Celebrating BSOS Commencement Student Speakers
The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences is proud to introduce our two student speakers for the upcoming 2026 BSOS commencement ceremonies, which will both be held on Friday, May 22 in the Xfinity Center. 
Joanee Dias, a criminology and criminal justice major with a minor in law and society, will be the speaker for Ceremony 1, held at 9 a.m. Dias is a member of the Maryland Running Club and Phi Theta Kappa, balancing her academic interests with community and extracurricular engagement.
“Considering my background in being a first generation student and a transfer student, being chosen as the speaker is an honor that reminds me you don't have to fit in one box to tell your story, and there is often beauty in having a different path,” Dias said.
Dias has served as a research assistant for UMD’s Violence Reduction Center, a legal assistant for Salvado Law, an investigative intern for the Public Defender Service for Washington, D.C., and a legislative intern for Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando. Through these roles, she has developed a strong foundation in legal research, policy analysis, and advocacy.
Following graduation, Dias plans to pursue research focused on community gun violence, exploring solutions both locally and internationally to drive meaningful change.
“I would like to encourage my fellow graduates that you never miss out on what's truly for you. Every day is a data point that is leading you to where you're meant to be—even if it's not what you initially planned,” Dias said.
Isha Rajani is the student speaker for Ceremony 2, held at 12:30 p.m. She is an international relations major, and serves as vice chair of programming for the BSOS Dean’s Student Advisory Council. Rajani is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and multiple student advisory councils, including the Brody Student Advisory Council and UMD Libraries’ Student Advisory Council.
“I was thrilled to discover that I had been selected as the student speaker, for it represents the community that has shaped my experience at UMD,” Rajani said. “BSOS is a space where I've grown both academically and as a leader who has advocated for the student body. I am honored to have been given the opportunity to reflect on this shared journey and represent my peers at such a monumental moment.”
Rajani has held several leadership roles within the Student Government Association, serving as a Cambridge community representative, BSOS representative, and currently as chief justice of the Governance Board. She is also deeply engaged in the Scholars community as a peer mentor captain and program assistant coordinator, helping guide and support fellow students throughout their academic journeys. She is also a Terp guide with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and holds leadership roles with Maryland Minza and Maryland Mayuri.
Rajani has completed internships with Greenblatt & Veliev, LLC and the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems.
Following graduation, Rajani plans to complete the +1 Joint Bachelor’s/Master’s Program in Public Policy before pursuing law school, with aspirations to make a meaningful impact through a career in law and public service.
“A piece of advice I would give to my fellow graduates is to keep asking questions and to hold on to the curiosity that brought us to BSOS in the first place,” Rajani said. “The world right now is complicated, and it is full of tension, but in our years here, we’ve learned to ask thoughtful questions, challenge systems, and put people first. Put trust in the fact that even the smallest of actions can create the biggest of changes.”
Published on Fri, May 8, 2026 - 10:48AM