Graduates ready to continue legacy of excellence in biomedicine

Published on: June 27, 2025 By: Staff Reports

Grad School Commencement 2025 banner — Cell and Molecular Biology graduate Alia Edington, Ph.D., is hooded by her mentor, Jonathan Friedman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Cell Biology. She was one of more than 80 students to complete her education at UT Southwestern’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Excitement filled the Tom and Lula Gooch Auditorium on Thursday, May 22, as 84 graduates from the UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences celebrated commencement. Zhijian “James” Chen, Ph.D., a Professor of Molecular Biology and Director of the Center for Inflammation Research at UTSW renowned for his groundbreaking work in innate immunity, delivered an inspiring keynote address encouraging graduates to pursue bold ideas that drive scientific discovery. Attended by proud family, friends, and faculty, the event celebrated the graduates’ rigorous training and bright futures in biomedical research, education, and clinical care.

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Adrianna Martin, Ph.D., (left) receives an assist from Courtney Tran, Ph.D. – both are Clinical Psychology grads.

Beth D. Kennard, Psy.D., Professor of Psychiatry, holds the Stembridge Mace that is carried during the academic procession. The symbol represents the torch of learning and passing of knowledge from teacher to student over generations.

Genetics, Development, and Disease graduate Karla Gabriela Cano Hernandez, Ph.D., (center) proudly holds her diploma alongside Ning Liu, Ph.D., Professor, and Eric Olson, Ph.D., Chair, both with the Department of Molecular Biology.

Neuroscience graduates and faculty come together to celebrate this incredible milestone. Back row, from left: Brad Pfeiffer, Ph.D., Associate Professor; Anne Ojo, Ph.D., graduate; Lance Heady, Ph.D., graduate; Robert John-Marion Pendry, Ph.D. graduate; and Peter Tsai, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor. Front row, from left: Maria Chahrour, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Program Director; Genevieve Konopka, Ph.D., Professor; Carla Green, Ph.D., Professor; Ana Ortiz, Ph.D., graduate; Lidiette Angeles Perez, Ph.D., graduate; and Brianna Ramirez, Ph.D., graduate. Dr. Chahrour has additional appointments in the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development and the Center for the Genetics of Host Defense.

Organic Chemistry graduate Adriana Claudio Vázquez, M.S., (left) takes a celebratory photo with Neuroscience graduate Lidiette Angeles Perez, Ph.D.

Supporting Cancer Biology graduate Natalie Z. Phinney, Ph.D., (right) as she begins the next phase of her career are Siyuan Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., (left) Associate Professor of Pathology, and Rolf Brekken, Ph.D., Director of the Cancer Biology Program and Professor of Surgery, Pharmacology, and in the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research.

From left: Graduates David Sanchez, Ph.D., Genetics, Development, and Disease; Claudette Fraire, Ph.D., Cancer Biology; Alia Edington, Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology; and Alexis Waller, Ph.D., Molecular Microbiology, gather after the ceremony.

Genetics, Development and Disease graduate Heankel Lyons, Ph.D., (right) is supported by mentor Benjamin Sabari, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences and of Molecular Biology and Obstetrics and Gynecology.

It’s a wrap for Molecular Biophysics graduate June Ho Hwang, Ph.D., (left) and Genetics, Development, and Disease graduate Huong Tra Ngo, Ph.D., as they celebrate the end of graduate school.

Cell and Molecular Biology graduate James Ye, Ph.D., flashes a smile awaiting the start of commencement.

Krystle Campbell, D.H.A., M.S.M.S., CHSE, FACHDM, Assistant Vice President, Education Operations, (right) helps Sherry Huang, M.D., Vice Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Education, with her gown as they prepare for the ceremony.

The audience of graduates and faculty rises for the national anthem.

Andrew Zinn, M.D., Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate School, opens the ceremony with inspirational welcome remarks.

Zhijian “James” Chen, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Biology and Director of the Center for Inflammation Research, delivers a powerful keynote speech on the future of research and medicine.

Clinical Psychology graduate Karen Meltzer, Ph.D., (right) shares a laugh with her mentor, Laura Howe-Martin, Ph.D. (left).

Biological Chemistry graduate Michael McConville, Ph.D., is hooded by Glen Liszczak, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Program Director of Biological Chemistry.

Cancer Biology graduate Samantha Golomb, Ph.D., shares a proud moment with her mentor, Siyuan Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pathology.

Excitement radiates from Clinical Psychology graduate Monica Garza Saenz, Ph.D., (right) as she sits beside Veronica Bordes Edgar, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, after crossing the stage.

After years of dedication, Perot Family Scholars Medical Scientist Training Program graduate Julia Dan-Thanh Phan, M.D., Ph.D., is hooded by Sean Morrison, Ph.D., Director and Professor, Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern.

Stuart Ravnik, Ph.D., Associate Dean in the Graduate School and Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, hoods Molecular Microbiology graduate Brittany Stewart, Ph.D.