Commencement

2025 Order  of Events

Chancellor Mary Holz-Clause presiding

Prelude and Processional
The audience will rise for the processional and remain standing for the National Anthem.

“Pomp and Circumstance” by Edward Elgar
UMN Crookston Community Band, led by TJ Chapman, Lecturer and Band Director
The processional is led by Mace-Bearer Sharon Stewart, Ph.D., and includes Faculty Marshal Kenneth Myers, M.S., faculty, staff, candidates for degrees, and platform guests.

“The Star Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key
UMN Community Band, led by UMN Crookston Graduate Eliza Freund

Welcome
Mary Holz-Clause, Ph.D., Chancellor

Land Acknowledgement Statement
Rosemary Johnsen, Ph.D., Sr. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Remarks from the UMN Board of Regents
The Honorable Regent Tadd Johnson, Regent of the University of Minnesota

Speaking for the Student Body
Madison Elijah, UMN Crookston Student Body President

Presentation of Candidates
Rosemary Johnsen, Ph.D., Sr. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs 

Introduction of Candidates
Dani Johannesen, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English

Conferring of Degrees
The Honorable Regent Tadd Johnson, Regent of the University of Minnesota

“Flying Free" by Don Besig
The 2025 Commencement Singers, led by George French, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Music and Theater

Congratulatory Remarks from the Alumni Association
Alisha (Aasness) Asleson, Class of 2012, University of Minnesota Crookston Alumni Association, President

Passing of the Torch
Madison Elijah, 2024-2025 UMN Crookston Student Association President to 
Evelyn Dupont, 2025-2026 UMN Crookston Student Association President

Closing Comments
Mary Holz-Clause, Ph.D., Chancellor

“Minnesota Rouser” by Floyd Hutsell
Sung by the audience (words below)

Recessional and Postlude - "The Imperial March" from Star Wars by by John Williams
Led by George French, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Music and Theater

The audience is asked to remain in their seats until the recessional has left the gymnasium.

Congratulations Graduates!

Student Marshals
Brooklyn Jensen, Stephen McFadzen, Saimon Shan, and Mina Turnbow

Commencement Planning Committee
Tayler Bryant, TJ Chapman, Michelle Christopherson, Nell DeBoer, Sandy Desrosier, Madison Elijah, Brian Follette, George French, Angelika Huglen, Kim Jenkins, Monica Kustritz, Sarah Monson, John Normandin, Dale Scully, Jason Tangquist, Cyndi Wentz, and Chris Winjum

2025 Degree Candidates

High Distinction

Students who complete a degree program with a minimum grade point average of 3.90 graduate “with high distinction.”
*Fall Semester 2024 Graduate
**Summer Session 2025 Candidate
***Fall Semester 2025 Candidate

Distinction

Students who complete a degree program with a minimum grade point average of 3.75 graduate “with distinction.”
*Fall Semester 2024 Graduate
**Summer Session 2025 Candidate
***Fall Semester 2025 Candidate

Candidates

*Fall Semester 2024 Graduate
**Summer Session 2025 Candidate
***Fall Semester 2025 Candidate

Looking Back, Looking Forward
Our Legacy Lives in our Alumni

Today, we celebrate the 58th graduating class of the University of Minnesota Crookston as an institution of post-secondary education. This campus has seen many changes including a significant transformation over its history. In the past decade alone, the campus has seen the addition of many new majors as well as the growth of online education. Both are important components of our academic offerings and our role as a 21st century land-grant institution. While the Crookston campus has a proud legacy of growth and change, two things remain constant: a strong affiliation with the University of Minnesota, and the presence of talented, caring faculty and staff members. 

On this day, we also celebrate the 117th graduating class of our campus. The very first graduation ceremony was in 1909 when this site was home to the Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA), a residential high school. The NWSA opened its doors in 1906 and provided training in the technical and practical business of agriculture, and the art of homemaking. Over its history, 5,433 graduates completed their high school education at the NWSA. 

Changing educational needs in the 1960s led to a new role for the campus. In the fall of 1966, classes began for 185 students enrolled at the new University of Minnesota Technical Institute. Associate degrees were offered in three academic divisions: Agriculture, Business, and General Studies. Students of the NWSA and the UMN “Tech” shared the campus for two years. 

