The Class of 2022
In 2022 we are celebrating thousands of UW Tacoma grads from 2020, 2021 and 2022.
(Image above: On all three campuses, ceremonial occasions like Commencement begin with the entrance of the University Mace. The mace was presented to the University on the occasion of its 100th anniversary in 1961 by the UW Alumni Association. Read more about the mace here.)
You can hear the sentiment echoed by faculty, staff and students throughout the UW Tacoma campus: we finally get to return to an in-person Commencement.
Colleges and universities across the country made amazing strides in virtual celebrations over the last two years, but nothing can replace the joy of physically walking across the stage, shaking the hand of a university leader, and soaking up the cheers and applause of loved ones and family members.
But constant throughout all the pandemic adjustments has been this: people getting UW Tacoma degrees are doing amazing things.
Click on the tiles immediately below to read about a selection of UW Tacoma graduates from 2020 and 2021.
And scroll down to read about a few amazing people from the Class of 2022.
CHANELLE ALLEN, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle CHANELLE ALLEN, '22
B.S. Information Technology
Chanelle Allen has faced challenges as a Black woman in STEM, but she is prepared to handle them. By offering her support to others, she becomes more deeply immersed in her chosen field. She know that she is getting in by giving back.
Read Chanelle's Story
LETICIA BARETTO, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle LETICIA BARETTO, '22
B.A. Urban Studies
Leticia Barreto overcame both her anxiety about public speaking and a pandemic-influenced isolation, and dove into campus life. She worked as a Pack Advisor and in the Teaching & Learning Center, and she served as the Urban Studies senator in student government.
Read Leticia's Story
JALEN BOUNTHONG, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle JALEN BOUNTHONG, '22
B.A. Business Administration
Jalen Bounthong's degree sets a high bar for his siblings to follow. A first-generation college student of Cambodian and Laotian heritage, he transformed from a shy freshman to a confident senior and hopes to use his new-found leadership skills to achieve business success.
Read Jalen's Story
KENDALL BURCH, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle KENDALL BURCH, '22
B.A. Spanish Language & Cultures
Kendall Burch had years of exposure to Spanish-speaking cultures and a turn of duty as a civil affairs medic in the U.S. Army. Now he dreams of becoming a medical doctor.
Read Kendall's Story
SELENA CALDERA, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle SELENA CALDERA, '22
B.A. Law & Policy
Selena Caldera is a military veteran, a political activist and labor organizer. For her, a law and policy degree and, soon, law school are a natural progression toward becoming a lawyer and fighting the injustices that she sees in the world.
Read Selena's Story
BENGISU CICEK, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle BENGISU CICEK, '22
B.A. Law & Policy
Bengisu Cicek, the 2022 UW Tacoma Chancellor's Medalist, dealt with a monstrous commute from Bellevue to UW Tacoma, and, along with everyone else, a pandemic. They didn't curb her desire to take part in campus life, as a writer for The Ledger, an officer with ASUWT and president of the Muslim Student Association. Read Bengisu's Story
ERIC COLON, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle ERIC COLON, '22
B.A. Ethnic, Gender & Labor Studies
Eric Colon expected to be a vehicle mechanic the rest of his life after his service in the U.S. Army, but an injury put a stop to that plan. He found a new way to get ahead and give back at UW Tacoma.
Read Eric's Story
MARYAM AL DARRAJI, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle MARYAM AL DARRAJI, '22
B.S. Biomedical Sciences
Maryam Al Darraji has a dream to become a surgeon, which has taken her from Iraq to Jordan to Kent to UW Tacoma. Her persistence has rubbed off on her mother, who will soon get her own college degree in early childhood education.
Read Maryam's Story
HEATHER FINCH, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle HEATHER FINCH, '22
B.S. Computer Science & Systems
Heather Finch turned her concern for animal welfare into a computer science degree. She hopes some day to play a role in creating technologies that can be used to replace live animal testing in scientific research.
Read Heather's Story
TILLY GADBAW, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle TILLY GADBAW, '22
B.A. Business Administration
Tilly Gadbaw was a military brat, moving more than six times in one particular year. COVIID made things even more complicated. Now she hopes to use her management degree to help others do their best.
Read Tilly's Story
ANDRE HENDERSON, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle ANDRE HENDERSON, '22
B.A. Social Welfare
Andre Henderson's life was teetering on the brink. But then the Navy veteran recalled his mother’s words urging higher education, and he took a path that turned his life around. Now the Governor's Student Civic Leadership Award-winner plans to go on to get a gradate degree in social work.
