Graduation
2021 Spring In-Person Graduation Stage-Walk Ceremonies and Virtual Commencement
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach Campus will host in-person graduation stage-walk events as well as virtual commencements to celebrate our spring 2021 graduates.
The virtual commencement ceremony viewing links will be presented online on Monday, May 10, 2021. All graduates will be individually recognized with a graduate slide during the virtual commencement ceremonies, names will be read and degrees will be conferred. Graduates will be invited to personalize their slide with a photo and submit name pronunciation.
Graduates will also celebrate their graduation with their classmates, professors and dean during the in-person stage-walk events May 6-8, 2021 prior to virtual commencement. Graduates choosing to participate in the stage-walk will be invited to individually walk across the stage in full regalia, hear their name read, and get professional photographs taken. In compliance with our campus safety protocols, no guests will be permitted. Livestream viewing links of the stage-walk events will be posted here for family and friends to enjoy!
We recognize that commencement is an important milestone for graduates and their families. We look forward to celebrating our students and their accomplishments, and we encourage inviting family and friends to watch and celebrate these wonderful occasions!
Virtual Commencement Ceremonies
Monday, May 10, 2021
Undergraduate Ceremony
(Associate and Bachelor’s Degrees)10 a.m. EST
Graduate Ceremony
3 p.m. EST
Ellen Stofan, Ph.D.
Smithsonian Under Secretary for Science and Research
Ellen Stofan, Ph.D.
Smithsonian Under Secretary for Science and Research
Ellen Stofan is the Under Secretary for Science and Research at the Smithsonian. She oversees its science research centers as well as the National Museum of Natural History and the National Zoo. The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, Office of International Relations, Smithsonian Scholarly Press and Scientific Diving Program also report to Stofan. Her focus is the Smithsonian’s collective scientific initiatives and commitment to research across the Institution, especially addressing issues such as biodiversity, global health, climate change, species conservation, astrophysics and the search for life outside Earth’s solar system.
Previously, Stofan was the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (2018-2021) where she was the first woman to hold that position. Under her leadership, the museum began its seven-year renovation of its flagship building in Washington, D.C., in 2018. Stofan also oversaw the momentous celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing in July 2019 at the museum and on the National Mall.
Before joining the Smithsonian, Stofan had than 25 years’ experience in space-related organizations and a deep research background in planetary geology. She was chief scientist at NASA (2013-2016), serving as the principal advisor to former Administrator Charles Bolden on NASA’s strategic planning and programs. She helped guide the development of a long-range plan to get humans to Mars, and worked on strategies for NASA to support commercial activity in low Earth orbit as it transitions from the International Space Station to sending humans to the moon and Mars in the mid-2020s.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in geology at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and her master’s and doctoral degrees at Brown University, both in geological sciences. While finishing her doctoral degree, Stofan joined the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) as a post-doctoral fellow and became the deputy project scientist for the Magellan Mission to Venus.
In 1994, Stofan became JPL’s chief scientist for the New Millennium Program where she managed a team of about 100 scientists working on new technologies. The following year, Stofan moved to London while continuing to work at JPL and was, and continues to be, an honorary professor at University College London.
For 13 years (2000-2013), Stofan was vice president and senior scientist at Proxemy Research, a consulting firm in the Washington area specializing in planetary research.
Stofan’s research focuses on the geology of Venus, Mars, Saturn’s moon Titan and Earth. Her favorite mission was Cassini, primarily because of her interest in Titan.
She has published extensively and received many awards and honors, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and was named one of “CNN’s Extraordinary People of 2014.” She is co-author of the books Planetology: Unlocking the Secrets of the Solar System and Next Earth: What Our World Can Teach Us About Other Planets, both published by National Geographic.
Ahmed Abdelghany, Ph.D.
Professor of Business Operations Management
Ahmed Abdelghany, Ph.D.
Dr. Ahmed Abdelghany is a professor of operations management and associate dean for research in the David O'Maley College of Business, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach Campus. He has been with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University since January 2006. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Abdelghany worked within the information services division of United Airlines, Chicago. Dr. Abdelghany has a doctorate degree from the University of Texas at Austin in Civil Engineering; Transportation Systems (2001).
He is the author of the books titled Airlines Network Planning and Scheduling, Wiley (2018) and Modeling Applications in the Airline Industry by Ashgate/Routledge publishing (2010). He also has several publications in the area of airline management, operations and competition analysis, transportation planning, and simulation of complex systems in several journals including Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, Annals of Operations Research, Air Transportation Management, International Journal of Revenue Management, European Journal of Operational Research, Transportation Research Record, Journal of Public Transportation, Air Traffic Control Quarterly.
Dr. Abdelghany participates in several research and consulting projects on commercial airlines, Next Generation Air Transportation Systems (NextGen) and simulation of complex transportation systems in the U.S. and overseas.
