Utica University announces alumnae as commencement speakers

UTICA, N.Y. — Utica University announced it has chosen two alumnae as the speakers for its upcoming undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies.

Amanda Saravia-Butler, a 2009 Utica University graduate and now the GeneLabproject scientist at NASA Ames Research Center in California, will speak at the university’s undergraduate ceremony on May 9.

Tennille Haynes, also a 2009 Utica University graduate and currently serving as associate dean for diversity and inclusion at Princeton University, will speak at Utica’s graduate ceremony on May 10.

“Dr. Amanda Saravia-Butler and Dr. Tennile Haynes are perfect examples of two highly accomplished Pioneers,” Amy Lindner, Utica University VP for advancement and chief grants officer, said in a news release announcing the alumnae as speakers. “Dr. Saravia-Butler is a Utica native who holds three degrees from Utica University. She is now an award-winning lead scientist for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Dr. Haynes is a highly regarded expert on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and community; her scholarship focuses on experiences and development of students of color at predominantly white institutions.”

Saravia-Butler holds bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, and mathematics from Utica University and a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology with a concentration in cancer biology from Mayo Clinic. She joined NASA Ames Research Center in 2017 as a mission scientist on the rodent–research project before transitioning to GeneLab in 2018. In 2020, she helped initiate and currently leads GeneLabs for Colleges and Universities (GL4U), which provides space biology-relevant training in bioinformatics to both students and educators.

Haynes serves as a leader in student affairs, advising, educating, practicing, and consulting on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and community matters in her role at Princeton, and her work involves examining systems, structures, and policies that have historically excluded communities and working to empower historically and presently marginalized identities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Stony Brook University, a master’s degree in education from Utica University, and a doctorate from Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Education.

The Utica University undergraduate commencement ceremony takes place May 9 at 5 p.m. while the graduate ceremony on May 10 will be held at 10 a.m. Both graduations are at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, 400 Oriskany St. West.

Utica University offers more than 40 majors and 40 minors to about 2,900 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students.