Gov. O’Malley, Distinguished Alumni Inspire Class of 2014

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences is proud to join with family and friends to celebrate the achievements of its newest alumni, the Class of 2014. Graduates were recognized both at the University ceremony on May 22 in the Comcast Center—which featured an address by Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley—and with special departmental ceremonies on May 22 and 23. Watch the University commencement ceremony.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1169","attributes":{"alt":"Jonathan Allen","class":"media-image","height":"282","style":"width: 200px; margin: 5px; float: left; height: 118px;","width":"480"}}]]Jonathan Allen, B.A. (GVPT) ’98, served as the keynote speaker for the Department of Government and Politics and Environmental Science and Policy Program ceremony in the Cole Student Activities Building. Mr. Allen is a White House reporter for Bloomberg and is the former White House bureau chief for Politico. He also recently published the New York Times bestselling book HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton with coauthor Amie Parnes.

Mr. Allen recalled that—from his early days attending preschool at UMD—he has been a lifelong Terp. He recalled that his GVPT game theory classes with Professor Joe Oppenheimer helped to shape his work ethic and his interest in how human behavior influences the political landscape. Read more about how Mr. Allen’s experience at UMD shaped his career.

Veteran, noted speaker and advocate and New York Times bestselling author Luis Carlos Montalvan, B.A. (SOCY) ’02, was the featured speaker at the Department of Sociology, Joint Program in Survey Methodology and Environmental Science and Policy Program ceremony in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s Dekelboum Auditorium. Mr. Montalva discussed his book Until Tuesday: A wounded warrior and the golden retriever who saved him, as well as what it means to serve and the power of education.

Dr. Virginia Geoffrey, B.A. (HESP) ’77, a noted speech pathologist, addressed graduates of the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences in Memorial Chapel. Dr. Geoffrey discussed the key services that hearing and speech specialists, clinicians and practitioners play in improving the quality of life of countless people all over the world.

The Department of Economics ceremony in the Cole Student Activities Building featured remarks by Dr. Thomas McCarthy, M.A. (ECON) ’73; Ph.D. (ECON) ’80, who serves as senior vice president of the National Economics Resource Association Economic Consulting. Dr. McCarthy encouraged graduates to seek ways to apply their education and experience to improve the world, wherever they go and whatever careers they pursue.

Distinguished administrators, faculty members and department chairs delivered keynote addresses for the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice ceremony in the Cole Student Activities Building; the Department of Psychology ceremony in Reckord Armory; and the Departments of African American Studies, Anthropology and Geographical Sciences and the Environmental Science and Policy Program in Memorial Chapel.

Published on Tue, May 27, 2014 - 2:15PM