Cal Lutheran to confer graduate degrees
Speaker studied Chinese girls at US high schools
Robin Fontana, the director of international students and support services at La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks, will speak on behalf of her fellow doctoral graduates.
(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – April 28, 2015) California Lutheran University will hold its 2015 Graduate Commencement Ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, May 15, in William Rolland Stadium.
About 480 students are eligible to receive master’s degrees and about 40 will receive doctorates at the ceremony. The graduate programs are based in Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, Woodland Hills, Westlake Village and Santa Maria as well as online.
Robin Fontana, the director of international students and support services at La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks, will speak on behalf of her fellow doctoral graduates. About the time the Camarillo resident began the doctoral program in educational leadership three years ago, she met a 9-year-old girl in China who wanted to study in America, and the conversation they had changed Fontana’s life. For her doctorate, she researched the social barriers Chinese girls face in transitioning to private American high schools. The number of international students studying in American high schools has skyrocketed in the past decade and the experience of Chinese girls has not been studied thoroughly. Fontana is also a consultant for an international education agency and plans to continue to build bridges between agencies and American high schools to support the growing international student population.
Sean DeCecchis, an engineer with the Advanced Strike Unit of Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems’ Business and Strategic Development Division, will speak on behalf of the students receiving master’s degrees. The Santa Clarita resident is currently leading a project to create an advanced simulation framework. Throughout his career, DeCecchis has briefed high-level corporate, military and government officials. He is receiving an MBA from Cal Lutheran.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the city of Thousand Oaks, Cal Lutheran alumna and City Councilwoman Claudia Bill-de la Peña will give the keynote address. A resident of Thousand Oaks since 1995, she served on the Planning Commission for two years before her election to the council in 2002. The former Emmy Award-winning TV news writer earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at El Paso. She earned a master’s degree in public policy and administration from Cal Lutheran in 2007.
Tickets are required for admission. For more information, call the Office of Academic Affairs at 805-493-3364.