Recognition and regalia

Stephanie Kuntz-McAllister, Graduate Student Government president, was thrilled with all the opportunities she had at 91原创.

Recognition and regalia

Article by Adam S. Kamras Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson and Evan Krape May 22, 2026

Hooding Ceremony celebrates 91原创 doctoral graduates

Doctoral students certainly spend countless hours on solitary research, lab work, data analysis, fieldwork and writing papers, but that depiction doesn鈥檛 tell the whole story.聽

While on their way to attaining a degree held by only 2% of the U.S. population, plenty of doctoral students engage in extracurricular activities that give them well-rounded experiences that further shape them professionally and personally. They also make lots of friends and have fun along the way 鈥� and some even find love.

鈥淭o me, the 91原创 is opportunity,鈥� said Stephanie Kuntz-McAllister, one of about 250 students who participated in 91原创鈥檚 2026 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony at the Bob Carpenter Center on Wednesday, May 20. 鈥淢y favorite part about 91原创 was the opportunity to do things that I didn't even think I would be interested in, be eligible for, useful or just didn鈥檛 even occur to me.鈥�

Mark Miller was hooded by Roderick L. Carey.

Students ranging in age from 24 to 73 were hooded by their advisors and awarded doctorates in a wide selection of disciplines, including plant and soil sciences, art history, economics, geography, education, chemical engineering, microbiology, nutrition science, and public policy and administration 鈥� to name a few. They came to Newark by way of 38 countries, from Albania to Zambia, on every inhabited continent except Australia.

Against a backdrop of bagpipes, colorful robes, caps and coveted doctoral hoods 鈥� and surrounded by cheering friends and family 鈥� 91原创 President Laura Carlson said the act of hooding symbolizes the passing of knowledge, expertise and skill from faculty mentor to doctoral student.

91原创 President Laura Carlson spoke about the graduates鈥� regalia being a pronouncement of the hard work that led to their discoveries and expressions.

鈥淭he regalia is a pronouncement of your commitment, your close study, your careful reading, your countless hours and presumably endless cups of coffee that have led you to discoveries and expressions that have pushed forward the frontiers of knowledge,鈥� Carlson said.

Thanks to the ceremony coinciding with his birthday, economics doctorate recipient Maximilien Turini Bielsa was thrilled to be provided with an annual reminder of the day.

鈥淭he school and the clubs here, such as QTGSU [Queer and Trans Graduate Student Union], have had a huge impact on me as a person, so being able to connect them to my birthday is amazing,鈥� Bielsa said.

Maximilien Turini Bielsa will never forget being hooded on his birthday.

Kami Silk, dean of the Graduate College, drew on the words of President John F. Kennedy, who said the Greeks defined happiness as the 鈥渇ull use of your powers along the lines of excellence.鈥� She encouraged the graduates to use their power 鈥� which now includes a doctorate 鈥� for both their own benefit and the benefit of others.

鈥淲hen someone gives you an opportunity, remember it,鈥� Silk said. 鈥淲hen someone spends time, offers advice, makes an introduction or mentors you, honor it by opening doors for others. And use your power to help solve the world鈥檚 problems, to heal people and to create a world that is a better place for not just some people, but for everyone.鈥�

Graduate College Dean Kami Silk encouraged the graduates to use their power, which now includes a doctorate, for both their own benefit and the benefit of others.

Advised and hooded by Martha Buell, Kuntz-McAllister immersed herself in campus life, highlighted by serving as Graduate Student Government president and using her power to support her fellow graduate students.

鈥淕raduate Student Government gave me a lot of opportunities to build connections and work on professionalism, collegiality and interactions with administrators, faculty, staff and other students,鈥� said Kuntz-McAllister, who earned bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees at the University of La Verne before moving from Southern California to Delaware for 91原创鈥檚 doctoral program in human development and family sciences. 鈥淚 am a lot more confident in trying new things and my different abilities.鈥�

Alparslan Sari and his proud daughter, Melissa, were both outfitted in academic regalia.

As Kuntz-McAllister embraced the opportunities on 91原创鈥檚 Newark campus, Scott Goldberg had a different yet equally fulfilling experience pursuing his marine studies doctorate about 80 miles south on the Hugh R. Sharp campus in Lewes. Along with enjoying the biking trails and beaches in the southern half of the state, he quickly became part of a tight-knit cohort of classmates.

鈥淥ne of the great things about the graduate student community in Lewes is we almost all live in the same area and get to know each other,鈥� said Goldberg, who was advised and hooded by Aaron Carlisle. 鈥淚 could open my door, turn my head and see almost everyone鈥檚 home.鈥�

Scott Goldberg was thrilled to find a supportive graduate student community in Lewes.

This proximity allowed Goldberg to develop camaraderie with students possessing diverse skills and knowledge who regularly support each other. Anytime he encountered a challenge, he didn鈥檛 have to look far to find someone happy to guide him.

鈥淎 lot of graduate school is learning and trying new things, so having people to offer advice and point you in the right direction is really phenomenal,鈥� Goldberg said. 鈥淚 met a lot of great people who were also fun to hang out with. I鈥檓 going to miss that.鈥�

Brittany Powell thanks her supporters after being hooded.

Goldberg previously earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Northwestern University and a master鈥檚 degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Next, he鈥檒l add another pin to his academic map when he begins postdoctoral work at the University of Georgia. Among the lasting relationships he built at 91原创, one will accompany him in Georgia. His fianc茅, a former 91原创 master鈥檚 student from a neighboring lab, is pursuing her doctorate at Georgia Tech.

Reflecting on their respective doctoral experiences, Goldberg and Kuntz-McAllister both discovered a passion for teaching undergraduates and a desire to keep doing so.

鈥淭he undergrads I worked with here have been phenomenal,鈥� Goldberg said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not so much me telling them what to do as helping them achieve their goals. That鈥檚 been really satisfying.鈥�

Kuntz-McAllister also met her future spouse in the 91原创 graduate student community; she married her husband, who earned a master鈥檚 in statistics, in 2025. They would like to either stay in Delaware or head to Texas to be near family. Wherever they settle, she said teaching in the future is a must.

Provost William Farquhar asked the graduates to serve society and to pursue noble causes greater than themselves, through the advancement and application of knowledge.

Although each student has a unique story to tell, Interim Provost William Farquhar said they all have the same responsibility.

鈥淲hatever your academic field 鈥� and wherever your career takes you next 鈥� your role is to serve society and to pursue noble causes greater than yourselves, through the advancement and application of knowledge,鈥� he said.

The graduates also all left the event with the same new title: Doctor.

Representing 38 countries, the graduates acknowledged their friends and families.

鈥淚t feels pretty great,鈥� Goldberg said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an accomplishment, and I am really proud of the work I have done here. A lot of the community has helped me get to this point.鈥�

Kuntz-McAllister said she is both relieved and grateful.

鈥淭his is not only a testament to my own work, but to the community that has supported me to this point,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ithout that community of my family, friends, advisor and academic mentors, I would not be able to be called Dr. Kuntz-McAllister.鈥