2020 LEAD Senior Celebration
On May 1, the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan celebrated our 2020 LEAD seniors. Although we could not meet in person, that didn’t mean we couldn’t cheer on our scholars, share laughs, and reflect on years of memories. Behind every scholar are friends, family, supporters, and champions coaching them forward as they enter the next phase of their life.
If you could not join us or would like to rewatch the memories, click here for the full virtual ceremony.
To view our LEAD Seniors, click here.
2020 Year in Review



LEAD Graduation Photos
A Message from a LEAD Scholar Alumna
LEAD Scholars are part of a growing network, connecting graduates across the world. Alumna Asia Harris-Martin, ’17, tells us about her experience.
A Message from Our Alumni Community
We pay tribute to all graduating seniors across the University. While recognizing our LEAD seniors, we also celebrate all graduating Wolverines from all of our schools, colleges, and campuses.
The U-M 2020 Commencement page features special congratulatory messages, and celebrations across campus.
Our LEAD Scholar 2020 Graduates

Adrienna Martinez
President of Anthropology Club (2 years), Volunteered with the English Language Program in Flint.
After graduation, Adrienna will be pursuing a career as a Bilingual ESL Specialist with future plans to pursue anthropological film making.

Alanah Cardenas-O’Toole
Alanah will be attending graduate school post-graduation with future plans of getting a PhD.
Activities:
- Destino
- Latinidad
- WISE RP

Alexandra Murray
Michigan Muscle Club (President), Wolverine Fit Crossfit Club (President)
Andy plans to go on a vacation post-graduation and plans to rescue a bunch of shelter dogs.

Alicia Lenci
Out of the Darkness, Michigan Triathlon, MPowered Entrepreneurship, Women in Science and Engineering
Alicia will be taking a gap year to travel and then will be pursuing a career at Capital One in Washington, D.C. as a finance rotation program associate.

Alyson Grigsby
Peer Information Consultants Program (UM Library), Inclusive Campus Corps, Lloyd Hall Scholars for Writing and the Arts
After graduation, Alyson intends to matriculate to the Transcultural Studies Program under Rackham Graduate School with long-term plans to find a career in nonprofit work, public service, or diplomacy.

Anthony Davis
Development Summer Internship Program and was elected by class to speak at the final Summer Symposium
Anthony will work as a Secondary English Teacher in Detroit (facilitated through Teach for America) with future plans of attending law school and eventually pursuing a career in policy advocacy and politics.

Anthony Salmeron
Project MESA, SHPE, Beta Mu Epsilon
Anthony will be pursuing a full-time position at Johnson and Johnson with future plans to give back to the LEAD Scholar Program as an alumni.

Corey Townsend Jr.
HEADS, Men’s Club Basketball Team (Vice President), EnspiRED Fashion Show, Bronze Elegance Fashion Show
Corey will be pursuing a mortgage banking job at Quicken Loans with future plans to own a business.

Daija White
Worked every summer throughout their time at the University of Michigan
Daija is unsure of their plans after graduation.

Daniela Garcia
After graduation, Daniela will be exploring opportunities related to social work and education with future plans to pursue a masters in social work.
Michigan Pops Orchestra, LSA Comprehensive Studies Program/BRIDGE Scholar, Michigan Research and Discovery Scholars (Freshman year)

Diante Hill
Diante will be pursuing a career in the energy industry.
Activities:
- NSBE
- M-STEM
- ASB-C Chicago
- NACME

Diego Vazquez
After graduate school from Michigan, Diego aspires to be an athletic trainer/nutritionist for a hospital, high school, or professional sports team.
- Care For Rare
- Professional Fraternity
As a graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep, Diego played soccer and volleyball. He also plays three instruments: the clarinet, alto saxophone, and tuba.

Dominique L. Cornitcher
CAPS Student Advisory Board, Prison Creative Arts Project, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Nu Chapter
Dominique will be looking for jobs within Corporate Citizenship/Corporate Philanthropy with future plans to pursue work in the Corporate Foundation Sector that engages in community and social impact work.

Edward Cobian
Edward plans to get more experience in his field with a future goal of finding a career in a place where he is comfortable.

Gabrielle Brathwaite
NSBE, MSTEM, LEAD, Bindx
Gabrielle have plans to visit Japan with her friends this summer with future plans to get a full-time job and start working.

