Skip to main content
UMass Collegiate M The University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Give
  • Search UMass.edu
School of Public Health & Health Sciences School of Public Health & Health Sciences

Main navigation

  • Academics

    Academic programs

    BiostatisticsCommunity Health EducationEnvironmental Health SciencesEpidemiologyHealth Policy and ManagementKinesiologyNutritionProfessional ProgramsPublic Health SciencesSpeech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
    Graduate AdmissionsUMass AdmissionsFinancial aid and scholarshipsFaculty directoryCourses
  • Research
    Center for Community Health Equity ResearchCenter for Program EvaluationInstitute for Global Health
    Research news and highlightsResearch areasResearch centers and institutesResearch Administration Office (RAO)
  • Campus & Outreach
    Academic Dean & Office of Academic SuccessCenter for Language, Speech, and HearingOffice of Career PlanningOffice of Public Health Practice and OutreachSupport SPHHS
  • About
    AccreditationDiversity, Equity and InclusionNewsEventsDirectory
    Resources for current studentsResources for faculty & staffVisit usContact usSenior Recognition Ceremony

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. News

SPHHS Celebrates Class of 2023

The SPHHS ceremony recognized its undergraduate Class of 2023, which this year welcomed nearly 600 graduating seniors.

May 29, 2023 Academics

Content

Public health advisor Brigid Williams leads graduating seniors into the Mullins Center.

The School of Public Health and Health Sciences held its Senior Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, May 27, 2023 in the Mullins Center on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus. The SPHHS ceremony recognized its undergraduate Class of 2023, which this year welcomed nearly 600 graduating seniors into its ranks.

View our photo gallery on Facebook.

Dean Anna Maria Siega-Riz welcomed a large crowd of family, friends, and guests who were gathered to celebrate the new graduates. She encouraged students to keep working hard and make a difference in the world around you and to remember “what we have trained you to be: game-changers and innovators.” She also advocated for them to "cultivate elasticity to embrace all individuals regardless of their color, religion, sexual identity, or political stance" and to be "inclusive, humble, and engage in civil discourse with respect." 

Siega-Riz also introduced the school's first-ever student speaker, Darya Iranmanesh, who graduated with a degree in public health sciences. Iranmanesh, who had been honored as a 21st Century Leader during the university's commencement ceremony the day before, recounted her journey as a visually-impaired child to a public health graduate with a near-perfect GPA and social activist. She encouraged her fellow graduates to “follow your dreams...and your fears," to "work hard, play hard" and "love unconditionally." 

She parted with a message of gratitude: "As someone who is familiar with the work we do at SPHHS and has seen firsthand how healthcare professionals truly change lives, I want to thank all of the students, families, and faculty here for your investment in our education – whether it be financially, occupationally, or intellectually. Your hard work is the reason we are all here today."

In addition to the dean, the ceremony featured a presentation of outstanding teaching awards from Gloria DiFulvio, associate dean for undergraduate academic affairs, and talks from Lindiwe Sibeko, chair of the Department of Nutrition; Eliza Frechette, undergraduate program director for the Kinesiology major; Sarah Poissant, chair of the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; and Megan Patton-Lopez, interim program director for the Public Health Sciences major. A full replay is available on the SPHHS livestream webpage.

The SPHHS Senior Recognition Ceremony followed the university's Undergraduate & Graduate Commencement ceremony at McGuirk Stadium on Friday, May 26. Olympic soccer gold medalist and alumna Briana Scurry delivered the keynote commencement address to an audience of approximately 20,000, celebrating the achievements of 7,500 undergraduates and 2,000 master’s and doctoral students. UMass President Marty Meehan conferred degrees to the graduates as UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy presided over his 11th, and final, UMass Amherst Commencement.

Read more here.

For further details on Commencement weekend, view the comprehensive UMass Commencement 2023 website.

Announcement posted in Academics for Faculty , Staff , Current students , and Public

Related programs

  • Kinesiology
  • Nutrition
  • Public Health Sciences
  • Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Related departments

  • Kinesiology
  • Nutrition
  • Public Health Sciences Program
  • Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Site footer

School of Public Health & Health Sciences
  • X
  • Find us on Facebook
  • Find us on YouTube
  • Find us on LinkedIn
  • Find us on Instagram
Address

Arnold House
715 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003
United States

Academics

  • Explore our programs
  • Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Certificate
  • Post Baccalaureate

Research

  • Research News
  • Research Areas
  • Research Centers & Institutes

The School

  • About SPHHS
  • News
  • Events
  • Directory
  • Visit
  • Contact

Info for...

  • Current students
  • Faculty & staff

Global footer

  • ©2025 University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Site policies
  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination notice
  • Accessibility
  • Terms of use