In the spring of 1968, a torch was passed, figuratively and literally, from the 60th and final graduating class of the NWSA to the first graduating class of the Technical Institute, now a full-fledged System campus of the University of Minnesota. From 1968 to 1994, 4,693 graduates earned associate degrees. The tradition of passing the torch from one class to the next continues to this day as part of commencement ceremonies. 

The University of Minnesota Crookston entered the next stages of its evolution in the early 1990s when it earned approval to offer baccalaureate degrees. The campus made national history in 1993 by providing students and faculty members with laptop computers to become the first public “Laptop University.” By the end of the academic year in 1994, 20 students had completed bachelor’s degree requirements, and they were recognized at the 86th commencement ceremonies. 

UMN Crookston awarded its first online bachelor’s degree in 2001. At the time, it was known as “distance education.” In some cases, commencement now may be the first time a graduate actually sets foot on the campus, making the event all the more special. 

The Crookston campus is one of five statewide campuses of the prestigious University of Minnesota System. With an enrollment of approximately 1,730 undergraduates from more than 43 states and 35 countries, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere, top-level technology, and a distinctive focus on applied, experiential learning. 

We take great pride in our students, faculty, staff, and alumni and in their many accomplishments in teaching, learning, research, and service. We are all enriched by the education, experiences, and relationships built here while acknowledging our campus legacy indeed lives in our alumni. This campus will be a memorable touchstone in our graduates’ lives as they go into the world and make good things happen.

Congratulations to one and all!

Meet the Platform Guests

Alisha (Aasness) Asleson

Alisha (Aasness) Asleson is the president of the University of Minnesota Crookston Alumni Association. She earned a master of education from the UMN Duluth in 2015 and a bachelor of science degree in horticulture from UMN Crookston in 2012. Asleson works for BFG Supply Company as the sales manager of their plant division, which serves the green industry including professional growers, lawn and garden centers, landscapers, and indoor growing stores. She is a Minnesota Landscape and Nursery Association (MNLA) certified professional and a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener. Asleson is the owner of Seeded Designs, a floral design business specializing in full service wedding florals and hands-on educational floral design classes. She is also a teaching specialist and teaches horticulture for the UMN Crookston campus and is a member of Greenhouse Product News Forty under 40 Class of 2025. She resides in Wendell, Minn. with her husband and son.

Mary Holz-Clause, Ph.D.

Mary Holz-Clause, Ph.D., began her role as chancellor at the University of Minnesota Crookston in June 2017. During her time at UMN Crookston, she has worked on systemwide enrollment, diversity, inclusion and campus culture, research and outreach, and expanding academic and athletic programs among other initiatives. In 2021, the University of Minnesota expanded Holz-Clause’s position to cover two campuses as acting executive chancellor for both the experiential and online presence of Crookston and a more traditional liberal arts campus at Morris. She served in that dual role for one year. Holz-Clause earned a Ph.D. in agriculture education and technology transfer, a master of public administration, and a bachelor of science degree in agricultural business, all from Iowa State University. 

Madison Elijah

Madison Elijah came to the University of Minnesota Crookston in Fall 2021 from Hebron, Indiana. She is majoring in animal science with a pre-veterinarian emphasis and an agricultural business minor.  While on campus, Madison has been involved as a Residential Life community advisor, as president of the Crookston Student Association, cross country team captain, Student Athlete Advisory Committee representative, and working at the Info Desk and barns on campus. She has enjoyed the small campus of Crookston, where she feels she knows all the other students and faculty/staff.

Danielle ‘Dani’ Johannesen, Ph.D.

Danielle ‘Dani’ Johannesen, Ph.D., began working at the University of Minnesota Crookston in Fall 2012 and teaches English, Writing, and First Year Experience courses. Her scholarly interests include rhetorical studies, rural and Great Plains literature, popular culture, and creative writing. Johannesen has mentored several undergraduate student research projects, and her students have presented their work at national conferences. Johannesen earned a Ph.D. in english from the University of South Dakota, a master of arts in english from Northern Arizona University, and a bachelor of arts in english from South Dakota State University.

Rosemary Johnsen, Ph.D.

