The Mace – August 2025 Edition

Dear NAACO Colleagues,

Claudia Y. Dávila
NAACO President 2024-2025
Director, Commencement and Ceremonies, Presidential Events and University Ceremonies, The University of Arizona

Thank You Volunteers

As we prepare for a new academic year, I hope you’ve found time to recharge after another extraordinary—and often intense—ceremony season. Your work represents far more than logistics and planning; you shape some of the most powerful and memorable moments in higher education. Through your dedication, you celebrate achievement, affirm identity, and elevate each graduate’s personal journey. Thank you for continuing to create inclusive, joyful spaces where every step across the stage holds meaning.

I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to NAACO this year—our dedicated volunteers, chairs, committee members, regional leads, sponsors, alumni, NAACO HQ team, and board members. Your time, energy, and steadfast commitment have left a meaningful and lasting impact on our association and its mission. As we look ahead to the next phase of NAACO’s evolution, your contributions continue to guide our path forward with strength, purpose, and a shared sense of community.

At our July board meeting in Boston, MA—our future host city for the 2026 Annual Conference—I had the honor of passing the gavel to Marcus Jones II, who will officially begin his term as President on August 1. I’m also deeply grateful to Gabrielle Martinez and Jim Vitagliano for their visionary leadership and unwavering dedication. Their guidance and support have been instrumental in steering NAACO through another dynamic year of growth, innovation, and impact.

Together, we’ve accomplished so much:

Record-breaking participation at the Long Beach conference, with over 300 attendees and 65 sponsors
Expanded professional development, including a reimagined Certificate Program and revitalized regional meetings
Growing membership, now at 299 institutions, reflecting our expanding reach and engagement
Strong financial standing, underscoring our commitment to long-term sustainability and responsible stewardship

Looking ahead, we’re excited to gather in Boston, February 23–25, 2026, for what promises to be an inspiring and memorable Annual Conference. The Call for Proposals will be opening soon, and we encourage you to share your insights, innovations, and lessons learned.

Don’t forget to join us for the Fall Commencement Showcase on November 12 and consider hosting or attending a regional meeting—NAACO Headquarters is here to support your involvement every step of the way.

As I move into the role of Immediate Past President, I want to extend my deepest appreciation—for your trust, your collaboration, and your unwavering commitment to this vibrant community. It has been an honor to serve alongside you, and I look forward to supporting NAACO’s continued growth in the months ahead. Together, we are shaping the future of academic ceremonies—one moment, one milestone at a time.

With gratitude,

Claudia Y. Dávila

SAVE THE DATE

Rethinking Hooding Logistics: Challenges and Solutions for a Smoother Graduation Ceremony

James Vitagliano
NAACO President 2023-2024
Associate Dean of Enrollment Services/Registrar, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA

Thank You Volunteers

For colleges and universities, commencement represents the culmination of years of hard work and academic achievement. For graduate-level students, the act of being hooded during the ceremony is a powerful, symbolic moment that signifies the transition from student to scholar. Yet, behind this cherished tradition often lies a complex web of logistical challenges that can disrupt the flow of the event, cause delays, and compromise the dignity of the occasion.

The Struggles of Hooding Logistics
While the symbolism of hooding is meaningful, the practice itself is physically awkward and operationally tricky, especially during large ceremonies. Common logistical challenges include:

Time Delays: Hooding takes significantly longer than handing out diplomas. Each student must pause while a faculty member carefully places the hood, which can bottleneck the procession.
Inconsistent Technique: Depending on who is doing the hooding—faculty advisors, deans, or volunteers—the technique can vary widely. This sometimes leads to hoods falling off, students being tugged or poked, or even humorous mishaps caught on camera.
Space Constraints: On crowded stages or in tight aisles, maneuvering to perform the hooding properly without tripping over gowns, cords, or wires can be difficult.
Training Gaps: Faculty often receive little or no training ahead of time. Many arrive on the day of commencement unsure how to perform the hooding efficiently or respectfully.
Accessibility Concerns: For students with mobility aids or health conditions, navigating the physicality of hooding may not be feasible or dignified without additional planning.