Read Andre's Story
CHANISE JACKSON, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle CHANISE JACKSON, '22
B.A. Law & Policy
Chanise Jackson has achieved her goal of a college degree four years after a medical diagnosis threatened to end her college career before it even began. Along the way, she has been named a Truman Scholar, a Bamford Fellow, and served as a senator in UW Tacoma student government.
Read Chanise's Story
ANDRE JIMENEZ, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle ANDRE JIMENEZ, '22
B.A. Law & Policy
Andre Jimenez, the outgoing ASUWT President, is all about the transformative impact of education. Once he started college, both his brother and his wife followed suit. Once he earns his master's degree from Princeton in public affairs, he may go on to law school, or he may take the dive into politics.
Read Andre's Story
KASHIRA JENKINS, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle KASHIRA JENKINS, '22
B.A. Social Welfare
Kashira Jenkins is willing to do the work to make a difference in social welfare policy. She has seen first-hand how lack of representation in the profession leads to biased decisions that affect families for generations.
Read Kashira's Story
KEVIN YUAN-JIE LIU, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle KEVIN YUAN-JIE LIU, '22
B.A. Politics, Philosophy & Economics
Kevin Yuan-Jie Liu thought he wanted to be a diplomat, but the more he learned the more he thought law school would be a better fit for his gaming interests and personal style. In the fall he will start on a full-tuition scholarship at University of Oregon School of Law.
Read Kevin's Story
MELISSA NUNEZ, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle MELISSA NUNEZ, '22
B.S. Nursing
Melissa Nunez is getting established in her career as a nurse, but the journey has been one with many detours. As a first-generation college student, she found many who are willing to help, but knowing what and who to ask could be difficult.
Read Melissa's Story
KRISTINA POGOSIAN, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle KRISTINA POGOSIAN, '22
B.A. Politics, Philosophy & Economics
Kristina Pogosian is soaring high. An Armenian American, she served as UW Student Regent in 2020-21. Before that, she was President of the TCC student government. She is heading to Armenia to work as a teacher for at least the next year.
Read Kristina's Story
DUSTIN RAY, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle DUSTIN RAY, '22
B.S. Computer Science & Systems
Dustin Ray is one of UW Tacoma's Commencement student speakers in 2022. In his talk, he will share how he gained his love and skill at math at UW Tacoma, and how he also gained a desire to harness the power of artificial intelligence for social good.
Read Dustin's Story
SPENCER TYSON, '22
arrow_drop_down_circle SPENCER TYSON, '22
B.A. Healthcare Leadership
Spencer Tyson went through a sea-change at UW Tacoma, shedding his “slacker” approach to high school, and diving deep into the need for systemic change in public health.
Read Spencer's Story
SARAH SUTTON (WILKINSON), '20
arrow_drop_down_circle SARAH SUTTON (WILKINSON), '20
Master of Social Work
Sarah Sutton (Wilkinson) got her degree in 2020, but Commencement that year was virtual-only. This year, she is walking across the stage, along with her husband, Josh Sutton, '21, and her niece, Talilia Gadbaw, '22.
Read Sarah's StoryRecent news
Building Momentum
The creation of the Family Room and a registered student organization offer new resources to the Native and Indigenous community at UW Tacoma.
Developing Future Leaders
The Lead Your Way program of the Milgard Women’s Initiative brings together high school sophomores, juniors and community leaders for mentoring and self-recognition.
Building a Beloved Community
The largest gathering of faculty and staff since the pandemic came together recently to learn about and practice active listening, empathy and mindful inquiry.
UW Tacoma in the News
Hometown Hero: Federal Way veteran, researcher isn’t deterred by death
Biomedical sciences student and Army veteran Melissa Swain is a Federal Way Mirror Hometown Hero and a Soroptomist Club Live Your Dream scholarship recipient. Tragedy led to her role as a single mother and a research intern with the King County Medical Examiner's office.
UW Tacoma holds business plan competition with $30K prize
The 2023 VIBE Business Plan Competition is open to all Washington college students and those who graduated between 2020 and 2022. Submissions are due Feb. 3.
The Russell Family Foundation Announces Class 10 of Jane's Fellowship Program
The 10th cohort of this leadership program includes alumna and current Master of Social Work student Christina Qiao, '19, alumnus Jake Nau, '17, and current social welfare student Maira Mariscal.
