Commencement 2022

May 17, 2022
Commencement 2022
Students congregate in the Dee Glenn Smith Spectrum for the commencement
ceremony on May 5, 2022.


















Utah State University awarded 7,047 degrees to 6,588 students at the 135th commencement ceremony on May 5, 2022. As the first in-person commencement in two years, students congregated in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum to participate in the ceremony and celebrate with fellow students and faculty.

Thomas J. Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, served as the commencement speaker and spoke to students about resiliency and finding their passion.

“I see you and believe in you and your generation as America’s resilient generation—with the capacity to make America stronger and more resilient through the experiences, knowledge, and capacity you have developed growing up in this time of great disruption,” said Vilsack.

As quoted in Utah State Today’s article on commencement, President Noelle E. Cockett said of the graduating class:

“The successes of this graduating class are impressive and wide-ranging, demonstrating the resilience and fortitude that has sustained them through their years at USU. The class of 2022 will make a significant impact on the world as they join other innovators and achievers who are part of the Aggie alumni family. It has been an incredible privilege and opportunity to serve as president during their time at Utah State.”

USU Commencement Statistics (Spring 2022)

Numbers of degrees:

  • Certificates: 281
  • Associate: 1,145
  • Bachelor’s: 4,411
  • Graduate certificate: 73
  • Non-degree program/master’s: 1
  • Master’s: 967
  • Education specialist’s: 2
  • Doctorate: 167

Geographic origin:

  • Foreign countries: 42 (Top 3: China, 311; India, 19; Saudi Arabia, 12)
  • S. states (not including Utah): 48

Race and ethnicity unique student demographics:

  • American Indian/Alaskan native: 146
  • Pacific Islander: 16
  • Asian: 445
  • Black, non-Hispanic: 65
  • White, non-Hispanic: 5,548
  • Multiple: 175
  • Not specified: 193
  • Hispanic or Latino: 394

Legal sex of graduates:

  • Female: 3,848
  • Male: 2,740

U.S. Air Force Commissions: 23

U.S. Army Commissions: 12

Most popular degrees (undergraduate):

  • Economics: 397
  • Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education: 337
  • Psychology: 183
  • Elementary Education: 153
  • Kinesiology: 148
  • Mechanical Engineering: 137
  • Integrated Studies: 136
  • Registered Nurse: 134
  • Biology: 116
  • Finance: 114
  • Accounting: 111

Departments graduating the most students with graduate certificates or degrees:

  • Marketing and Strategy
  • Psychology
  • Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences
  • Management

Number of degrees awarded to first-generation students:

  • Associate: 380
  • Bachelor’s: 789
  • Master’s: 50
  • Doctorate: 4

Graduates by USU campuses:

  • Logan/main: 4,174
  • USU Eastern 325
  • USU Blanding: 157
  • Salt Lake: 326
  • Brigham City: 127
  • Uintah Basin: 127
  • Kaysville: 231
  • Tooele: 74
  • Southwest: 84
  • Orem: 203
  • Moab: 31
  • International: 285
  • Out-of-state: 447

Valedictorians:

  • Caine College of the Arts: Olivia M. Brock
  • College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences: Madeline Amanda Peterson
  • College of Engineering: James Anthony Mullen
  • College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Carina Michelle Linares
  • College of Science: Porter K. Ellis
  • Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services: Abigail L. Canaan
  • Jon M. Huntsman School of Business: Ian McKean Theler
  • J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources: Julianne Atencio

Wynne Thorne Career Research Award: Melanie Domenech Rodríguez, Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services

Peterson Extension Award: Margie Memmott, Extension

Faculty University Service Award: Vicki Allan, College of Science

Eldon J. Gardner Teaching Award: Jenifer Evers, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Distinguished Teaching Awards:

  • Caine College of the Arts: Susie Tibbitts
  • College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences: David Anderson
  • College of Engineering: Doug Hunsaker
  • College of Science: Erik Falor
  • Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services: Kaitlin Bundock
  • Jon M. Huntsman School of Business: Todd Griffith
  • & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources: Larissa Yocom

 More information and video recordings can be found at usu.edu/commencement.