Graduate Information
Yes, all graduates need to apply for graduation. The application deadline for Spring graduates is March 15, 2021. To initiate your application for graduation, log into your student services account on Campus Solutions, select the Academic Advising tile and then select “Apply for Graduation” from the left side of the screen.
Yes. The graduation fee is not used to pay for commencement ceremony expenses; rather, it covers staffing and diploma costs, as well as the cost of processing, printing and mailing the graduate’s diploma. This fee is charged to all graduates, whether they choose to attend a ceremony or not, and so it remains in place for all graduates.
Embry-Riddle is looking into options for a face-to-face make-up event, to include graduates as well as their families, pandemic conditions permitting. If feasible, a make-up event may take place in the fall. We will continue to monitor the local government and CDC guidelines to determine when it is safe to gather again in-person.
Virtual Commencement Ceremony
A virtual commencement is an online celebration with traditional ceremony elements such as messages from our Administration, speakers, degree conferral and announcement of graduate names. There is no in-person participation for graduates for the formal ceremony. All graduates will be individually recognized during the virtual ceremony on Monday, May 10, 2021 and will have the opportunity to personalize their graduate slide.
A graduate slide will be created for each graduate with their full legal name, degree, and academic honors (if applicable).
Graduates will receive an email in their ERAU email account in late March with a link to a registration system where they can upload a photograph and provide additional name pronunciation information. The email will be coming from a vendor, MarchingOrder, so please be sure to check your junk mail.
Details regarding the graduate photo submission requirements will be outlined in the email. ERAU reserves the right to omit photos that are deemed inappropriate without notice.
Viewing links to the Virtual Commencement ceremonies will be posted here on Monday, May 10.
Ceremony times are as follows:
- Undergraduate Commencement, 10 a.m. EST
- Graduate Commencement, 3 p.m. EST
- Schedule a virtual commencement watch party with family and friends or share the virtual commencement website link asking them to join you online for the event.
- Participate in time-honored commencement traditions such as standing upon hearing your name and degree conferral and singing of the Alma Mater.
- Customize your virtual commencement graduate slide with a photo. An email will be sent to your ERAU email address with instructions on how to submit your photo.
- Purchase regalia (optional) to wear during your virtual commencement celebration and for photo opportunities.
- Share your photos and experiences on social media and tag #ERAU2021Grad
In-Person Stage-Walk Event
Stage-walk events for Daytona Beach Campus graduates will be planned as follows:
- May 6 – College of Aviation
- May 7 – College of Aviation / College of Engineering
- May 8 – College of Arts & Sciences / David B. O’Maley College of Business
Graduates will receive additional information soon, including specific times and locations.
The Virtual Commencement Ceremony is the official graduation ceremony of the University with remarks from our Administration, guests speakers, and will officially confer graduates degrees. All graduates will be recognized and have their name read in the ceremony and graduates can personalize their slide with a photo.
The stage-walk is a separate event open to all graduates who wish to participate and have a professional photo taken, and hear their name read safely in-person. Attendance is not mandatory and participation does not impact their graduation status with the university since it is a separate celebratory event.
Advance sign up will be required. Participation is limited to 50 graduates per timeslot. In compliance with campus safety protocols, no guests will be permitted. However, these events will be LIVE-STREAMED via a link on this website so that your family and friends can tune in at your designated stage-walk time. Taped recordings of all stage-walk events per college will then be posted on May 10th to this website so you can share the video with friends and family beyond graduation day.
No. Attendance is not required but participation is encouraged as a final celebration of your achievements. The Dean of your college as well as faculty will be on hand to celebrate with you.
We will reach out to all graduates directly via email, to let them know where to go, when, and what to expect before, during and after the celebratory stage-walk events. All graduates must pre-register in advance in order to attend. All Covid-19 safety protocols will be followed and face masks are required for the duration of the event. Continue to check back for additional details as the plans are finalized.
Yes, graduates must wear regalia to participate in the stage-walk. Information regarding cap and gown orders are listed in the below section of the FAQs.
Ph.D. candidates – please contact April Atkinson for regalia information.
Cap, Gowns, Cords
To order individual items such as a cap, tassel or hood, please contact the University Bookstore. Anonline order form must be completed and emailed to 1787mgr@follett.com. Graduates will be notified via email that their order has been confirmed and to contact the bookstore at 386-226-6063 at their earliest convenience to provide payment.
Ph.D. candidates that wish to participate in the stage-walk events, please contact April Atkinson.
Every undergraduate candidate eligible for graduation with honors will receive honor cords at the stage-walk event or by mail. To confirm your honors status, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
Diplomas and Programs
Digital programs will be posted to the Commencement website a few days prior to May 10. Programs will be downloadable for sharing purposes. Printed copies can be requested after the ceremony by contacting April Atkinson at atkinsa5@erau.edu