Potential Solutions
To preserve the tradition while minimizing logistical hurdles, institutions are experimenting with several solutions:

Pre-Hooding Before the Ceremony
Many institutions now hood students in a separate ceremony or backstage before the formal event. This allows the public ceremony to run more smoothly while still honoring the symbolism in a more controlled setting.
Professional or Trained Hooders
Designating a small, trained group of faculty or staff to perform all hoodings can standardize the process and reduce time and errors. These individuals can rehearse beforehand and ensure consistency.
Peer Hooding
Some institutions have embraced peer hooding, allowing graduates to hood each other. This can create a meaningful moment of camaraderie while also expediting the process, especially when practiced beforehand.
Modified Gown Design
Certain regalia manufacturers now offer gowns and hoods with snaps or fasteners that allow for quicker donning. While less traditional, these designs prioritize efficiency without sacrificing appearance.
Stage Redesign or Alternate Procession Routes
For large ceremonies, institutions may consider altering the procession route or stage design to accommodate more hooding stations or ease transitions between steps of the ceremony.
Educational Materials
Providing faculty and students with a brief video tutorial or printed guide before commencement helps prepare them for what to expect and how to conduct the hooding with dignity and efficiency.

Balancing Tradition with Practicality
Commencement is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Preserving its meaning while reducing avoidable complications is key. By rethinking how we approach hooding logistics—with training, planning, and a willingness to evolve—colleges can better honor their graduates and uphold the spirit of the ceremony.

After all, the focus should be on the achievement, not the choreography.

Building the Future of NAACO: Highlights from the Summer Board Meeting & Boston Meet & Greet

Lacy Dailey
Director at Large – Communications, NAACO Board of Directors
University Events Manager, American Public University System

The NAACO Board recently gathered in Boston for its summer meeting, and while the setting at the Westin Boston Seaport was beautiful, the real energy came from the discussions.

Much of the Board’s time was spent on long-term strategic planning as we look ahead to the next five years. Fresh off our 25th anniversary celebration, the group focused on how to grow membership, expand brand awareness, and shape an even stronger future for our community. Planning is also underway for the 2026 Annual Conference, which will take place right back here at the Westin!
The corresponding Boston Meet & Greet brought together over 20 attendees, including local members, board leaders, and representatives from the Corporate Advisory Council. With so many institutions in close proximity, the event was a great reminder of the strength and density of our community in the Northeast.

As we build on the momentum of our last 25 years, we’re setting the course for NAACO’s next chapter! We hope to see you all in Boston this February!

NAACO Member Spotlight with Marcus Jones

Marcus Jones II
NAACO President 2025-2026
Chief of Staff to the Vice Provost and Dean, Arizona State University

As NAACO’s incoming president, Marcus shares his vision for expanding the organization’s reach and supporting a new generation of commencement professionals. Learn more about his leadership approach, professional journey, and the values that drive his work.

As the new president, what is your vision for the organization over the next year, particularly in shaping the future of commencement experiences?: My goal over the next year is to increase awareness about NAACO to universities that we have not partnered with before, or it has been a while since they’ve been a member. NAACO has been around for 25 years, and it’s time to build upon that success and shape the next 25 years. We have a lot of new professionals joining the industry, so I want to ensure that they know they have a professional home that they can engage with and develop their careers.

What unique perspectives or experiences do you bring to the presidency that you believe will shape your approach to leading this organization?: Something that I think is unique is that I come from a university, ASU, where we believe in trying anything, being okay with failing, and then trying again. That is a mindset that I’ve embraced, so what I hope to inspire over this next year is allowing our dedicated group of volunteers to step outside of the box and try something new on their committees and see where it goes.

What role do you see collaboration, both within the organization and with external partners, playing in achieving NAACO’s goals?: At the core, we as commencement professionals all have the same goal of creating memorable experiences for our students, their families and friends who visit our campus every year to celebrate a significant milestone in their life. When I think of collaboration, I think of us putting our heads together to make the experiences even more meaningful. It is quite apparent that budget cuts are happening across higher education, but we still have a job to do, and people expect graduation to happen and still be great because they have invested thousands of dollars in your institution. Collaboration is key between us and our corporate partners, who will help us come up with innovative solutions.

What’s your best piece of advice (or tip) for our NAACO community planning ceremonies and events?: Relationships are key. You can know how to do everything and be the best planner with the perfect project plan, but if you are not someone who people want to work with, you will not enjoy this industry. I’ve learned that the better you are to work with, when you need something last minute or something from a partner that’s out of the ordinary, they are more likely to help you if you’ve been well to them.; PS… your vendor is not just someone you cut a check to, engage them throughout the whole planning process.

