2017 Graduates
Legend
HS – Health Science Track
SS – Social Science Track
Σ – Sigma Phi Omega
* – cum laude
** – magna cum laude
*** – summa cum laude
Minor in Gerontology
Brittany Blank *** SS
Karinna Carrillo SS
Caitlyn Kellogg ** HS
Kathleen Tor * HS
Michelle Zhao *** HS
Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Aging
Christina Deirmenjian *** SS
Karen Eliahu ** HS
Brittany Fleck * SS
Krystle Irvine ** HS
Ivette Ortiz * SS
Harutun Stepanyan SS
Ernesto Valle SS
Bachelor of Science in Lifespan Health
Allissa Cardenas **
Elizabeth D’Ambra **
Kellyna Fox
Christina Lelon
Caitlin MacLang * Σ
Katherine Marcus**
Lani Nguyen *
Kelsey Reinhardt *
Katrina Rosales *
Graduate Certificate in Gerontology
Yusi Chen
Jiachen Gao
Yiting Ouyang
Jiabin Qiu
Sara Robinson
Lysa Rohan
Avery Ross
Irene Shemaria
Yijie Wang
Phillip Woolwine
Liyang Zhang
Master of Aging Services Management
Samantha Bennett
Craig Cady
Blanca Calvi
Jung Chan Chen
Rachael Cochran
Norma Dupertuis
Xiaosu Fang
Marissa Fusco
Levon Gibson
Kimberly Goodwin
Darleen Hope
Chun-Chi Huang
Dapeng Ji
Olivia Kern
Kristin Leader
Hannah Lee
Faye Littleton
Yuefei Liu
Erin Martin
Joyce McCoy
Fan (Paige) Miao
Andrea Naylor
Jenny Nguyen
May Ma Ross
Vikorn (Art) Vibhukarut Σ
Linda Victor Σ
Elizabeth Watson
Reesha White
Sarah Willink
Xiao Xu
Qingyue Yang
Dasom You
Bo Zhu
Master of Arts in Gerontology
Kristina Agazarian
Crystal Baham
Mary Ann Dabek
Meera Dhawan
Katja Emcke
James Flanagan
Dennis Gradillas
Enez Holunga
David (Bryan) Hopkins
Jeremiah Hovsepian Bearce
Jair Kamperveen
Sherri Katz
David Knox
Rose Mohajer
Lia Moreno
Kaitlyn Powell
Deborah Rucker-Turner Σ
Erica Sender
Irene Shemaria
Jennelle Thomas
Leon Watts III
Master of Science in Gerontology
Dana Anderson
Kelly Brown
Jiawei Cao
Taylor Carroll
Zhiwei Chen
David Cheng
Amanda Christian
Yingying Dai
Mengchi Fang
Veronica Garcia Macias Σ
Annette Gomez
Angelica Guzman
Xujing Hu
Wenjia Ji
Mingyu Jia
Zerui (Claire) Jiang
Shivanti Kariyawasam Σ
Xuejiao Lan
Yvonne Lau Σ
Jiaying Li
Meiying Li
Jiaxin Li
Shengyi Liu
Sabrina Luna
Ruoxin Mao
Raphael Margolin Σ
Jeremy Nathaniel
Rosalyn Neranartkomol
Anne Oh
Hao Pan
Hee Soo Park
Rosalie Raigoza
Tylor Richardson
Kira Riley
Jingyuan Su
Fei Teng
Jeffrey Tseng
Sijia Wan
Qian Wang
Xiayun Wang
Xiaotong Wang
Luying Wang
Jianghan Weng
Lara Windisch
Zhengyi Wu
Yang Xiao
Dong Xie
Ziyao Xu
Zhiheng Xue
Xiaoyi Yang
Mengyao Yang
Shang-Pin Yeh
Bo Yu
Caijiao Yu
Menglin Zhan
Jing Zhang
Xiyue Zhang
Lu Zheng
Xingyue Zhou
Shu Zhu
Yujun Zhu
MSG/Master of Social Work
Natalie Innocenzi
PreciousToni Jackson Σ
Yajun Zeng
Master of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan and Longevity
Amylee Amos Σ
Krista Atzinger
Dina Ben-Nissan Σ
Mikeala Call
Erica Capellino
Katherine Chen
Whitney English
Bri Goslin
Victoria Hahn
Sarah Khan
Susan Kim
Alyssa Knoernschild
Eunchung Kwon
Raquel Novak
Stephanie Riemer
Adrienne Rodriguez
Nijya Saffo
Maria Schellenberger Σ
Sherry Schulman Σ
Carine Sidhom
Tiany So
Rosa Torres-Navas
Doctor of Philosophy in Biology of Aging
Laura Corrales-Diaz Pomatto
“To Adapt or Not to Adapt: e Age Specific and Sex-Dependent Differences in the Adaptive Stress Response”
Presented by Kelvin Davies, PhD
Doctor of Philosophy in Gerontology
Elizabeth Prickett
“Thinking Generatively vs. Acting Generatively: Exploring the Independent and Interactive Associations of Generative Self- Concept and Generative Activity with Cognitive Function Among Older Adults”
Presented by Tara Gruenewald
Yongjie Yon
“Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Elder Abuse Prevalence Studies”
Presented by Kathleen Wilber
Affiliated Doctorates
Bruna Martins, PhD in Psychology
“Age-related Differences in Cognitive Effort During Emotion Regulation: A Pupillometry Investigation”
Presented by Mara Mather
Hans Dalton, PhD in Molecular and Computational Biology
“A Transient Arrest-Survival State Evolved to Enhance Fitness During Growth Crisis”
Presented by Sean Curran
The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology celebrated the achievements of its largest graduating class ever during the school’s 2017 Commencement Ceremony on May 12 in Tutor Hall on the USC campus.
“We have over 170 graduates from around the nation and around the world,” said USC Leonard Davis School Dean Pinchas Cohen. “It’s a sign we’re doing something right… it’s representative of the growing recognition of our field and the importance of gerontology.”
The event also honored the very first graduates from the school’s two newest programs, the Master of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan and Longevity and the Doctor of Philosophy in Biology of Aging.
Keynote speaker Peter Mullin, founding chairman of Mullin Barens Sanford Financial and member of the USC Leonard Davis School Board of Councilors, he spoke to students about the opportunities that come from an aging population and the importance of not overlooking the wisdom of older adults.
“The Silver Tsunami is a treasure trove,” of knowledge and talent, Mullin said. “You graduates are at the fulcrum of the tsunami… You have a huge opportunity to work with an overlooked treasure chest.”
Student speaker Christina Deirmenjian, vice president of the Student Gerontology Association, spoke about the long-lasting influence the school has on its students, not only in imparting the responsibility to fight for the needs and rights of older people but also in helping students form lifelong friendships.
“The school’s greatest strength is our bond as students,” Deirmenjian said. “We will not leave USC behind; USC will leave with us.”
Watch Peter Mullin’s keynote speech to graduates.
University Awards
Order of Areté
Laura Corrales-Diaz Pomatto
Yongjie Yon
Emma Josephine Bradley Bovard Award
Christina Deirmenjian
Discovery Scholar
Prize Finalist: Christina Deirmenjian
Ivette Ortiz
USC Leonard Davis School Awards
Heinz Osterburg Prize
Yongjie Yon
Undergraduate Student Award
Christina Deirmenjian
Honorable Mention: Krystle Irvine
Master’s Student Award
Shivanti Kariyawasam
PhD Student Award
Laura Corrales-Diaz Pomatto
Teaching Assistant Award
Yujun Zhu
Teaching Award
Associate Professor Susan Enguídanos