Grace Gonzalez
Vice President of Speakers on the Michigan Fashion Media Summit planning team
Grace plans to move back home to New York with future plans to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

Hannah Perez
Head Intern for Fan Experience as part of the Michigan Athletic Department, Building Crew for Yost Hockey Arena
Hannah is unsure of her future plans.

Harrison Watson
Able to complete degrees in two very different areas of passion without sacrificing the quality of engagement in either discipline.
Harrison will be taking a gap year before attending graduate school to study Japanese culture, language, and society.

James Wich
Human Powered Submarine Team member, College of Engineering Peer Mentor Program, Engineering Student Government. Aerospace Honor Society (SGT)
James will be attending graduate school through SUGS with future plans to work in California for Northrop Gruman.

Jared Evans
Volunteer at the Michigan Theater, Local Community Gardens, the Arboretum, United 2 Heal in Detroit
Jared plans to work immediately after graduating with plans to return to obtain a Master’s degree.

Jazzaray James
Research Assistant, Gallery Assistant, Library Clerk
Jazzaray plans to pursue teaching abroad in South Korea with future plans to apply to graduate school.

Jean-Pierre Vasquez
Students Empowering Education, ALPFA, APEX Trading
After graduating, Jean-Pierre will be pursuing a career at Citigroup (S&T) in San Francisco.

Jordan Graves
After graduation, Jordan will pursue a Master’s Degree, and plans to work with the Center for Socially Engaged Design (C-SED). Her ultimate career goal is to be an UX Researcher.
- President/Founder of Girls Who Code at UM
- Appreciate + Reciprocate Communications Chair
- Global Scholars Program Dialogue Facilitator
- Michigan Daily Analyst
As a graduate of Western High School, Jordan was involved in Key Club, STEMakers, and the student council.

Joshua Johnson
After graduation from Michigan, Joshua plans to travel abroad before he settles into being a Computer Engineer. His career goal is to seek an intersection between Computer Science and the nonprofit world.
Activities:
- Hip Hop Congress Open Mic performances
As a graduate of Lindblom Math and Science Academy, Joshua was involved in the school’s debate team, math team, and worked as a robotics program intern at LevelUP Makerspace.

Jovany Dorsainvil
Studied law at the Paris Institute of Political Studies
Jovany will be interning at an immigration rights law firm during the summer and plans to either get a Master’s of Public Policy or Juris Doctor

Karina Forsythe
Founder of Curl Talk at the University of Michigan, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Beta Eta chapter, Kappa Delta Pi Educational Honor Society

Kathleen Ortiz-Tenesaca
Dance 2xS Michigan, LEAD Scholars
After graduation, Kathleen plans to travel and see the world, spend time with family, relax, and learn an instrument with future plans to work full-time at Accenture in Detroit.

Kaylee Picard
Biological Technician at USGS Great Lakes Science Center (2 years)
Kaylee will be moving to Seattle, Washington, with long-term goals to attend graduate school and have a career in aquatic ecology research.

Laun C. Stawder
As a graduate of Grand Blanc High School, Laun was an active member of the National Honor Society and student council.

Lauren Rainey
Ginsberg Community Leadership Fellowship Program, Young Life College, fneUM Nicaragua, LEAD Scholars Advisory Board Vice President
Lauren will be pursuing a Masters Degree from the University of Michigan School of Social Work with future plans of working in nonprofit management.

Lauryn Hobbs
Musket, Basement Arts, Runyonland productions
Having her first full length fully produced this year, Lauryn plans to move to New York and begin auditioning there with a long term goal of performing on Broadway or national tours.

Leonard Rowe
Leonard plans to take a gap year during which he will study for the DAT and shadow a dentist back home with long term plans of studying dentistry at the University of Detroit.
Activities:
- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
- Black Undergraduate Medical Association

Maximillian C. Garcia, III
University of Michigan Fencing Team- Saber Fencer, Studied abroad in Italy, Kwiker Scholar, Carson Scholar- Went to Washington D.C. to speak with representatives, Worked on a consulting project in Chile, Preparation Initiative
Maximillian will be pursuing a wealth management job at JP Morgan with plans to attend Law School.

