Congratulations! You are the first class to graduate from the College of Creative Arts and Media. While the vast majority of your time at WVU was in a different structure, I believe that the process of creating any new entity (like CCAM) can provide useful insights for you as you start your next chapter.
Observing the creation of a new entity provides a useful model for a burgeoning career. The need to adapt is a root cause of many new ventures. You will spend most of your adult life in the second quarter of the 21st century, and the ability to adapt will be central to long-term success. Adaptability can take many forms, but the willingness to accept change and willingly recalibrate your personal direction has never been more important. Adapting is something you will need to do regularly throughout your career.
Another lesson that can be learned from observing the creation of a new college is deciding how to choose which opportunities to pursue. For any new entity, there are a host of “initiatives” that lie on the cutting-room floor. These “cut” initiatives may be logical and worthy, but “not now” can occur for many reasons. Some opportunities come at the right time, but there are many that come at the wrong time or are not right for you (and there are opportunities that are just bad ideas!!). Choosing the right opportunity may not be easy, but one of the guiding principles for choosing the right opportunities is your personal sense of purpose.
Be true to your ideals. If the opportunity fits your ideals and the time is right, be ready to put in the work. Doing something new is hard, but as coach Kara Lawson states, “Don’t wait for life to get easier, learn how to handle hard better.” That is an important lesson; if you want to create something new, and pursue meaningful opportunities, you should be prepared to “handle hard.”
Adapting and choosing the right opportunities will help you become what our society needs: a leader with purpose and the conviction needed to do the work.
Now reflect, enjoy your achievement, and share hugs (if you are OK with that).
Congratulations!!
H. Keith Jackson, DMA
Philip J. Faini and Falbo Family Dean
December 2024 Graduates
Doctor of Musical Arts
Performance
- Yangyang Cao
- Xiaohan Hu
- Albert James Houde III
- Geena Louise Jeffries Mattox
- Andres Efrain Santana
- Weiyang Sun
Master of Science
Data Marketing Communications
- Justin Scott Mitchell
- Erica Marie O'Brien
Digital Mrktng Communications
- Kathy Allison
- Amber Barron
- Katrina Lynn Brooks
- Harley Steven Coutz
- Tavy D'Anna Diggs
- Madison Renee Fichtner
- Kyle Gammon
- Julissa Gutierrez
- Brinley Ellen Hobbs
- Chelsea Marie Ice-Toothman
- James William McCrohan III
- Emilee Marie Kessler
- Stephanie Ann Kline
- Jonathan Kraus
- Brandy Nicole Lawrence
- Laci Jean OReilly
- Laila Marion Roberts
- Aliyah Washington
Integrated Marketing Comm
- Asia Allen
- Jeffrey Atherton
- Kellen Ann Bartenslager
- Charmas Baylock
- Jazmin Billings
- Jordyn Bixman
- Kylie Kobrin Brosnan
- Kristin Jean Butler
- Nora Bertolaet Clark
- Jenna Marie Cooper
- ShaTyra Shantrelle Cox
- Cassy Crabtree
- Darien Leigh Cropper
- Megan Elizabeth Cumpston
- Mary Melinda Dameron
- Eden Eden Douglas
- Kathryne Cullimore Gest
- Jarred Henry Gillie
- Emma A Hanlon
- Megan Miller Hansen
- Lynette Renee Hoke
- Ryan Michelle Hollingsworth
- Brittany Holt
- Rachel Marie Houchins
- Rodney Dean Leveque II
- Gabrielle Rose Jansen
- Stephen John Jaworowski
- DeJohnna Johnson
- Ashley Bowles Jones
- Harry James Kibbe
- Jennifer M Kim
- Julia Kimani
- Sabrina Faith Kordik
- Elizabeth Rose Lathrop
- Kevin Timothy Livingston
- Richard Michael Longoria
- Erica Rose Loy
- Kailey Lopez Loza
- Harry J. Lundy
- Cheryl Mae Madolev
- Matthew Scott Masaschi
- Victoria Bevin McAdoo
- Jordyn McCulley
- Audrey Laura Ann McLoughlin
- Sean McNamara
- Judy Hanna Menhem
- Abigail Marie Montgomery
- Charles Montgomery
- Danielle Leann Moore
- Gabrielle Moore
- Sarah Elizabeth Niles
- Kyle Joseph Patrick
- Morgan Pope
- Tyler Porter
- Ryan James Powers
- Eboni Elexis Reece
- Rylee Ava Reese
- Kiara Alanna Scott
- Samantha Jane Smallman
- Grace Smith
- Kyle Joseph McAfee Sr.
