LSU Health New Orleans Graduates New Health Professionals
December Commencement Addresses Nursing Shortage
December 15, 2023
Students from five of LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans’ six professional health schools graduated during its Fall Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Jung Hotel, 1500 Canal Street. Graduates included students from LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans’ Schools of Allied Health Professions, Nursing, Public Health, Graduate Studies, and Medicine. Dr. Steve Nelson, LSU Health New Orleans Interim Chancellor, presided over the ceremony, joined by LSU Board of Supervisors member James M. Williams, who delivered the Commencement Address and conferred degrees. The Invocation was given by Bachelor of Science in Public Health candidate Gabrielle Nichols. Our national anthem was led by Veronica Caffery Lawler, RN, School of Nursing, Class of 2022. Jacquelynn Rita Mornay, Master of Public Health candidate, gave the Benediction. The gonfaloniers were Colleen Markey Story, Doctor of Nursing Practice candidate; Krishna Bharatbhai Thakkar, Master of Public Health candidate; and Lauren Alexandria Jackson, Doctor of Medicine candidate.
School of Nursing Valedictorians were Kaitlyn Monica Freese and Ella Elizabeth Melnyk.
The Salutatorian was Georgette Lynn Toups. The School of Nursing’s Deans Awards recipient
was Rhys Kathleen Lopiparo.
Graduating with honors were:
summa cum laude – Kaitlyn Monica Freese, Ella Elizabeth Melnyk.magna cum laude -- Carley Rose Marie Mizell, Georgette Lynn Toups.
cum laude – Gillian Elise Breaux, Sofia Rose Carlos, Emma Olivia Knobloch, Taylor Samone Lilly.
SCHOOL OF NURSING
Bachelor of Science in NursingJena Elizabeth Alfonso, Brandilyn Amorello, Molly Simpson Ariail, Jillian Sara Bassman, Elena Hope Bateman, Sophia Louise Belleu, Jolie Elizabeth Bergeron, Sydnee Monique Bickham, Lauren Nicole Booth, Lara Elisabeth Boothe, Gillian Elise Breaux, Alexis Brinson, Dar’Jene Trichelle Sophia Brown, Stephen Pool Burglass, Sofia Rose Carlos, Kristin Elizabeth Chamberlain, Deja Tierra Cheatham, Rebecca Cochran, Brianna Rae Collins, Ricardo Emmanuel Cruz, Heather Daigle, Danielle Patricia Deno, Elisabeth Reins Dixon, Thao Nguyen Thanh Doan, Jessica Cecile Doyle, Annie Isabella Dupuy, Cydney Nova Evans, Haley Ann Foulon, Kaitlyn Monica Freese, Gabriela Isabel Fuentes, Juliette Elie Gautreaux, Caitlyn Marie Gideon, Emily Jiomar Godoy, Andrea Elizabeth Gomez, Shannon Nicole Gonzales, Devyn Christopher Governale, Jordynn Yia Guichard, Gabriella Guzman, Ashley Morgan Huggett, Kaleigh Brooke Hume, Tai Jackson, Taih-Ja Omarrè Jarrett, Endea Simone Johnson, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Keating, Samantha Leigh Keating, Kennedy Alexis Kieta, Emma Olivia Knobloch, Meredith Margaret Landry, Mary Lucy Lapeyre, Rebecca Laurent, Taylor Samone Lilly, Rhys Kathleen Lopiparo, Laura Mary Lorio, Elizabeth Ann McCormick, Ella Elizabeth Melnyk, Amanda Margaret Menasco, Brianna Renee Milligan, Carley Rose Marie Mizell, Deanne M Neyrey, Leeann Yen-Nhi Nguyen, Phuong Anh Nguyen, Madeline Patricia Niehaus, Mackenzie Fay O’Meara, Rachael Ann Oakley, Jacqueline Michele Parks, Brooke Marie Pellegrin, Bradley Joseph Poret, Rachel Elizabeth Raggio, Hannah Olivia Reames, Halle Jane Roberts, Ashley Jeanette Roche’, Hailey Danna Schmalz, Anna Elizabeth Schwager, Acacia Larei Skanes, Bradley Smith, Bailey Alexis Springler, Isabelle Elizabeth-Katherine St. Germain, Marshay Stevenson, Alexah Lee Stutes, Calvin Peter Thompson, Dalton Leonard Tollner, Georgette Lynn Toups, Scott Viet Tran, Tanner Doan Tran, Xuan Dang Tran, Sierra Rose Tumminello, Ugonma Obinna Ukaegbu, Jacqueline Irene Vinson, Jonathan Huy Vu, Catherine Elizabeth Ward, Rachel Anne Weaver, Lauryn Michele Whitlock, Kate Ashley Whitlow, Sophia Elena Yarborough, Lauren Young, Megan Anne Zeringue.
Master of Science in NursingAmanda Packer Osborne, Colleen Markey Story, Crystal Johnson Westley.
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTHBachelor of Science in Public Health
Dynisha Lynette Benson, Gabrielle Nichols.Master of Public Health
Trevor Christian Atkins, Madison P. Davis, Bailey Dixon, Beatrice Twumwaa Duah, Arielle Marion Johnson, Dorothy Elizabeth Mitchell, Jacquelynn Rita Mornay, Tiffany Aucoin Ordoyne, Anthony Michael Sagnard, Henry J Sauviac, Nicholas Stroeher, Krishna Bharatbhai Thakkar.Doctor of Philosophy -- Biostatistics
Qiufan Fu.Doctor of Philosophy – Community Health Sciences
Kara Dentro Denstel.
Doctor of Philosophy – EpidemiologyTingting Li, Pratibha Shrestha.
SCHOOL OF MEDICINEDoctor of Medicine
Davina Anouska Allen, Felix Schumann Bopp, Ashlin Jane Hinojosa, Lauren Alexandria Jackson, Audrey Nicole Marsh, Lea Marie Mascarenas, Brett Anthony Stinger.SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES
Master of ScienceDaniyell Thomason.
Doctor of PhilosophyBrianna Leilani Bourgeois, David Kurt Odenheimer, Madigan Reid, Joshua Blake Schwartzenburg, Callie Elizabeth Scull, Taylor Jordan Templeton, Dianne Louise Wellems.
SCHOOL OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONSBachelor of Science in Medical Technology
Gabriella Rose Anderson.Master of Occupational Therapy
Campbell Kathryn Sullivan.“As the state’s most comprehensive health university, LSU Health New Orleans educates Louisiana’s health care providers, research scientists, educators and other health professionals,” notes Dr. Steve Nelson, Interim Chancellor. “Nursing students represent 74% of our graduates this December. As our graduates enter the health care workforce, they will immeasurably improve the quality of life throughout Louisiana.”
The Fall Commencement Ceremony brought the total number of degrees and certificates awarded by LSU Health New Orleans since its founding to 44, 654.