June 12, 2008
DAVIS—Four graduate students in entomology were among those receiving degrees at the Graduate Studies Commencement, held June 12 in the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) Pavilion.
They are:
Doctorates: Christopher Barker, advised by professors Bruce Eldridge and William Reisen; Lisa Chanbusarakum, advised by professor Diane Ullman; and Lisa Reimer, advised by professor Gregory Lanzaro and associate professor Anthony "Anton" Cornel.
Master of Science: Melanie Gentles, advised by Les Ehler, professor emeritus
Keynote speaker Booker Holton, principal of TOVA Applied Science and Technology, Orinda (involved with
environmental assessment and resource management worldwide) urged the
master's and doctoral candidates to become "thoughtful, caring and
ethical people."
Since receiving his own doctorate in ecology from UC Davis 28 years
ago, Holton said he has tried to improve his character. That's what
everyone should do, he said, as we all need to reduce our flaws.
"Define who you are, try to do good deeds often and avoid people with
bad character and unkind dispositions," Holton advised.
Ethics, justice, compassion and trust are important, he said. And, "We
should never connect our self-worth and self-value to our career, our
advanced education or how well off we are."
With that, Holton quoted an 85-year-old woman from Louisville, Ky.,
who was asked what she would have done differently if she'd had her
life to live over. "I'd dare to make more mistakes next time," Nadine
Stair said. "I'd relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than
I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would
take more chances. I would take more trips. I would climb more
mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less
beans."
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| Jeffery Gibeling (left), dean of Graduate Studies and professor of chemical engineering and materials science, chats with chemical ecologist Walter Leal, professor of entomology, prior to the commencement. Leal was part of the faculty stage party. |
Dean Jeffery Gibeling awards a doctorate to Lisa Chanbusarakum as her major professor, Diane Ullman (right), professor of entomology, watches. |
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| Christopher Barker (center) receives his doctorate. With him are his major advisors Bruce Eldridge (left), professor emeritus of entomology, and William Reisen, research entomologist. Barker studies Culex mosquitoes. |
Lisa Reimer receives her doctorate from Dean Jeffery Gibeling. Reimer studies malaria mosquitoes (Anopheles gambiae) with major advisors Gregory Lanzaro and Anthony "Anton" Cornel. |
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| Malaria researcher Gregory Lanzaro of the School of Veterinary Medicine and a graduate student advisor in the Department of Entomology, congratulates his graduate student Lisa Reimer. |
Keynote speaker Booker Holton, a principal with TOVA Applied Science and Technology, advises the crowd to "eat more ice cream and less beans." He received his Ph.D. in ecology in 1980. |
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UC Davis arborist Melanie Gentles (center) with her daughter, Mahalia Lanfranco and professor Lynn Kimsey, chair of the Department of Entomology and director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology. Melanie received her master of science degree in entomology. (Photo by Melanie's husband, Carlos Lanfranco)
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A bass player with the UC Davis Symphony relaxes as he waits for the other members of the symphony to be seated. D. Kern Holoman conducts the symphony. (Photos by Kathy Keatley Garvey) |
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--Kathy Keatley Garvey
Communications specialist
UC Davis Department of Entomology
(530) 754-6894
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