UTA is set to confer 4,800-plus degrees this fall
More than 4,800 degrees are set to be awarded during The University of Texas at Arlington’s fall 2024 commencement ceremonies on Friday, Dec. 13, at Globe Life Field in Arlington.
These newest Maverick graduates will join a UTA alumni network 280,000 strong and contribute to the University’s $28.8 billion annual economic impact in Texas. They will enter critical workforce industries to support the state’s growing economy and help make a lasting impact, all while earning the highest first-year median salaries among baccalaureate graduates at any UT System academic institution.
This semester, UTA’s overall degree count increased by 4% compared to fall 2023, including an 11% increase in bachelor’s degrees and a 4% increase in doctoral degrees. The College of Nursing and Health Innovation (1,700 degrees), the College of Business (850 degrees) and the College of Engineering (825 degrees) will confer the highest number of degrees.
Among this year’s graduation candidates are a number of individuals with compelling personal stories. They include the following:
- Oswaldo Ortiz Jr. and his father, Oswaldo Ortiz Sr., are graduating from UTA’s MBA program. Inspired by his son’s ambition, Ortiz Sr. joined the program alongside him and used the experience to deepen their bond and advance his own career. Together, they navigated rigorous coursework, supported one another and balanced personal and professional commitments. For both, walking the commencement stage symbolizes perseverance, mutual encouragement and the strength of their familial connection.
- For 85-year-old Ramesh Sharma, a doctoral degree is more than a piece of paper; it’s the fulfilment of a promise he made when he immigrated to the United States from India in 1976—to make his homeland and his newly adopted country proud. After retiring from a career as a mechanical engineering in 2007, Sharma went back to school, first earning a master’s in engineering from UTA and now a Ph.D. “I took one class at a time, but I did it. I’m so happy to be able to keep the promise I made when I started school,” he said.
- When Katherine Kitchens was completing her master’s degree in social work at UT Arlington, she participated in an advanced field placement at a community clinic that provided primary health care services to families in need. Her experience working with marginalized populations is one of the reasons she decided to stay at UTA and pursue her Ph.D. in social work. “During my field work at the Agape Clinic in Dallas, I spent time helping resettled refugees, primarily community members from Burma who were forcibly displaced,” she said. “The experience really inspired me to pursue my doctoral degree to further focus on research strategies that combine public health, cognitive health and social work practice in primary care settings.”
- Joe Cloud (’19 BS, Computer Engineering) turned his childhood fascination with Jurassic Park into a passion for robotics that has propelled him toward a groundbreaking career in space exploration. On Dec. 13, he will receive his doctorate in computer engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington at Globe Life Field. Shortly after, he will begin a full-time role at NASA, developing software for lunar excavation robots as part of the Artemis program. Cloud’s work focuses on creating autonomous systems that enable robots to extract resources from the moon's surface, supporting sustainable operations in space. Reflecting on his journey, Cloud said, “It’s come full circle in the most unexpected way,” as he now helps develop robots that could shape the future of lunar exploration.
Commencement schedule:
All ceremonies are on Friday, Dec. 13.
9 a.m. College of Nursing and Health Innovation, School of Social Work
2 p.m. College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs; College of Engineering; College of Science
7 p.m. College of Business; College of Education; College of Liberal Arts; Division of Student Success
Call Globe Life Field at 817-533-1972 for ADA accommodations for guests (not graduates).