“Behind the pomp and circumstance, underneath the robes and tassels, and beyond the smiles and joyful tears are teams of tireless staff members who weave together thousands of tiny details into a seamless weekend of Commencement festivities,” writes KATE JUNCO, managing communications editor in University Human Resources (UHR), in the spring issue of Stanford Employee Insider.
Of course, the Office of Special Events and Protocol (OSEP) orchestrates Commencement on a macro level. But when it comes to individual schools, departments and programs, there are a number of folks who make sure all the “i’s” are dotted and the “t’s” are crossed as well. According to ELAINE ENOS, executive director of OSEP, 65 diploma ceremonies are planned for this weekend.
“For some schools, the planning and preparation that goes into each Commencement begins a year in advance. For others, it’s a six-month push beginning in January. For all schools, it takes teams of staff, countless meetings, a laser-like focus, a knack for detail, and impeccable coordination to pull off the largest and most significant university production of the year. Stanford’s 121st Commencement Weekend . . . will be no exception,” Junco continues.
The full story, which is on the UHR Newsroom website, spotlights RONI HOLETON, assistant dean for academic affairs in the School of Earth Sciences; LIA CACCIARI, student services specialist for the Program in Human Biology; DARLENE LAZAR, student services officer in the School of Engineering; CHIDEL ONUEGBU, associate director of student affairs in the Law School; COURTNEY PAYNE, director of the Student Life Office in the Graduate School of Business; KATE MCKINNEY, academic services coordinator in the School of Education, and ZERA MURPHY, director of student life in the Medical School.