Maya Alwan
Choreographer for Musket’s Legally Blonde (March 2019) and The Wiz (March 2020), Director/Choreographer for Pioneer Theatre Guild’s Fame, Co-Producer/Director/Choreographer for the Department of Musical Theatre’s 2020 Color Cabaret, Student Representative on the Musical Theatre Student Advisory Committee
Maya will be moving to New York City to pursue a career as a Broadway actor/singer/dancer, and have future plans of directing and choreographing across the country and eventually teaching at a performing arts high school or college program.

Michael J. Forrest
University of Michigan Unions Student Marketing Committee, University Christian Outreach
Michael will be pursuing marketing research at Gongos, Inc., with future plans to build a career in consumer research and make the world a better place.

Mikayla Pratt
Dance Marathon, American Medical Student Association, Golden Apple Committee
After graduating, Mikayla will be doing temporary work before attending medical school with long-term plans to pursue a career as an anesthesiologist.

Mitchell Keefer
Health Science Scholars Program, Student Nurses’ Association, Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society of Nursing, Motley Crew, Nursing Student Voices, Nursing Peer Mentor
Mitchell plans to pass the NCLEX and start a career in the PICU with a future goal to get his Doctor of Nursing Practice and become an Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (ACPNP).

Naomi Nichols
Doctors of Tomorrow, Student Nurses Association, Supporting Incoming Black Students, Dean’s List (x2)
Naomi has future plans to travel to Europe, continuing to work at Mott as a patient care tech, and studying for the NCLEX post-graduation with future plans of working as an RN at Mott.

Nikki Duran
Alpha Phi Sorority, VP Internal Relations of Michigan FinTech, MHacks
Nikki will be pursuing a career as a product designer at Facebook with goals of integrating her knowledge of design, technology, and business to create social impact.

Paula Rodriguez
Movement Science, Minor in Biochemistry, Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Program, MHEAL, Kinesiology Student Ambassador
Paula plans to work in the neuromonitoring field and study for the MCAT with goals to attend medical school.

Ravynne Jenkins
National Society of Black Engineers, Alternative Spring Break-Chicago, Black Student Union, INvent
Ravynne is unsure of future plans.

Shane Pausits
Ross Preparation Initiative, LeadrX, First Generation College Students
After graduation, Shane has plans to go white water rafting in West Virginia and future plans to travel Southeast Asia with friends from college. Shane’s long term plans a career in investment banking at CitiBank in Manhattan.

Sofia Ramirez
Michigan is My Home (Freshman year), Student Nurses Association, LEAD Advisory Board, Communications Co-Chair (previous Communications Committee member)

Thurman Moore
After graduation from Michigan, Thurman will take time to review all his options before taking his next step.
- Building Successful Bridges
As a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Thurman was a member of the National Honor Society. In Thurman’s spare time, he likes to watch movies and listen to music.

Tyler Jackson
Kappa Theta Pi Professional Technology Fraternity, Lloyd Hall Scholars Program, Support for Incoming Black Students
Tyler plans to relax at home before working at PwC New York as a management consultant.

Valentina Tafurt
Delta Delta Delta Sorority, MISS
Valentia will be traveling during the summer with plans to pursue working for a consulting firm.

Zoe Espinosa
Zoe plans to possibly travel post-graduation and is unsure about her future plans.
Activities:
- First Alumni and Mentors network at Michigan
- Engineering Honors and Engagement Programs
- LEAD Advisory Board
- MSTEM Academies

Zumaya M. Otaduy-Ramirez
Volunteer Spanish Medical Interpreter at the University of Michigan Student-Run Free Clinic, Dial-a-Doula, Study experiences in Brazil
Post-graduation, Zumaya plans to go on vacation and pass the NCLEX with the ultimate goal to make her parents proud.
Senior Celebration Ceremony
Senior Ceremony Run of Show
Start- Program Begins, Phyllis Taylor, Lead Assistant Director, Alumni Student Recruitment & LEAD Scholars
08:17- Welcome from Ayanna McConnell, Senior Director, University/Student Engagement
12:31- Importance of LEAD, Joseph Giles, ’96, JD’01, MBA’01 LEAD Supporter
14:31- LEAD 2020 Year in Review
16:36- Introduction of LEAD Speakers
18:30- Senior Reflection – Jovany Dorsainvil, ‘20
20:55- Life After LEAD – Christina Cartwright, ‘18
24:05- Introduction and Presentation of the Graduates
33:49- Closing Remarks
36:07– Sing the Victors! and Conclusion