Equity, free speech and the future of education inspire newest USC Rossier graduates

USC Rossier celebrated the Class of 2026 with two meaningful commencement ceremonies, honoring the achievements, resilience and promise of its doctoral and master’s graduates.

The celebration began on May 13 at the doctoral hooding ceremony. Graduates from Education Leadership, Organizational Change and Leadership, and the USC Rossier PhD program—232 graduates in total—were individually hooded by their dissertation chairs—a time-honored tradition symbolizing scholarly achievement and professional accomplishment.

In his welcome remarks, Dean Pedro Noguera praised graduates for their dedication and discipline in achieving this important milestone. Reflecting on the ways in which artificial intelligence is transforming education, he encouraged the graduates to develop qualities that give humans an advantage over AI. He admonished: Emotional intelligence; intuition; imagination and creativity; and common sense are the characteristics that will make it possible for graduates to avoid being rendered obsolete by AI. “Now, as we know, common sense isn’t really that common,” Noguera said. “But if you can and cultivate it so that you can get good at discerning patterns, and reading people and places, you will be better off.”

Doctoral keynote speaker, NYU Professor and historian Robert Cohen shared the critical importance of protecting free speech. “Whether you agree or disagree with the speaker is not the issue. Freedom is the issue,” Cohen said. “And so is education.” He added the value of listening and how it opens up the opportunity to learn.

On May 16, 369 master’s graduates were celebrated at the USC Galen Center. Graduates from USC Rossier’s master’s programs, including Marriage and Family Therapy, Master of Arts in Teaching, Learning Design and Technology, Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs, among others were honored.

Master’s ceremony keynote speaker philanthropist, Melanie Lundquist shared her pride in the class of 2026’s chosen profession and their ability to make a difference in the lives of young people and their families. A double USC Trojan herself, she asserted: “Let me say this very clearly: the best people in education are disruptors,” Lundquist said. “Because you disrupt low expectations. You disrupt indifference. You disrupt the assumption that a child’s ZIP code will determine that child’s destiny.”

Student speaker Starla Edwards, who graduated with her Master of Arts in Teaching, shared how USC Rossier helped prepare her to be a stronger teacher and advocate for children. Thanking her faculty, parents and sons during her speech, she described how her education taught her to overcome the barriers that too often prevent children from excelling. “Equity is not about lowering expectations,” Edwards said. “It’s about removing obstacles so every child has access to opportunity.”

The commencement events also celebrated faculty, families and friends who supported graduates during their academic journey. The newest alumni left USC Rossier to serve as educators, therapists, researchers and academic leaders. 

USC Rossier honored the flag and banner bearers for their academic excellence and leadership within the school. For the doctoral ceremony, Desiree O’Neal PhD was the banner bearer and Sandra Balbuena EdD was the flag bearer. For the master’s ceremony, Whitney Root MAT was the flag bearer and Jose Carrillo MEd was the banner bearer.

The following graduates received the Dissertation of Distinction awards.

• Amanda Yamilet Peralta EdD ’25, “Toward Bridging the Digital Use Divide in K–12: Facilitating Transformative Learning for an Education Technology Professional Development Provider” (Chair: Jennifer Crawford)
• Noor-Soraya Ahyaudin Ali EdD ’25, “Resilience of American Muslim Women Leaders in Nonprofit Organizations” (Chair: Esther Kim)
• Zulekha Nathoo EdD ’26, “When the Story Strikes Back: The Impact of Work Trauma on Journalists” (Chair: Monique Datta)
• Emily Anne Gonzalez PhD ’26, “Human Development at the Heart: A Multi-Case Study of Innovative Teaching in a Public Secondary School District” (Chair: Mary Helen Immordino-Yang)

Event programs, photos and videos from the doctoral and master’s ceremonies are available on the USC Rossier Commencement page.