Thousands of new Maverick graduates ready to lead
Nearly 5,700 Mavericks are expected to cross the stage on May 12 during University of Texas at Arlington commencement ceremonies at Globe Life Field. They’ll join an alumni network of more than 270,000 former students.
Maverick graduates are everywhere, including at each of the 24 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas and in the thousands of smaller businesses and nonprofits that are key to this region’s economic success. Starting salaries for UT Arlington baccalaureate graduates are the highest of any non-medical UT System institution.
“Our students are relentless in forging their own paths and unafraid to do whatever it takes in pursuit of their goals. It’s what I like to call the Maverick Factor,” said Jennifer Cowley, UTA’s president. “We can’t wait to see how our graduates will flourish when they enter their chosen profession and become leaders in their communities.”
Roughly 5,688 students are expected to graduate this week, a 12% increase from a year ago. UTA’s largest programs are in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, with more than 1,700 expected graduates, and the College of Engineering, with more than 1,300. The number of master’s degrees candidates in engineering increased nearly 5.5 times from spring 2022.
Among this year’s graduation candidates are a number of individuals with compelling personal stories They include:
• Efferata Tigabu, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Nursing degree and already has a job at Cook Children’s Health Care System in Fort Worth. Her family immigrated to the United States from Ethiopia when her mother was six months pregnant with her. Her mother delivered at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, an experience that “single-handedly redefined” health care to her family. Tigabu credits her mother’s descriptions of the “holistic and collaborative” care they received when she was born as her inspiration for pursuing a career in nursing. She went on to cite her parents’ incredible worth ethic as a large part of her inspiration.
• Dang Le, who won the prestigious 2023 Editor of the Year award from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. Le, who is from Vietnam, is forging a successful journalism career in his second language.
• Teri Berbel, who is graduating with a Master of Social Work. After finding her way to self-healing following the trauma of divorce, she discovered the desire to help others heal in a similar way. She chose to build a foundation for that healing work with a degree in social work specializing in mental health. She teaches goat yoga classes, incorporating nature and animals into her practice.
Commencement schedule: Friday, May 12, at Globe Life Field
• 9 a.m. – College of Nursing and Health Innovation and School of Social Work
• 2 p.m. – College of Liberal Arts, College of Engineering and Honors College
• 7 p.m. – College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs; College of Business; College of Science; Division of Student Success (University Studies) and College of Education