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Celebrating the Class of 2024
Share in the success, academic achievements and indelible mark graduates have made on the TU community.
By GRACE HOGGARTH '22, LAUREN CASTELLANA '13 AND ALEXANDER WRIGHT on May 17, 2024
Our graduates join a community of more than 192,000 Tiger alumni around the globe putting their skills to use to make the world a better place.
Meet several of our graduates who overcame obstacles, seized opportunities and are ready to tackle new challenges with their TU bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees.
3,037
Total Graduates
2,489
Undergraduate Students
548
Graduate Students
College of Liberal Arts
Azariah Moore
"My favorite moment at TU is becoming part of Towson Freedom School (TFS). This experience has opened so many doors for me, widened my perspectives on the state of the world, allowed me to make new friends, find community here at TU and more. I truly feel that TFS gave me a lot of confidence in myself as a student leader."
Moore is graduating with a bachelor's degree in international studies with double minors in Political Science and Japanese.
She was heavily involved in the Unearthing Towson’s History project within TU Archives and Special Collections and the Towson Freedom School.
College of Fine Arts and Communication
Tia Thomas
"I am ready to show the world everything I have learned. If I can work, commute, run an org and be in school full time, I know I can handle whatever the world hands me. It feels so good to be graduating especially since Covid took away my senior year of high school. Seeing my parents and younger siblings' faces as I come off the stage with my degree means a lot to me."
Thomas is graduating with a bachelor’s degree of fine arts in acting. She takes pride in having co-led the Black Theatre Alliance.
College of Health Professions
Brian Benzing
"It feels weird graduating. I remember watching the seniors take their graduation photos when I was a freshman and thinking how far away that was for me. But it has flown by, and four years have come and gone in the blink of an eye. It means the world to graduate with my academic success and my athletic success. I achieved what I came to Towson to do!"
Benzing is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. A member of the TU men’s swimming and diving team, Benzing is a four-time Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Men’s Swimmer of the Year and was named a Second Team All-American.
College of Business and Economics
Brenda Laime Jalil
"It feels incredible [to be graduating], yet also a bit scary. However, graduation is a milestone I've always aimed for. It's another step towards my professional future. This accomplishment means a lot to me because it's something I've dreamed of for a long time and is now finally happening."
Laime Jalil is graduating with a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in leadership and management and plans to apply to graduate school at TU.
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College of Business and Economics
Ryan Keelty
"Being a veteran who is a first-generation college student signifies resilience, adaptability and a commitment to lifelong learning. It demonstrates the ability to excel in diverse environments and overcome challenges with determination and perseverance. I believe I was able to help relate some of the class material to the younger students with my real-world experience."
Keelty is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in leadership and management. He is a Marine veteran with 15 years of experience and attended TU in Northeastern Maryland (TUNE).
College of Liberal Arts
Christelle Etienne
"This accomplishment means the world to me; this means that I kept my promise to my parents; this means that I followed my brother's footsteps as promised; this means that I did not let down the ones who believed in me when I didn’t. It also means that the chance my uncle and aunt took on my family moving us to the U.S. was not for nothing."
Etienne is graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology, gerontology, and foreign languages with a concentration in French and a minor in entrepreneurship.
Fisher College of Science and Mathematics
Phoebe Calkins
"The most impactful aspect of my TU experience has been the communities and support I have had. The Towson University Honors College has provided me with a community where I can engage with highly motivated peers while cultivating my leadership, collaboration, and communication skills. The Hill-Lopes Scholars program has supported me in my scientific pursuits and helped me make valuable connections with faculty and other students."
Calkins is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in cell and molecular biology. In the fall she will attend the University of Pennsylvania’s doctoral program in cell and molecular biology with a concentration in cancer biology.
Making us #TUproud
Jacob Elliott
“My most valuable experience at TU was working with University Marketing as a student
graphic designer. I worked there for a year and a half, and now graduating I already
have a year and a half of professional experience.”
Elliott graduated with a degree in Art and Design.
Daniel Olofi
“There are so many great people and faculty at TU who make you want to do better and
to keep pushing yourself further. Hold onto those people, don’t ever let them go and
keep working at it.”
Olofi graduated with a degree in biology.
Izabella San Juan
“I love how my major is broad but I can choose what I want to do. It has a really
meaningful impact on people’s lives. As a healthcare manager I’m at the forefront
of making sure people are safe and healthy.”
San Juan graduated with a degree in healthcare management.
Niyah Williams
“I feel like I have a sense of family here in my college. I feel like I’ve grown into
the better person I am today because of TU.”
Williams graduated with a dual certification in early childhood and special education.
She is now a registered behavioral technician for children with autism.
College of Liberal Arts
Antonio Robinson
"Some of my favorite moments at TU are connected to Tiger Pride Day. I enjoyed being able to go down to Annapolis and lobby on behalf of our students concerning issues that our campus community cares about. I had a pressing desire to engage with our state's legislators and leave an impression that they could take with them to their deliberation chambers."
Robinson is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in religion.
He served as the president of TU’s NAACP chapter, vice president of DoBetterTU and was a member of the UJIMA Black Students Organization.
College of Education
Kenia Medina-Velazquez
"The most impactful thing that has occurred to me at TU while in the education program is the internship experience I obtained. TU has great connections with the counties around us which has allowed me to teach in a few counties. The experience I gained at each school I was placed in was extremely beneficial for me and I would not be the teacher I am today without these opportunities."
Medina-Velazquez is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an early childhood dual certification.
Fisher College of Science and Mathematics
Taylor Pettaway
"Being a member of the Hill-Lopes Scholars Program's Gamma Cohort played a pivotal role in shaping my overall experience at TU. It has been truly transformative, providing me with a supportive community and invaluable professional development opportunities beyond the scope of my physics coursework. As a woman in STEM, I often found myself in the minority within my department, but my cohort offered a space where I could connect with others who shared similar experiences and mindsets."
Pettaway is graduating with an accelerated master's of science and bachelor’s degree in the applied physics program.