic career.
Luck teaches the introductory psychology course to approximately 800 students every fall. 鈥淚 love to be the one to introduce my field to a large number of students,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 just love their energy.鈥
About 10 years ago Luck co-founded , an undergraduate research program designed to get students into labs during their first or second year. There are currently 29 students and 50 faculty labs in the program. Luck said he has about 15 students working in his own lab each year and holds a weekly undergraduate-only meeting so that he can spend quality time with them.
Simultaneous truths
Excited about the opportunity to speak at commencement, Boydstun said it has been a challenge to figure out what to say. 鈥淭here are so many things I鈥檇 like to share with our graduating students, so many hard-learned lessons I鈥檇 like to pass on to them,鈥 she said.
But Boydstun has settled on the most important thing she鈥檚 learned: the concept of simultaneous truths. 鈥淥ften in life, there are two truths that coexist but that seem to be in tension with each other,鈥 she said. 鈥淯nderstanding and recognizing the concept of simultaneous truths can help us try to make room in our minds for the fact that both things can be true at the same time.鈥
Boydstun, who researches the interaction between media and politics and how different media portrayals of the same policy issue can lead citizens and policymakers to respond in different ways, offered an example.
鈥淲hen we think of climate change, political polarization, ongoing violence, the world can seem really bleak,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd it is simultaneously true that we are living in one of the most exciting and promising times in human history, with astounding scientific breakthroughs and the ability to travel to places and connect with people in other parts of the world in ways that previous generations could only dream of.鈥
Boydstun鈥檚 conclusion should challenge and inspire graduating students. 鈥淏oth of those things are true at the same time: Our world seems really bleak, and our world is amazing,鈥 she said.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg will speak by way of a recorded video to all five undergraduate ceremonies, and each ceremony will hear from a member of the graduating class.
Media Resources
Media Contact:
- Julia Ann Easley, News and Media Relations, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu, 530-219-4545