Saturday - May 17, 2025

1:30 p.m. - Ceremony 5

Contents

Program

Platform Party

Commencement Speaker

College of Business Administration and Public Policy

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Program

PRESENTATION OF COLORS AND NATIONAL ANTHEM

Dr. Philip LaPolt
Interim Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs

CSU Dominguez Hills ROTC Color Guard

Max Starr
National Anthem Singer

WELCOME AND PLATFORM PARTY INTRODUCTION

Dr. Thomas A. Parham
President

POSTHUMOUS STUDENT RECOGNITION

Dr. Philip LaPolt
Interim Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs

INTRODUCTION OF STUDENT SPEAKER

Dr. Sheela Pawar
Chair, Academic Senate

STUDENT SPEAKER

Edgar Mejia-Alezano
BS, Business Administration

INTRODUCTION OF HONORARY DOCTORATE RECIPIENT

Dr. Philip LaPolt
Interim Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs

PRESENTATION OF HONORARY DOCTORATE RECIPIENT

Dr. Thomas Parham
President

HONORARY DOCTORATE RECIPIENT

Honorable Yvonne Braithwaite Burke

INTRODUCTION OF KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Philip LaPolt
Interim Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Mr. Reynold Hoover
CEO, LA 2028 Olympics and Paralympics

ALUMNI PINNING

Ms. Eva Sevcikova
Vice President, University Advancement

RECOGNITION OF HONORS RECIPIENTS

Dr. Philip LaPolt
Interim Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs

PRESENTATION OF CLASS FOR CONFERRAL

Dr. Philip LaPolt
Interim Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs

CONFERRAL OF DEGREES AND PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES

Dr. Thomas A. Parham
President

TASSEL TURN AND CONGRATULATIONS

Dr. Thomas A. Parham
President

CONGRATULATIONS

Mr. Edgar Mejia-Alezano
President, Associated Students, Inc.

Platform Party

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY

Ms. December Bolden
CSU Trustee - CO - Assistant Vice Chancellor

Mr. Andrew Jones, JD
CSU Executive Vice Chancellor and General Counsel

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Mr. Reynold Hoover
CEO, LA 2028 Olympics and Paralympics

STUDENT SPEAKER

Edgar Mejia-Alezano 
BS, Business Administration

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, DOMINGUEZ HILLS

• Dr. Thomas A. Parham
  President
• Dr. Philip LaPolt
  Interim Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs
• Ms. Deborah Wallace
  Vice President, Administration and Finance
• Dr. Bobbie Porter
  Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice
• Mr. Chris Manriquez
  Vice President, Information Technology
• Ms. Eva Sevcikova
  Vice President, University Advancement
• Dr. Sheela Pawar
  Chair, Academic Senate
• Mr. Ken O’Donnell
  Vice Provost, Academic Affairs
• Mr. Edgar Mejia-Alezano
  President, Associated Students, Inc.
• Dr. Timothy Caron
  Dean, College of Arts and Humanities
• Dr. Jessica Pandya
  Dean, College of Education
• Dr. Mi-Sook Kim
  Dean, College of Health, Human Services and Nursing
• Dr. Enrique Ortega
  Associate Dean, College of Health, Human Services and Nursing
• Dr. Joseph Wen
  Dean, College of Business Administration and Public Policy
• Dr. Leonardo Martinez
  Dean, College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences
• Dr. Kim Costino
  Dean, Undergraduate Studies
• Dr. Stephanie Sterling Brasley
  Dean, University Library
• Dr. Tiffany Herbert
  Associate Vice President, Student Affairs

Commencement Speaker

Mr. Reynold Hoover
CEO, LA 2028 Olympics and Paralympics

Reynold Hoover is the CEO of LA28, the Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. 

Hoover graduated from the United States Military Academy and holds master’s degrees in Public and Private Management from Birmingham Southern College, and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He received his law degree from The Catholic University of America in 1997.  

Hoover retired in December 2018 from his final assignment, Deputy Commander of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), with over 35 years of service. Prior to his NORTHCOM assignment, Hoover served briefly at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) as the Mobilization Assistant to the Director. He has also served as the National Guard Bureau’s Director of Intelligence and Chief Information Officer.

Complementing his military service, Hoover also has had a distinguished civilian career. He started as a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, followed by a stint as an attorney in private practice.

From 2002 to 2003, Hoover served as the Chief of Staff for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), then leading FEMA’s Office of National Security Coordination. In 2005, General Hoover was appointed as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for Homeland Security, responsible for homeland security, continuity of government programs and policies, as well as nuclear defense matters.

In 2011, General Hoover returned to federal service as a Senior Intelligence Service Officer at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).  His last assignment was as the Deputy Director, Office of Public Affairs, a position he held until his retirement from federal civil service in 2018.

Hoover holds several military awards and decorations, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge. He serves on the board of The Old Soldiers Home Foundation and is a member of the Florida and District of Columbia Bar. His interests include mountaineering, scuba diving, flying, and reading.

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College of Business Administration and Public Policy

Bachelor of Science