Have you had a previous job in the past that our readers would find interesting?: I’ll give you two! One, throughout college, I used to deliver flowers for a local flower shop! I primarily worked on the major floral holidays or funerals/weddings. However, it was such a fun experience to help make people’s best (or worst) days look the best that we could. Next time you see me, ask me about a flower story because I sure have a few!; Two, a pride point in my career was being able to set up testing and vaccination sites across the state of Arizona during the pandemic. It was a great way to take my knowledge and experience of large-scale events and translate it into something for the good of society at a time of need. It also kept a lot of our people we use for graduation employed over the next year, since most of my staff were the same people we would hire to work ceremonies.

What is your favorite element or part of commencement day? What is your least favorite?: My favorite part of commencement is actually when the opening fanfare starts and then pomp and circumstance (the full version!) starts to play. I always love seeing some of the behind the scene footage because a camera person will catch me conducting with my fingers. And the reason this is my favorite part is because all the work that we have done has culminated to this moment. The ceremony has started, and I feel like the hard part is done.; Honestly, my least favorite part is when it is over, simply because that means we have to clean up. And I think every person should help because it should not just be your student workers or junior staff cleaning, so I always make sure to hang back and clean up in whatever ceremony I am part of. Specifically for commencement, Melissa loves streamers and these are a “joy” to clean up.

Tell us a personality trait of yours that helps you succeed in your role?: I would say, I am loud and laugh a lot. A lot of people joke and say to me that they “hear me laughing before they see me”. I think the reason that makes me succeed is because I bring happiness to whatever I am doing. Even when I am absolutely mad, I will find a way to bring a laugh out of it and keep it moving forward. We do hard, very hard jobs and might as well keep some fun in it.

How do you manage your personal wellness (or the wellness of your team) leading up to your events?: I walk one of my many dogs a lot, almost every day when it is not too hot. I try to take at least one long weekend a month, even if I don’t go anywhere just to disconnect. I go to one art-related thing by myself a month, that could be a musical, an exhibition at a museum, something at the symphony, a local art show, anything, but it must be by myself.; I encourage my team to do the same and I encourage them to do things outside of work that bring them joy. For example, one of my event managers is an avid runner and does about 4 marathons a year. I make sure he knows that he has the support to be out of work to do that and we will do our best to work the event schedule around his calendar. And if he wants to go running mid-day or do an early morning run and come in a little later, that is always encouraged.

How did you get involved in NAACO originally?: My first conference was in Hawaii, and then I knew I wanted to go again, so I begged to go to Atlanta. I am a firm believer that we are educators at heart, so naturally, I gravitated toward the Education Committee and joined that. My first subcommittee was being a part of the conference education committee and then I also was responsible for curating our Hot Topic calls. This was a natural fit for me because back then, I did a lot of conferences and a lot of executive education for medical professionals and to be honest, it was boring. So being on the Education Committee allowed me to create some great educational experiences for a field that I am so passionate about. I was a part of the education committee for five years and transitioned to the President’s pathway this last year.

What is something about you that might surprise people?: I love to cook and I love to eat. And I love hand washing dishes. Food has been something that has been a part of my life forever. I grew up in the kitchen around my grandmother and my father. We never really ate out, so home cooking means so much to me. I love to cook for others, and I host a big Thanksgiving every year in my backyard.

Thank You to the NAACO Volunteers

Thank You Volunteers

We want to express our deep gratitude to the 2024-2025 NAACO Volunteers for their incredible dedication and hard work. Your commitment and enthusiasm have significantly impacted us, and we couldn’t have achieved our goals without your support. Thank you for being such a valuable part of our team!

Board of Directors

Claudia Davila, President 2024-2025 (University of Arizona)
Marcus Jones, President 2025-2026 (Arizona State University)
James Vitagliano, Past-President 2023-2024 (MGH Institute of Health Professions)
Gabrielle Martinez, Secretary (New Mexico State University)
Sondra Schwartz, Treasurer (Wilfrid Laurier University)
Lacy Dailey, Director at Large, Communications (American Public University System)
Patricia Nolin, Director at Large, Education (Rhode Island College)
Melissa Picher Kelly, Director at Large, Membership (British Columbia Institute of Technology)

Communications Committee

Christine Le, Chair (York University)
Katelyn Doyle (University of Chicago)
Laura Moran (Southern New Hampshire University)
Alexa Morgan (Capilano University)
Angela Ruff (Gonzaga University )
Heather Violett (University of Massachusetts Global)

Education Committee

Sariah Tillotson, Chair (University of Nevada, Reno)
Lindsey Hendriks (Niagara College Canada)
Anna Cottrell (MGH Institute of Health Professions)
Christal Crosby (Case Western Reserve University)
Julie Straus (Western Carolina University)
Amber Sega (California Baptist University)
Stephanie Castro (University of San Diego)