Rosemary Johnsen, Ph.D., came to Crookston in 2022 and served as the division head for Business, Arts, and Education for one year before moving into the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs position. She serves as the chief academic officer and provides overall leadership for academic affairs at the University of Minnesota Crookston, striving toward excellence in teaching, learning, and scholarship across the disciplines. Johnsen is an active scholar and writer, with expertise in crime fiction, 20th and 21st century British and Irish literature, and public scholarship. Prior to coming to the University of Minnesota Crookston, she served as the Associate Provost and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and as a Professor of English at Governors State University in Chicago, Illinois. Johnsen earned a Ph.D. in English Literature, and a master of arts and bachelor of arts degrees both in English from Michigan State University.

Tadd M. Johnson, Esq.

Tadd M. Johnson, Esq., is a Professor Emeritus, and he retired as the University of Minnesota’s first senior director of American Indian Tribal Nations Relations where he served as the liaison between the entire University of Minnesota and regional Tribal Nations. He joined the UMD American Indian Studies Department in the fall of 2010, and served as a Full Professor, Department Head, Director of Graduate Studies, and Director of the Tribal Sovereignty Institute. An enrolled member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Johnson served as a tribal attorney for more than 35 years, and has also served as a tribal court judge, a tribal administrator, and is a frequent lecturer on American Indian history and Federal Indian Law. He spent five years with the U.S. House of Representatives, ultimately becoming staff director and counsel to the Subcommittee on Native American Affairs. In 1997, President Clinton appointed Professor Emeritus Johnson to chair the National Indian Gaming Commission. Johnson earned his B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and his law degree from the University of Minnesota. He has served as a faculty member of the National
Judicial College and has served on the Board of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. He was nominated by two Presidents and was twice confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a Trustee of the Udall Foundation and continues to serve as Vice Chairman. Johnson is currently serving on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents where he Chairs the Litigation Review Committee.

Academic Regalia

Academic gowns date back to the 14th century, when they served two functions of nearly equal importance: the distinctive apparel indicated the academic rank of the wearer, and the long gown kept the scholar warm in the drafty stone halls of the academy. Worn on special occasions, today’s academic gowns are a colorful reminder of the heritage of academic communities. The academic hood worn around the neck and down the back is typically black velvet inset with silk in the colors of the institution that granted the wearer’s highest degree. The lining of the hood reflects different disciplines - for example gold for science, maize for agriculture, tan for business, and white for liberal arts. Dark blue denotes a Ph.D., whatever the field of study. Traditionally, gowns in the United States have been black. In recent years, a number of universities have adopted gowns of distinctive school colors.

The Regents' Medallion

The five-foot Regents’ Medallion is displayed at commencement and other official events of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. On the face of the medallion is the seal of the Regents. An antique lamp represents the metaphysical sciences; a telescope, the physical sciences; a plow, the industrial arts; and a palette with brushes, the fine arts. The Latin motto, Omnibus artibus commune vinculum, means “a common bond for all the arts.” The seal is also on the inside cover of this program.

International Flags

The University of Minnesota Crookston places value on diversity and provides students with many opportunities to gain global and diverse perspectives. Many students travel from other countries to the Crookston campus to earn an education and to share their experiences. A colorful reminder of our global society, the flags on display represent each international graduate’s home country or country of origin.

The Mace

The word “mace” is from Middle English and was originally used to refer to an implement for breaking armor on the battle- field. While that term is still widely known, in this case it has a more peaceful connotation as it refers to the staff carried by a dignitary and signifying authority. As per tradition, since the first graduating class of the University of Minnesota Technical College, UMN Crookston’s mace is carried by the most senior faculty member. This mace is modeled after the one de- signed by Philip Morton in 1961 and used at the inauguration of University of Minnesota President O. Meredith Wilson. It is made of aluminum and topped with a crystal sphere, which symbolizes the illuminating quality and clarity of thinking that characterizes education. The crystal sphere is topped by a star representing Minnesota, the North Star State.