- Thomas Walter Vega
- Mark David Webb
- Brian Lee White
- Erica Wickham
- Elaina Monet Williams
- Maliyah Williams
- Milligan Ruth Williams
- Izabella Rose Workman
Master of Arts
Art Education
- Elisabeth Goodwin
- Hailey Elizabeth McGuire
Art History
- Catherine Wilson Jones
Game Design
- Trystyn Taylor Nicole O'Haver
Music Bus and Industry
- Logan Ferris Neccuzi
Studio Art
- Lindsay Jo McCarty
Master of Fine Arts
Acting
- Liam Holton
- Claudia Carolina Sevilla
Painting
- Kamara V Townes
Master of Music
Conducting
- Maria Mercedes Carmona Campo
Performance
- Nathaniel Brandt Penven
MS in Journalism
Journalism
- Nicole Danielle Kaye
- Jared Tyler Lathrop
- Sean Patrick Lowdermilk
- Tyler White Mertins
- Hannah G Morgan
- Biju Devassy Thiruthanathy Sr
- Jenna M Stewart
Media Solutions and Innovation
- Tavy D'Anna Diggs
Bachelor of Arts
Dance
- Magdalena Jean Berry ☸ ***
- Abbigale Marie Snyder ***
Game Dsgn and Interact Media
- Abigail Leigh Christian **
- Shylar Lee Hanlin
- Ivanie Manuel Ortiz
- Cameron Todd Thompson
Interactive Design for Media
- Isaiah Luis Lezama
- Riley Marina Reid **
- Ariella Vanore Hobday V *
Multidisciplinary Media Stud
- Emiliana Margaret Bowman
- Kiera Brooke Sager
- Daniel Tristan Toney
- Madyson Twist
Music
- Benjamin R Kiehl
Music Industry
- Ryan E Quickel *
Theatre
- Ava Catherine Mills *
Bachelor of Music
Music Composition
- Jonah Michael Eggert ***
- Grayson Ross Fisher ***
Music Education
- Grayson Ross Fisher ***
- Olivia Caroline Fisher
- Morgan Elizabeth Stratton
Music Performance
- Phillip Nicholas Keefover ***
Music Therapy
- Chelsea Losh *
- Alexis Danielle Pringle ***
- Carly Paige Scruggs *
- Kyle Martin Vitiello **
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Acting
- Newton James Sweeney ☙ ***
Art and Design
- Paul Lilyea *
- Hyunjung Marsat ***
- Tatiana Zakharova ***
Art Education
- Lily K Buckley
- Joanna Rose Musngi Jacinto ☙ ***
- Richard Lewis Silva *
Graphic Design
- Kieah D Hamric *
Intermedia/Photography
- Taylor M Cramer
- Savannah Taylor Norman
- James Edward Sammons ***
- Kathryn Brianna Weeks
Musical Theatre
- Matthew Ryan Howe
Painting
- Ella A Hardman
Theatre Design & Technology
- Anthony Mueth **
- Trace R Swisher
Bachelor of Multidisc. Studies
Multidisciplinary Studies
- Collin A Briggs
- Autumn Brooke Hill
- Samuel W Porter
Bachelor of Science
Design Studies
- Michael Ryan Casazza
- D'Shan Karl Love
- Isabel Loza
Fashion Dsgn and Merchandising
- Grayson R Enoch
- Brooke Elizabeth Lyons ***
- Chloe Faith McIntire **
- Jacee Claire Young
Integrated Marketing Comm
- Stacy Miranda Grubb **
- Catherine Victoria Lane
- Karsyn Brenna Shugars
- Katheryn Paige Singleton
- Victoria Laine White
BS in Journalism
Advertising & Public Relations
- Ryan M Bombich
- Myles Maxwell Brown
- Colby Reese Glauser
- Maeve Kleia Leyden ☙ ***
- Alessia Maria Mangan
- Nichole Lynn Meyers
- Stella Grace Peterson ☙ **
- Rylee Ava Reese ***
- Elizabeth Aliece Sperry
- Trace R Swisher
- Emily J Sykes
- Kendall F Tilson
- Bailey Toothman *
- Ava Vavrick *
- Mark David Webb ***
- Margaret Claire Yeomans
Journalism
- Camryn Bauer **
- Chauhkiyin R Bishop
- Maxwell William Bruce
- Max Alexander Cohen
- Griffin McMorrow
- Hannah Grace Morgan *
Sports and Adventure Media
- Mark Joesph Altman
- Devin Duane Anderson
- Elizabeth Christina Carey *
- Austin H Greenfield
- William Conor Hogan
- Jeremiah Howell
- Alex Hunter Lebo
- Heather Nicole Robinson *
- Brian H Vollman **
- Griffin Weand *
Certificate
Digital and Social Media
- Matthew Colton Bush
Higher Education Marketing
- Olivia Dale Pape
Public Relations Leadership
- Matthew Thomas Herzer
- Kelly Rose Nash
Therapeutic Art
- Payton Olivia Brown
- Hailey Elizabeth McGuire
- * Cum Laude
- ** Magna Cum Laude
- *** Summa Cum Laude
- ☸ Honors EXCEL Scholar
- ☙ Honors Foundations Scholar
- ⟡ Honors Laureate
Names listed in this program are taken from applications for graduation made to the WVU Office of the University Registrar. This document is not an official record of degrees awarded. Honors listed in this program are based upon the next-to-last term of enrollment and are not official until all academic work has been certified by the WVU Office of the University Registrar.