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El NuEvoComiEnzo

2018 LATINA/O/X AND NATIVE STUDENT GRADUATION CELEBRATION

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 | 6-8 P.M.

Ashley Tuomi, DHSc, Chief Executive Officer, American Indian Health & Family Services

Ashley Tuomi is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in Oregon. She grew up in a military family traveling around the United States. When she returned to Oregon, she became very active with her tribe and participated in tribal royalty for seven years. This experience became the stepping stone to her career of serving the health needs of the American Indian/Alaska Native population. She graduated from Portland State University with a bachelor of

science in sociology while working as a certified nursing assistant at a nursing home. She then went on to get her master of health policy and administration from Washington State University.

After school, Tuomi began working at United American Indian Involvement in Los Angeles as the associate director of health services. Her experience included a national RPMS training for urban Indian clinics, quality improvement, policy revisions, grant writing and program development. She also served as the executive director for a tribal consortium clinic. Recently, Tuomi graduated from A.T. Still University with a doctorate in health sciences. Her manuscript was titled “Dental Anxiety in American Indians and Alaska Natives.” Tuomi is dedicated to improving the health of American Indians/Alaska Natives and has a passion for serving the urban Indian population. She welcomes the opportunity to meet other Natives around the country and to learn the culture and customs of other tribes.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Ashley Tuomi

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Smudging Ceremony – Ceremonia IndígenaDr. Sandra Gonzales, Assistant Professor, Bilingual/Bicultural Education

Celebración Procesional

Honor Song – Honrar a Nuestros GraduadosHarvey Dreaver, Cree of Big River First Nations

Emcee Tamara Serrano Chandler, C2C Program Coordinator

First Welcome: Wikwemikong, Unceded Territory – Primera BienvenidaAlphonse Pitawanakwat, Turtle Clan

Welcome – BienvenidaAmy Cooper, Program Coordinator for Learning Communities and First-Year Experiences, WSUDr. Jorge L. Chinea, Director, Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies, WSU

Keynote Speaker – Ponente de AperturaAshley Tuomi, DHSc, Chief Executive Officer, American Indian Health & Family Services

Student Speakers – Orador/a EstudiantilMicheline Silva B.A., Psychology David Pitawanakwat B.A., Political Science and SociologyLilian Roa M.S.W.

Graduate Awards – Premios Otorgados

Graduation Round Dance SongHarvey Dreaver, Cree of Big River First Nations

Celebración de la Vida de Dwayne P. Carrero-BerryAlicia Diaz, LAS Part-Time Faculty

Closing Performance – Actuación FinalBombaRica

Class of 2018 Exit – Salida de la Clase del 2018

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“ You cannot value dreams according to the odds of their coming true. The real value is in stirring within us the will to aspire.” ~ Sonia Sotomayor, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

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EL OBJETIVO DEL NUEVO COMIENZO

The purpose of “El Nuevo Comienzo” is to highlight the success and achievements of Latina/o and Native graduates at Wayne State University and provide a time and space for honoring the support and contributions of family, friends, mentors and the community. El Nuevo Comienzo is open to all undergraduate, graduate and professional school students from Wayne State University and is co-sponsored by the Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies and the NDN Learning Community — “a community of learning for Native/Aboriginals and allies.”

About sweetgrass and smudging

Sweetgrass is considered the sacred hair of Mother Earth. It is one of the most important ceremonial plants used by indigenous people across the Americas as an incense and purifying herb. Sweetgrass is often braided, with each strand representing mind, body and spirit. When tied into a circle, it represents the sacred medical wheel, reminding us to walk in a way that our ancestors would be proud of.

The elders say that all ceremonies must be entered into with a good heart. To do a smudging ceremony, burn one end of the sweetgrass, rub your hands in the smoke, and then gather the smoke and bring it into your body or rub it onto yourself, especially onto any area you feel needs spiritual healing. Keep praying all the while that the unseen powers of the herbs will cleanse your spirit. (Source: native-languages.org)

EL NUEVO COMIENZO 2018 PLANNING COMMITTEE

Tamara Serrano Chandler College to Career Program Coordinator, LAS

Dr. Jorge L. Chinea Director, LAS

Dr. Eric “Zach” Morales CBS Scholars Program Coordinator, LAS

Dr. Sandra M. Gonzales Associate Professor, College of Education, and Coordinator, NDN Learning Community

Dr. Leonard Savala Director, Office of Multicultural Student Engagement

Melissa Miranda Morse Assistant Director, LAS

Paige Williams Student, NDN Learning Community and NASO

Peter Marra Coordinator of Events and Marketing, LAS

Jasmin Perez LAS Student

Erica Perez LAS Student

Pam Esparza LAS Student

Mayra Torres LAS Student

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EL NUEVO COMIENZO CLASS OF 2018College of Liberal Arts and SciencesDwayne P. Carrero-Berry B.A., Psychology

Micheline Silva B.A., Psychology

Ruben Maya-Luevano B.A., Spanish

David Pitawanakwat B.A., Political Science and Sociology

Emily Roldan B.S., Criminal Justice

Breanna Betancourt B.A., Global Studies

Daniel Weed B.A., History

Jake Clor B.A., Political Science

Dréana Williams B.A., Chemistry

Marie Muhammad B.S., Environmental Science

School of Social WorkVeronica Rosa-Sandoval M.S.W.

Jalesa Moise M.S.W.

Dalila Valdovinos M.S.W.

Lilian Roa M.S.W.

Roxanne Rodriguez M.S.W.

Mike Ilitch School of BusinessErik Huerta B.S., Accounting

Alexis Rivera B.S., Marketing

Maria Olvera B.S., Finance

Merelin Antoni Ruiz B.S., Global Supply Chain Management

Gabriela Martinez B.S., Management

College of EngineeringDiego Jimenez B.S., Chemical Engineering

Jorge Lopez B.S., Industrial Engineering

Tannia Rodriguez Valenzuela M.S., Biomedical Engineering

Enrique Sancen B.S., Electrical Engineering

Abel Jaime B.S., Industrial Engineering

College of EducationJuan Jose Martinez Ed. D., Curriculum and Instruction

Maricruz Moya B.S., Health Education

Monserrat Morales B.S., Kinesiology

Rudy L. Martinez M. Ed., Bilingual Bicultural Education

College of NursingHildelisa Estrada B.S.N.

Liberty Alcaya B.S.N.

College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts

Francis Carew M.A., Music

David Torres B.F.A., Design

Marygrove CollegeJennifer Leyla Rincones M.A., Social Justice

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Wayne State University Board of GovernorsSandra Hughes O’Brien, chair, David A. Nicholson, vice chair,

Michael Busuito, Diane L. Dunaskiss, Mark Gaffney, Marilyn Kelly, Dana Thompson, Kim Trent, M. Roy Wilson, ex officio

“Looking behind, I am filled with gratitude; looking forward, I am filled with vision;

looking upwards, I am filled with strength; looking within, I discover peace. ”

– Quero Apache prayer

Center for Latino/a andLatin American Studies