The Torch

A tradition unique to the Crookston campus is the presence of a stylized torch at special ceremonies. The symbolic light of the torch, the light of knowledge that permits understanding, represents the educational philosophy of the University of Minnesota. There are three different torches that play a role in campus tradition. The first is the original torch created by the final graduating class of the Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) and passed to the first graduating class of the Techni- cal College in 1968. That torch is on display in the Alumni Room in Kiehle Building.

In 2002, regional artist David Badman designed and handcrafted a new academic torch as a gift to the campus in recognition of its new academic mission as a baccalaureate university. That torch has been present at all commencement ceremonies and other special campus events since that time.

In 2009, Lew Hanson, a former employee, and employee of DeBoer Industries of Crookston created the “Century Torch” to commemorate the 100th anniversary of graduation ceremonies on the Crookston campus. During commencement ceremonies, the Century Torch is passed to the incoming president of the Crookston Student Association (CSA), maintaining the tradition that began in 1968 and acknowledging the history of the campus from its roots in the NWSA to the present. The name of the alumni magazine is, appropriately, Torch.

Faculty Assembly

Mary Holz-Clause, Ph.D., Chancellor
Rosemary Johnsen, Senior Vice Chancellor

Agriculture and Natural Resources Department
Philip Baird, M.S., Associate Professor Emeritus
Eric Castle, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Brenda Chaplinski, M.Eng., Lecturer
Lily Germano, M.S., Lecturer
Terrill Giannonatti-Bradford, M.Ed., Instructor
Sarah Kazmierczak, M.S., Lecturer
Anthony Kern, Ph.D., Professor, Associate Vice Chancellor
Layla King, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Charles Lariviere, M.B.A., Instructor
Leslie Lekatz, Ph.D., Associate Professor
John Loegering, Ph.D., Professor
Harouna Maiga, Ph.D., Professor
Michael Martin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Randy Nelson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Morgan Pyles, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Aaron Rudolph, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Margaretha Rudstrom, Ph.D., Lecturer
Matthew Simmons, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Oybek Turayev, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Kristina Walker, Ph.D., Professor
Jennifer Willey, B.S., Lecturer

Business Department
Courtney Bergman, M.B.A., Lecturer
Shawn Boyne, Ph.D., J.D., Associate Vice Chancellor
Kara Bowen, M.B.A., Lecturer, Department Chair
Anas Al Fattal, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Julie Hinders, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Megan Kragness, M.S., Lecturer
Joanne Kronstadt, M.B.A., Lecturer
Mohammed Konte, M.S., Lecturer
Rachel Lundbohm, D.B.A., Associate Professor
Grace Menze, M.S., Lecturer
Kenneth Myers, M.S., Associate Professor
Ali Saeedi, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Eddie Walker, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Oxana Wieland, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education Department
Jacob Bell, Ph.D., Lecturer
Megan Bell, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Carl Bevelhymer, M.S., Lecturer
Shawn Boyne, Ph.D., J.D., Associate Vice Chancellor
Connie Camrud, M.S., Teaching Specialist
Shari Daniels, Ph.D., Associate Professor
James Foss, Ed.D., Assistant Professor
George French, Ed.D., Associate Professor
Sam Gruenberg, M.F.A., Lecturer, Department Chair
Mark Huglen, Ph.D., Professor
Danielle Johannesen, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Kelsey Keimig, Ph.D., Lecturer
Paul Kratwell, Ph.D., Lecturer
Soo-Yin Lim-Thompson, Ph.D., Professor
Rachel McCoppin, Ph.D., Professor
David Seyfried, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Program Director

Math, Science, and Technology Department
Jaafar Alghazo, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Katy Chapman, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Theodore Chapman, M.S., M.M., Lecturer
Brian Dingmann, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Timothy Dudley, Ph.D., Professor
Mark Dufner, M.A., Lecturer
Anita Gust, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Wordh Ul Hasan, M.S., Lecturer
Anthony Kern, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor
Venugopal Mukku, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Beth Reeves, M.A., Lecturer
Anthony Schroeder, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Joseph Shostell, Ph.D., Professor
Sharon Stewart, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department Chair

The Faculty Assembly consists of: (a) tenured faculty, (b) tenure track faculty, and (c) faculty and other professional staff who work at least 50% time in credit teaching and 66% time in teaching, research, and service.

2025 Commencement Photo Gallery