Event Experience Committee

Claudia Gil, Chair (New York University)
Kristine McDonough (University of Cincinnati)
Joshua Green (University of Texas at Austin)
Heather Calkins (Boise State University)
Robin Roup (University of Tampa)
Carmela Arstill (California State University, Long Beach)
James Cuaresma (California State University, Los Angeles)

Membership Committee

Kelly Carland, Chair (University of California, Irvine)
Rachel Huang (McMaster University)
Brandy Hamilton (Fanshawe College)
Joanne Sokolowski (Trent University)
Christine Keys (Kwantlen Polytechnic University)
Miranda MacKenzie (University of Lethbridge)
Katie Harries (Capilano University)
Melva Karnes (University of Cincinnati)
Lisa O’Connell (Kent State University)
Peter Evans (University at Albany, State University of New York)
Kelly O’Malley (University of Vermont)
Deanna Zanella (Southern New Hampshire University)
Mykayla Mitzel (Boise State University)
Kristin McDaniel (Texas State University, San Marcos)
Tammie Davidson (Washington University, St. Louis)
Sarah Ciccone (James Madison University)
Becky Bosstick (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)
Patti Gibbons (Elon University)
Whitney Smith (University of California, Davis)

Nominations Committee

Whitney Smith (University of California, Davis)
Claire Alexander (University of Guelph)
Mary Beth Rehrer (Rutgers University)

Regional & Assistant Regional Directors

Rachel Huang, Canada-East (McMaster University)
Brandy Hamilton, Canada-East (Fanshawe College)
Joanne Sokolowski, Canada-East (Trent University)
Melissa Picher Kelly, Canada-West (British Columbia Institute of Technology)
Christine Keys, Canada-West (Kwantlen Polytechnic University)
Miranda MacKenzie, Canada-West (University of Lethbridge)
Katie Harries, Canada-West (Capilano University)
Sara Lycett, (Management Solutions Plus, NAACO HQ)
Melva Karnes, US-North Central (University of Cincinnati)
Lisa O’Connell, US-North Central (Kent State University)
Liza Alrutz, US-North Central (Northwestern University)
Peter Evans, US-Northeast (University at Albany, State University of New York)
Kelly O’Malley, US-Northeast (University of Vermont)
Deanna Zanella, US-Northeast (New Hampshire University)
Mikayla Mitzel, US-Northwest (Boise State University)
Kristin McDaniel, US-South Central (Texas State University, San Marcos)
Tammie Davidson, US-South Central (University, St. Louis)
Sarah Ciccone, US-Southeast (James Madison University)
Becky Bosstick, US-Southeast (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)
Patti Gibbons, US-Southeast (Elon University)
Kelly Carland, US-Southwest (UC Irvin)
Whitney Smith, US-Southwest (University of California, Davis)

Watermelon & Feta Salad: A Summer Showstopper

Photo by Frames For Your Heart on Unsplash

Looking for a quick, easy, and healthy standout side for an upcoming BBQ? Nothing says summer like a refreshing watermelon, but have you thought about jazzing it up with some feta and mint? Bursting with sweet, juicy flavor, and a hint of salty tang, it’s the perfect balance of taste and texture that will keep everyone coming back for seconds:

Ingredients
4 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped or torn
2 tbsp balsamic glaze
Optional: pinch of flaky sea salt or light drizzle of olive oil.

Instructions
Combine watermelon cubes, crumbled feta, and mint in a large bowl and toss. Just before serving, drizzle with balsamic glaze. Optionally sprinkle with a pinch of flaky salt or a touch of olive oil to finish. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Welcome New Institutions!

NAACO is the only professional association for college and university commencement and convocation officers throughout North America. Only post-secondary institutions that handle commencement, convocation, and graduation ceremonies are welcome to join.

Affiliate members are the individuals of a member institution and can be added by the primary NAACO member. We look to engage with affiliate members on NAACO Connect, on social media sites, and at upcoming events, including hot topic calls, the annual conference, and regional meetings.

Let’s welcome these institutions that are new to NAACO:

Anne Arundel Community College Arnold, MD US Southeast Region	Crandall University Moncton, NB CA East Region
Empire State University Saratoga Springs, NY US Northeast Region	The Evergreen State College Boston, MA US Northeast Region
Mount Allison University Sackville, NB CA East Region	Mount Allison University Sackville, NB US Northeast Region
University of Maine at Augusta Augusta, ME US Northeast Region