{"id":192722,"date":"2026-05-13T14:44:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:44:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/?p=192722"},"modified":"2026-05-18T09:39:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:39:40","slug":"celebrating-gsos-spring-2026-graduates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/news\/celebrating-gsos-spring-2026-graduates\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating GSO&#8217;s Spring 2026 graduates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">University of Rhode Island Commencement Weekend held May 15\u201317, 2026 on the Kingston Campus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 18, 2026<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Congratulations to the Class of 2026! The Graduate School of Oceanography <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/commencement\/y2026\/\">commencement ceremony<\/a> took place on Sunday, May 17, at 9 a.m. at the Ryan Center on the Kingston Campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-id=\"192776\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/10-6.jpg\" alt=\"A group of graduates smiles in their gowns. \" class=\"wp-image-192776\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/10-6.jpg 940w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/10-6-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/10-6-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/10-6-364x305.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/10-6-500x419.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-id=\"192775\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/11-4.jpg\" alt=\"A group of graduates, their advisors, and the interim dean smile in their gowns.\" class=\"wp-image-192775\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/11-4.jpg 940w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/11-4-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/11-4-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/11-4-364x305.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/11-4-500x419.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-id=\"192774\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/12-3.jpg\" alt=\"A student and faculty member smile in the Ryan Center, in their caps and gowns. \" class=\"wp-image-192774\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/12-3.jpg 940w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/12-3-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/12-3-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/12-3-364x305.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/12-3-500x419.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Commencement 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<a class=\"cl-button   prominent\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/Vf2qRhB3W1k\" title=\"\">Watch the live stream<\/a>\n\n\n<p>On Friday, on May 15 at 12:00 p.m., we honored the degree and certificate recipients from the past year at the GSO Shirting Ceremony, a time-honored tradition, in Corless Auditorium on the URI Bay Campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"875\" height=\"584\" data-id=\"192772\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/Untitled-design-12.jpg\" alt=\"Group of new grads in blue shirts.\" class=\"wp-image-192772\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/Untitled-design-12.jpg 875w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/Untitled-design-12-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/Untitled-design-12-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/Untitled-design-12-364x243.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/Untitled-design-12-500x334.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 875px) 100vw, 875px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-id=\"192780\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/2-56.jpg\" alt=\"Two students smile on the deck of Mosby.\" class=\"wp-image-192780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/2-56.jpg 940w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/2-56-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/2-56-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/2-56-364x305.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/2-56-500x419.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-id=\"192778\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/3-48.jpg\" alt=\"A student and faculty advisor smile in Mosby.\" class=\"wp-image-192778\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/3-48.jpg 940w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/3-48-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/3-48-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/3-48-364x305.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/3-48-500x419.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-id=\"192781\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/4-29.jpg\" alt=\"Two students smile in Mosby.\" class=\"wp-image-192781\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/4-29.jpg 940w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/4-29-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/4-29-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/4-29-364x305.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/4-29-500x419.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-id=\"192777\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/6-17.jpg\" alt=\"Two students, and friends, smile in Mosby.\" class=\"wp-image-192777\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/6-17.jpg 940w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/6-17-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/6-17-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/6-17-364x305.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/6-17-500x419.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-id=\"192779\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/8-6.jpg\" alt=\"Two new graduates talk in Mosby at the reception.\" class=\"wp-image-192779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/8-6.jpg 940w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/8-6-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/8-6-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/8-6-364x305.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/8-6-500x419.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">A reception followed the 2026 shirting ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:41px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2026 GSO graduates (and their major professors)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Margaret Bernish (Inomura)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meng Gao (Inomura)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Asta Habtemichael (Lohmann)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erin Jones (Rynearson)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rachel Marshall (Collie)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Angelos Papandreaou (Ginis\/Hara)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Josh Pi (McMahon)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anna Schrecengost (Beinart)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jarod Snook (Lohmann)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Melissa Woodward (Lohmann)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Master of Science in Oceanography:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ainsley Fruhwirth (Kincaid)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shelby Gibson (Palter)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emily Hall (Peck)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Waheed Odubayo (Roman)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jaque Rosa (Wang)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pranav Sai (Ginis\/Hara)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Katherine Thompson (Lewis)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Master of Oceanography:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Taylor Leitch (Peck)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sarah Wilme (Peck)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Online Master of Oceanography:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nicolas Baccari (Spivack)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Holly Boubouras<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thomas Crossley<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paul Hardersen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gordon Hutcheon<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alexander Lopes (McConnell)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emma Pilling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lachlan Smith<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Graduate Certificates (McConnell)<\/strong>:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Carly Besh<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Joshua Cooper<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Elizabeth Grady<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jamie Jones<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Justin Lehr<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Matt Marino<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kerri Newman<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rachel Poisson<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Matthew Shepherd<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chad Tokowicz<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Graduate Profiles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"cl-wrapper cl-card-wrapper\"><a class=\"cl-card   right\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/news\/commencement-2026-oceanography-student-learns-about-outsized-impact\/\" title=\"\"><div class=\"cl-card-container media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/maaggie-bernish-scaled-e1743001273944.jpeg\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"Headshot of Maggie Bernish\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container text\"><div class=\"cl-card-text\"><h2>Grad Spotlight: Maggie Bernish<\/h2><p>After years spent studying the physiology of phytoplankton at\u00a0GSO, Maggie Bernish is graduating with her Ph.D. in oceanography<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container button\">Read the spotlight<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"cl-wrapper cl-card-wrapper\"><a class=\"cl-card   right\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/news\/commencement-2026-student-speakers-for-college-graduation-ceremonies-named\/\" title=\"\"><div class=\"cl-card-container media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/ASta_2-copy-e1779110884128.jpg\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container text\"><div class=\"cl-card-text\"><h2>Meet the Speaker: Asta Habtemichael <\/h2><p>Graduating with his doctorate in oceanography, Asta was a member of GSO\u2019s Lohmann Lab and a trainee in the\u00a0STEEP Superfund Research Program, where he studied how persistent pollutants move through marine food webs.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container button\">Meet the graduation speaker<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>University of Rhode Island Commencement Weekend will be held May 15\u201317, 2026 on the Kingston Campus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4762,"featured_media":192772,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-192722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4762"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192722"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192722\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":192782,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192722\/revisions\/192782"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/192772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}