Doctoral Dreams: Commemorating Success at the 2024 Hooding Ceremony
By: M. Caroline Helms and Sandra Spiroff
On May 8, 2024, the Graduate School marked the culmination of the dedication and remarkable achievements of over 150 doctoral students at the 2024 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony in the Sandy and John Black Pavilion. As the newly-minted Ph.D. and Ed.D. graduates walked across the stage to be hooded by their advisors and congratulated by University of Mississippi (UM) administrators, it was a momentous occasion.
The 2024 doctoral hooding ceremony. Photo by Sandip Rai, UM Grad Ambassador.
Dr. Annette Kluck, the Dean of the Graduate School, acknowledged the significance of this occasion. She emphasized the countless hours of study, time, and commitment these students have invested in their academic pursuits.
“The doctoral degree is the highest degree the academy offers and few can claim such an accomplishment. Individuals only complete the doctoral degree through focused, intense study, sustained commitment, and a willingness to endure difficult challenges. Thus, it is only fitting to pause and recognize the entry of our 2023-2024 doctoral graduates into the academy of scholars,” Kluck said.
Chancellor Glenn Boyce echoed this sentiment, expressing his appreciation for the graduates’ perseverance and dedication in reaching this significant milestone. He also noted the immense amount of study, sacrifice, and preparation that goes into completing a doctoral degree.
The 2024 doctoral hooding ceremony. Photo by Sandip Rai, UM Grad Ambassador.
“You have accomplished something remarkable. Consider this: The U.S. Census Bureau reports that roughly two-percent of adults in this country have a doctorate. Let that sink in for a minute. That means you have accomplished something rare, something truly special. This credential will change the trajectory of your professional life,” Boyce said.
The distinction of serving as Class Marshals for the 2024 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony fell upon Dr. Lorena Magaña Zertouche and Dr. Brett Patterson, both recognized by Provost Noel Wilkin for excellence in their respective fields.
Dr. Lorena Magaña Zertouche, who earned her Ph.D. in Physics, shared her journey from her upbringing in Irapuato, Guanajuato, a mountainous city in the heart of Mexico, to eventually matriculating at the University. True to her scholarly interests, she contextualized her experience via astronomical events.
Dr. Lorena Magaña Zertouche, Ph.D. in Physics 2024
“It was in the middle of the 2017 solar eclipse that my mom and I were driving to Oxford from the airport. We stopped somewhere in the middle to catch a glimpse. Looking back now, it was really the beginning of a new chapter for me. Coming in, I expected to be only working on research, but little did I know that along the way I would discover a passion for outreach. It is through my time here that I discovered the joys of sharing science with communities around Mississippi…and became increasingly aware of the importance of being a role model for women in STEM, and more so as a Latina woman in physics.” Speaking to her fellow graduates, she continued, “Imagine the 2024 eclipse as the closing of a chapter. Soon, we are all to begin a new one and forge our own career paths, and because of our experiences here, we know we are strong enough to keep succeeding.”
Dr. Magaña Zertouche’s next chapter is a postdoctoral position at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, where she can enjoy partial solar eclipses on March 29, 2025, and August 12, 2026.
Dr. Brett Patterson, Ph.D. in Accountancy
Dr. Brett Patterson, who hails from McMinnville, Tennessee, earned his Ph.D. in Accountancy. During his speech to fellow graduates, he shared insights from his journey, reframing moments of adversity as necessary steps leading to his pursuit of the doctoral degree at UM.
“When I was the guy who played in the U.S. Open at the age of nineteen but had no successful career in professional golf, I thought I was a failure. When my coworker in public accounting got a raise that I didn’t, I thought I was a failure. When my GMAT score prohibited me from applying to many doctoral programs, I thought I was a failure. In hindsight now, though, I don’t consider any of those failures. Rather, they were all necessary steps that led me to Oxford, Mississippi, so that I could pursue a doctorate in accountancy.” Dr. Patterson reminded his peers, “Ultimately, all we can control is our attitude and our effort, and if those two are in the right place, success follows shortly after the failures.”
In closing, Dr. Patterson expressed his gratitude for the University of Mississippi, where he will begin his career as a faculty member in the Patterson School of Accountancy.
The Graduate School extends a heartfelt congratulations to our 2023-2024 graduates on their distinguished achievements. As they embark on their future endeavors, we anticipate the many research and creative accomplishments that lie ahead.
Spring 2024 Newsletter
- Welcome
- Doctoral Dreams: Commemorating Success at the 2024 Hooding Ceremony
- Elevating Voices, Fostering Community: Inside the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association
- Enhancing Graduate Student Wellness: The Graduate House Welcomes Embedded Counselor Caelyn Ditz
- In the Spotlight: Mr. Julian Gilner, Our New Recruitment Manager
- Across Continents, Graduate Scholars are Thriving Abroad